The legacy of community giving for the preservation of the Gingerbread House will live on through a new grant program being developed by Norway Landmarks Preservation Society, formerly also known as the Friends of the Gingerbread House.
With the completion of the exterior preservation of the Gingerbread House and its sale, the group has earmarked the proceeds from the sale of the building to fund a grant program for owners of historic properties in Norway.

Board member Joan Beal explained, “With the exception of some small administrative expenses, all the funds received from the sale of the building have been invested with Maine Community Foundation. They will allocate a percentage of income generated by the principal each year for us to distribute as grants to qualified recipients who have historic buildings and agree to use best preservation practices for exterior improvements. We hope that this grants program will contribute to Norway’s historic character for many years to come.”

The grants will be up to $10,000 and will require a matching amount. Repairs and maintenance, such as painting, windows and doors, signs, and clapboard siding, may qualify for these grants. An application process is being finalized. Buildings that are 75 years or older shall be eligible, depending on the state of the building and the proposed improvements.

The number and size of the available grants in any offering will be based on the number of applications and the descriptions of the projects. The group hopes to have the application available for a February deadline and to award the grant money in the spring for work to occur in the spring and summer.

Interested parties may contact [email protected] to request an application when they become available.