The Maine Historic Preservation Commission has received a grant award of $825,108 from the National Park Service, according to a news release.

The funds are used to support the program of the State Historic Preservation Office in Maine. This award was made contingent upon raising a non-federal match of $550,072.

The commission has awarded $151,500 from these federal funds as sub-grants to nonprofit organizations, municipalities, or state agencies for historic preservation projects.

The grants approved by the commission include an architectural survey of historic properties in Bangor, Preservation Program staff support in Portland; engineering plans or building assessments for properties in Fort Kent, Livermore Falls and Augusta; an architectural survey of historic properties in Camp Ellis; funds to repair a roof in Portland and specify a roof repair in Poland; and two projects in Portland related to tax credits and economic impacts in historic districts.

Historic properties involved include the Fort Kent Blockhouse (a National Historic landmark), the All Souls Chapel in Poland, Mechanics Hall in Portland, the Colonial Theater in Augusta and the Judson Record House, home of the Maine Paper and Heritage Museum in Livermore Falls.

The commission is the largest repository for information about historic buildings, sites, structures, objects and districts in Maine. Established through a legislative act in 1971, the commission is the state agency that functions as the State Historic Preservation Office in Maine.

The commission nominates properties to the National Register of Historic Places; reviews and comments on the effect of federal undertakings on historic properties; assists owners of income-producing properties to obtain federal and state rehabilitation tax credits; oversees the identification and evaluation of archaeological sites as well as historic buildings, objects and districts; and promotes historic preservation through planning and public education.