Manitou Springs Launches Historic Preservation Grant Program
The City of Manitou Springs has announced a new grant program designed to help property owners preserve and restore the community's historic buildings. The Historic Preservation Grant Program will offer matching funds of up to $25,000 per project for qualifying structures within the Manitou Springs Historic District, which encompasses much of the downtown area and several residential neighborhoods.
City Manager Rachel Dunn explained that the program was developed in response to growing concern about the deterioration of several century-old buildings along Manitou Avenue. The grants can be used for exterior restoration, structural repairs, window replacement with historically appropriate materials, and roof rehabilitation. All funded projects must comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Preservation.
The initial funding pool of $300,000 was assembled from a combination of city reserves, a Colorado State Historical Fund grant, and donations from the Manitou Springs Heritage Foundation. Property owners can apply starting January 2026, with awards announced on a rolling basis. Priority will be given to buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places or those deemed at immediate risk of structural failure.
Manitou Springs, founded in 1872, is home to more than 150 buildings that predate 1930. The town's eclectic architecture, ranging from Victorian cottages to Craftsman bungalows, is considered a key attraction for the estimated two million tourists who visit annually. Council Member James Whitfield called the program an investment in the town's identity and economic future.