February 1st is the deadline for Vancouver Heritage Foundation Grants

VANCOUVER, BC — The granting programs of the Vancouver Heritage Foundation (VHF) provide economic incentive to heritage building owners for the maintenance, repair, restoration and rehabilitation of their buildings. They also act as catalysts for neighbouring building owners to take care of their buildings. Once one house on a street is painted or repaired, other owners often follow suit giving new life to historic neighbourhoods. In 2011, two new granting programs have been added to the well known True Colours and Restore It! programs:

House Call
A granting program to help fund a site visit, consultation and report by a heritage consultant to assist building owners in planning for renovation and redevelopment plans. Cash grant up to $500 to a maximum of 50 per cent of the cost of one site visit & report. Grant recipients must hire a heritage consultant from a list provided.

Get on the Register
A granting program for assistance in the preparation of research & documentation for nominating a building to the City of Vancouver Heritage Register. This program helps owners who have buildings with heritage value, but are not currently on the register, become eligible for the other grant programs. Cash grant up to $500 and up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the cost of the required research documentation. Grant recipients must hire a Heritage Consultant from a list provided by the VHF.

True Colours
A granting program for the painting of the original exterior cladding of heritage buildings in historic colours from the Historical Vancouver True Colours palette. A cash grant of $1500 and free paint from Benjamin Moore are awarded to successful recipients. Grant recipients must hire an approved Benjamin Moore painter from a list provided by the VHF.

Restore It!
A granting program for the maintenance, repair, restoration and rehabilitation of the original exterior fabric of heritage buildings. Cash grant up to $2000 to a maximum of 50% of the cost of the project. Examples of fundable projects are work on original exterior shingles, siding, stucco, windows, doors, chimneys, masonry elements, roofs, gutters, etc…

The application deadline for all four granting programs is February 1st of each calendar year. All projects must be completed by December 31st of the same year.  The best projects will be selected for grants regardless of which program they are applying for. To be eligible for VHF grants a building must be on, or in the process of being added to, the Heritage Register of the City of Vancouver. Visitwww.vancouverheritagefoundation.orgfor more information.