Mississippi Community Revitalization Program
An Initiative of the Mississippi Heritage Trust
Community Need
Mississippi is a state of small towns. Of its 419 cities, towns, and villages, over 55% have populations of less than 1,000 residents. Like small towns throughout America, these places have been hard hit by changing economic trends in agriculture and industry which have left downtowns deserted, churches abandoned, and outmoded industrial buildings neglected and decaying.
These derelict historic buildings have the potential to serve as catalysts for economic development. People care about these former schools, hotels, railroad depots, theaters, and courthouses and the stories they tell about place. Community leaders often have sound ideas for the future use of these historic structures but lack the real estate development expertise to make their vision a reality.
Promising starts often stall, leaving buildings to deteriorate further, or they proceed in slow, multi-phase efforts that depend on grants and local donations rather than a for-profit development model. These drawn-out timelines can stretch across decades, denying entire generations of the benefits the revitalized historic place could bring. Alongside the missed opportunities for community engagement in thoughtfully restored buildings, owners must shoulder the ongoing burden of insurance, taxes, and maintenance for structures that remain vacant.
Preservation Solution
With funding from the National Park Service Paul Bruhn Community Revitalization Grant Program and Communities Unlimited, Mississippi Heritage Trust is launching the Mississippi Community Revitalization Program to support the adaptive reuse of vacant, deteriorating historic buildings to become catalysts for further community reinvestment. The program will build capacity with non-traditional developers such as municipalities and nonprofit organizations to utilize effective strategies for the rehabilitation of historic buildings located in rural communities for civic uses and empower future leaders to revitalize Mississippi’s communities in creative ways.
The Mississippi Community Revitalization Program will provide subgrants and technical assistance to help complete four to six pilot rehabilitation projects that reflect diversity in geography, history, architectural character, partnerships, ownership structure, size, and use. Online and printed resources with case studies and sample documents will help to disseminate successful rehabilitation strategies learned during the pilot projects to other property owners. The program will provide educational opportunities for college students, preservation trades apprentices, community members, and elected officials, helping to build capacity in historic preservation real estate development.
Let’s Talk
Beginning in August 2026, Mississippi Heritage Trust will solicit Letters of Interest from property owners for potential Mississippi Community Revitalization Program projects. Successful projects must include the following elements:
Non-Traditional Developer-eligible projects must be led by non-profit organizations with 501 c 3 designation, non-profits organizations without 501 c 3 designation working with a fiscal agent, schools, or governmental entities.
Historic Designation-the resource must be listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places, as a contributing structure in a National Register District, or have been determined eligible for listing by the National Park Service and Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
Preservation Easement-the resource must be listed as a Mississippi Landmark or have been determined eligible for listing by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
Rural Location-projects must be located in a rural town of less than 5,000 people and 2,000 households and urban areas with populations up to 50,000 people that are not part of a larger metropolitan area.
Use Plan-projects must demonstrate a feasible plan for the use of the building that meets a civic need.
Leadership Team and Volunteer Involvement-successful proposals will demonstrate local engagement, committed team members, and opportunities for volunteer engagement.
Do you have a historic rehabilitation project that you think might be a good fit for the Mississippi Community Revitalization Grant Program? Please complete the Letter of Interest by September 15, 2026. Mississippi Heritage Trust will select projects to submit full proposals by November 15, 2026. The deadline to submit full proposals is January 15, 2026.