As a result of the devastating 2017 hurricanes, which impacted historic and archaeological resources throughout the Virgin Islands, the National Park Service has awarded the territory just over $10 million in supplemental funding to the Virgin Islands State Historic Preservation Office (VISHPO), the Department of Planning and Natural Resources has announced.
The funding, provided through the Emergency Supplemental Funding from the Historic Preservation Fund (ESHPF), will allow the VISHPO to administer a Historic Recovery Grant Program to assist in the repair of hurricane damaged National Register-listed or eligible sites throughout the territory, D.P.N.R. said.
Through ESHPF over $5 million will go towards the restoration of these sites. According to the release, $1 million will go towards the assistance of restoring Government House in Charlotte Amalie and the Battery on St. John, and up to $2 million will be used for administrative costs. Any balances will be eligible for use towards restoration of other sites, D.P.N.R. said.
The State Historic Preservation Office is currently developing the eligibility criteria and more information will be released to the public once finalized, according to the release. All funded repair work must substantially mitigate the threat and include steps to mitigate future damages.
The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), derived from Outer Continental Shelf oil lease revenues, was established in 1977 as the primary source of funding to implement the Federal Preservation Partnership program. Annual grants are made to states, tribes, and local governments under the National Historic Preservation Act.
Image Credit: Steve Bennet
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