MINNESOTA HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL GRANTS - Grants Manual

Evaluation Guidelines

Many historic properties identified and documented in surveys have not been systematically evaluated for their eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. Evaluation activities apply established historic contexts and specific evaluation criteria to inventoried properties to determine and rank their significance. Guidance for evaluation project can be found in the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Evaluation, the SHPO Manual for Archaeological Projects in Minnesota (2005), and the Minnesota SHPO's Guidelines for History/Architecture Projects (July 2009).

Eligible Projects

Evaluation of previously surveyed residential or commercial properties in a community.
Archaeological investigation sufficient to determine eligibility for National Register of Historic Places. Products include nomination and supporting documentation (artifact catalogs, curation information) for eligible sites, or a standard archaeological report for sites found ineligible or where results are inconclusive.

What is NOT Funded

Projects related to Section 106 review process (this is a federal agency responsibility).

Completing the Application

The following advice on how to complete the application will help you shape your project; suggestions are numbered to correspond to sections of the application form.

1. Project Description

Describe the following: properties/area to be evaluated, the activities leading to their identification as candidates for evaluation, and the evaluation process. Add sufficient references to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Evaluation to demonstrate that your project will conform.

2. Need and Rationale

Evaluating historic properties to determine their significance facilitates sound community planning and helps make the case for their preservation. Discuss the need for your evaluation project and what led you to develop it.

3. Work Plan and Timetable

What planning have you undertaken to prepare for your project?
Provide a project timetable describing the work that will be accomplished and anticipated dates by which it will be completed.

4. Project Personnel

Much of the work for projects in this category is specialized and usually done by an outside professional. Explain how you will secure a qualified professional to complete the proposed work.
If a person from your organization will do some or all of the work, what work items will they complete and what are their qualifications and experience?
Who will oversee your project and what are their qualifications and experience?

5. Evaluation

What criteria will you use to evaluate the success of your project? How many properties will be evaluated? How will the information be used?

6. Enduring Value

Evaluation is important step the preservation planning process. How will information from your evaluation be accessed for community planning?

7. Sustainability

How will the recommendations of your evaluation be implemented? Do you plan to complete a National Register of Historic Places nomination form for properties determined to be eligible for listing?

8. Budget

Provide a complete project budget on the worksheet included in the grants packet, showing how each budget item was determined.