Happy Holidays from PAWV!
Since 1982 the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia has been working to enhance WV’s Preservation Community in support of our historic structures and landscapes. One of the most effective programs we have deployed to date has been our Preserve WV AmeriCorps program. Since 2013 our AmeriCorps program has deployed 193 AmeriCorps service members across 176 sites in WV. The members have provided services to their sponsoring sites with the goals of increasing capacity, tourism, and sustainability for our historic assets across the state.
The benefits of our AmeriCorps program to statewide organizations can hardly be overstated. Beyond the direct service provided by our members, we have witnessed huge collateral benefits to our preservation community. Service members have gained experience and understanding of the importance and intricacies of preservation activities to help them in their careers, sponsoring organizations have expanded their outreach and capacity to fulfill their missions, and members and alumni throughout the state have been invigorating their communities with fresh ideas and enthusiasm for our historic assets. Many of our members are from out of state, and some have gone on to remain here and become long term members of our communities.
Recently PAWV has completed a Phase One evaluation of our AmeriCorps program. We are thrilled to report that the evaluation has demonstrated positive outcomes for our sponsoring organizations in several key areas of focus. We are happy to be able to share the results of this evaluation with you here. Scroll down to see the impact Preserve WV AmeriCorps members have made in West Virginia communities. You can read the full report here.
Moving forward in 2022 PAWV will continue to provide our AmeriCorps program in support of preservation activities across the State. We also provide technical assistance to historic property owners, rotating training programs on preservation practices, advocacy for historic preservation policies and practices on federal, state and local levels, and a micro loan program to support gap funding for development projects. Our most exciting news in 2021 has been the expansion of our Saving Historic Places Grant (SHPG) made possible by the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant administered through the National Park Service. The Bruhn grant has infused our SHPG with $485,000 in additional grant funds available to support the rehabilitation of historic properties in our state.
The diversification of our program portfolio has been an effective practice to support our organizational goals over the last several years. As we continue to refine and grow our program effectiveness we also seek to grow and strengthen our donor network to help fill in the missing pieces. Donations of goods and services from public and private sources are always welcome, and during this season of giving especially, we invite you to consider donating to PAWV to show your support for our statewide community of preservation.
Thank you for your support!
J. Logan Smith
President
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