Ongoing Initiatives
Richard Southard Historic Preservation Grant
A grant honoring Richard Southard that helps downtown Rochester NH property owners preserve and restore historic architecture.
Named in honor of Richard Southard, this grant supports historic preservation work in downtown Rochester, helping property owners restore and maintain the architectural heritage that makes our district distinctive.
What the grant supports
The grant exists for the work that keeps old buildings standing and in use: restoration and maintenance projects on the architecture that gives downtown its character. A downtown’s history is not abstract here; it is the facades, cornices, and clock towers people photograph, and keeping them sound is the point of the fund.
It sits alongside the Sign & Facade Grant, which handles storefronts and signage, and the preservation work you can already see downtown, from the Parson Main restoration to the accomplishments page list of completed projects.
How it’s funded
Like the Sign & Facade Grant, it’s funded through Rochester Main Street fundraisers, charitable gaming, sponsorships, and individual donations. We don’t just organize events; we put real funding into the buildings that give downtown its character.
Contact us for current guidelines and application details, or to contribute to the fund in Richard Southard’s name.
Richard Southard Historic Preservation Grant: your questions answered
What does the Richard Southard grant fund?
Historic preservation work on downtown Rochester buildings: the restoration and maintenance projects that keep the district's architectural character intact. Contact us for current guidelines, rounds, and application details.
Where does the grant money come from?
From Rochester Main Street fundraisers like the Festival of Trees, charitable gaming partnerships with the Lilac Club Casino, sponsorships, and individual donations, the same pool that funds our Sign & Facade Grant.
More ongoing initiatives
Rochester Thank A Cop
Community-led since 2018, Rochester Thank A Cop honors Rochester NH police officers with gifts and Paint the City Blue displays each September.
Downtown Scholarship
An annual scholarship for a Spaulding High School senior who lives, works, or volunteers in downtown Rochester NH, funded by local donors.
Bigfoot Scavenger Hunt
Painted Bigfoot cutouts hidden across downtown Rochester NH all summer in a free family scavenger hunt with raffle prizes at local shops.
