Big check presentation on stage at the Sangre de Cristo Heritage Center, September 2017.

Grants & Financial Incentives

State Historical Fund

The State Historical Fund was created by the 1990 constitutional amendment allowing limited gaming in the towns of Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek. The amendment directs that a portion of the gaming tax revenues be used for historic preservation throughout the state.

Funds are distributed through a competitive process and all projects must demonstrate strong public benefit and community support. Grants vary in size, from a few hundred dollars up to $200,000. The State Historical Fund assists in a wide variety of preservation projects including restoration and rehabilitation of historic buildings, architectural assessments, archaeological excavations, designation and interpretation of historic places, preservation planning studies, and education and training programs. 

Before You Apply

Read Our Application Guide

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Use our Online Application

Click here to Apply

Apply for a Grant  

The State Historical Fund has two competitive grant rounds each year for historic preservation projects involving Acquisition & Development, Survey & Planning, Education, and Archaeology preservation projects.  Non-competitive grants such as Emergency Grants and Historic Structure Assessment grants are available year round.  Please call one of our outreach specialists for more help or take a look through our Grant Application Guide.

Managing Your Grant

You received a State Historical Fund (SHF) grant. What now? SHF grants contract staff are here to help grant recipients manage their grant. Find submittal forms, instructions and other forms needed to manage SHF grants. Please feel free to contact the contracts staff if you have any questions regarding your grant.

Grant Recipients

  • Awarded Grants

    See lists of grants awarded by the State Historical Fund.

  • Grants Awarded

    Browse the places and projects below to learn more about how our State Historical Fund has supported historic preservation throughout the state.

Contact us

Susan Frawley
SHF Contracts Officer
303-866-3043

Jennifer (Jenny) Deichman
SHF Historic Preservation Grant Contracts Specialist
303-866-2896

Breanne Nugent
SHF Historic Preservation Grant Contracts Specialist
303-866-2961

Korbin Pugh
SHF Historic Preservation Grant Contracts Specialist & Property Protection Coordinator
303-866-2797