Nontraditional Historic Preservation Loan Program
Preservation Loan Program Prescreening
Vital Sites' low-interest loan program helps owners of historic properties complete needed repairs and rehabilitation. Because funding is limited, projects are first reviewed through a prescreening process to identify properties and preservation projects that are the best fit for the program and current funding priorities.
Priority is currently given to low- to moderate-income homeowners and to properties in Louisville-Jefferson County neighborhoods that have a high concentration of historic buildings and have historically received less preservation investment. Properties outside the current priority areas may also be considered, particularly if they are individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places or are contributing properties within a National Register historic district.
Strong candidates generally retain significant historic character and original features, such as windows, doors, trim, flooring, siding, porches, and other architectural details. Proposed work should also be appropriate for a historic property—for example, repairing historic wood windows rather than replacing them with vinyl windows. If you are unsure whether your property is historic or eligible for the National Register, we can help determine this from the property address.
About This Form
The form below is a prescreening form, not a formal application for credit. It provides basic information about you, the property, and the proposed project so that Vital Sites can determine whether the project appears to be a good fit for the program and current funding priorities. Prescreening considers factors such as the property's historic character and integrity, proposed repairs, property use and owner occupancy, financial need, project feasibility, and the potential preservation and neighborhood impact of the project.
Please include up to five photographs showing the overall property and the areas where work is proposed.
Prescreening considers factors including the property's historic character and integrity, proposed repairs, owner occupancy and property use, financial need, project feasibility, neighborhood impact, and the degree to which Vital Sites funding could help accomplish an important preservation project.
Information provided at this stage is generally self-reported and does not require financial documentation. Applicants invited to submit a full loan application may be required to verify property ownership, occupancy, household income, project costs, available funding, and other information provided during prescreening. Material discrepancies between information provided during prescreening and information later documented may affect eligibility or priority for funding.
Information provided during prescreening is generally self-reported and does not require financial documentation at this stage. Applicants invited to submit a formal loan application may be required to verify household income, property ownership and occupancy, project costs, available funding, and other information provided during prescreening. Material discrepancies may affect eligibility or priority for funding.
Need help? If you have questions, need assistance completing the form or taking photographs, or are unsure whether your property may qualify, please contact us. We are happy to help.
[CLICK HERE to Learn more about the prescreening, loan application, and closing process.]
Potential Conflicts of Interest: Vital Sites seeks to ensure that applications are reviewed fairly and without actual or apparent conflicts of interest. If you or an immediate family member works for, serves on the board of, or receives compensation from an organization or governmental agency that provides, administers, oversees, or competes for funding received or sought by Vital Sites, or if you have another professional or financial relationship that could create an actual or apparent conflict of interest related to this program, please contact Vital Sites before submitting this form. Disclosure does not necessarily make an applicant ineligible; it allows Vital Sites to review the circumstances and determine whether a conflict exists or whether additional safeguards are appropriate.
To see if your project is a potential fit for our loan program, please submit the following information to the best of your ability. If you have questions, please call 502-260-4488 or email us at info@vitalsites.org.