Preserving the district
Ozark still has its square because owners kept repairing buildings that would have been easier to let go. These repairs require capital and we’re here to help building owners find it, understand the processes to apply for it, and hopefully, to win it.
Funding Sources
HERO Program (City of Ozark)
The City of Ozark's Historic Economic Revitalization Opportunity (HERO) grant program offers matching funds to help private property owners stabilize, restore, and preserve historic buildings downtown. It's open to properties in the program area on the City's map, which runs roughly from Brick Street south to Oak Street, between 3rd Street and 3rd Avenue.
Key dates
- Applications
- October 12 to December 7, 2026
- City review
- December 8, 2026 to January 8, 2027
- Awards
- Expected the week of January 8, 2027
How to apply
The program overview, application, and checklist are on the City's HERO page. Buildings listed as contributing structures also need to follow the Secretary of the Interior's standards for historic buildings, so check that list before you plan your project.
HERO is run by the City, and questions go to Valerie Carr, the City's Grants Administrator, at 417-581-5976 or VCarr@OzarkMissouri.org. We're glad to help you work out whether your building qualifies and get your application together before the deadline.
Historic Tax Credits (State & Federal)
If you're taking on a substantial rehabilitation rather than a repair, historic tax credits are usually the largest single source available, and they work differently from a grant. Rather than reimbursing you, they reduce what you owe, and they're claimed on a qualifying project after the work is approved and completed.
Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Subgrants (National Park Service)
Federal money for the exterior rehabilitation of historic buildings in rural communities, administered in Missouri by Missouri Main Street Connection. The match is unusually low at ten percent cash, which makes it one of the more accessible programs on this list when a round is open.
Historic Preservation Fund Grants (Missouri SHPO)
Federal money administered by the State Historic Preservation Office for identifying and protecting historic properties, and in recent cycles it has also funded construction on National Register buildings. Awards are generally capped at $50,000 with a 60/40 match, and roughly $400,000 is available statewide in a given year.
Everything Else
Those four come up most often, though they’re not the only money available. Regional foundations fund preservation work, and some utilities and larger employers run community funds that downtown projects can apply to. The state puts out initiatives from time to time as well. Most of these run on their own schedules, and some open and close quickly without much notice, which makes them easy to miss if you aren’t watching for them.
We keep track of what’s open now and what’s coming up. If you’re planning work, get in touch and tell us what you have in mind.