Rural Heritage Partnership Grant Program

The Rural Heritage Partnership Grant Program is a competitive grant program administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to support long-term investment in the irreplaceable heritage assets of Michigan's small, rural communities. Supported through a one-time grant from the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program established under the federal Historic Preservation Fund, the program seeks to stimulate economic development, create new permanent jobs, activate underutilized spaces, eliminate blight, and encourage private reinvestment in historic downtowns and prominent community corridors.

Eligible applicants include local units of government (villages, townships, cities, or counties), non-profit organizations, and public entities. Private property and business owners are not directly eligible to apply, but an eligible entity may sponsor a project on their behalf, serving as the official applicant and grant recipient responsible for grant management and compliance.

To be eligible, a property must be located in a community that meets both the small (population of 25,000 or fewer) and rural (USDA Rural Business Program criteria) requirements, be situated in a traditional downtown or prominent community corridor, and be listed in the National Register of Historic Places either individually or as a contributing resource within a historic district. Multi-family and mixed-use commercial buildings are eligible, while owner-occupied residential properties are strictly excluded. Eligible activities include physical 'bricks and mortar' rehabilitation and associated pre-development plans and specifications, and every funded project must include an exterior work component.

Applications must be submitted through the MEDC online submission portal by 5:00 p.m. on June 8, 2026. A complete application requires the project application form, signed signature page, Exhibit A (Project Budget Worksheet), Exhibit B (Draft Work Schedule), Exhibit C (Resolution), Exhibit D (Ownership Information), Exhibit E (Financial Verification), and Exhibit F (Supporting Documentation). Late submissions will not be considered.