N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 9, § 443.1 – Eligibility criteria.

(a) Projects, sites or facilities must be identified in a heritage area management plan which has been approved by the commissioner in accordance with section 35.05 of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law.
(b) Consistent with the four heritage area goals of preservation, education, economic development and recreation, projects may be for the acquisition or development of historically or culturally significant sites, districts, buildings, structures, objects or natural features, or for the development of interpretive, recreational or informational exhibits, materials and facilities which orient the visitor to the resources of the local heritage area or to the State heritage area program.
(c) Eligible acquisition projects include the acquisition during the project term or within one year prior to the application deadline date of a permanent easement in or fee title to all or part of an historically or culturally significant site, district, building, structure, facility, object or natural feature identified in a heritage area or management plan.
(d) Eligible development projects include, but are not limited to:
1. (1) improvement, restoration, preservation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, archaeological interpretation, or protection of sites, districts, buildings, structures, facilities, objects or natural resources in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's standards;
2. (2) new construction which complies with the Secretary of the Interior's standards;
3. (3) infrastructure and ancillary facilities, provided that such facilities support the operation and maintenance of the project;
4. (4) development and installation of interpretive, recreational or theme-related facilities, areas, greenways, trail systems, exhibits and signage and associated programs; and
5. (5) development of buildings, facilities, sites and associated programs which address the need for multi-lingual or multi-cultural accommodation in the implementation of a project.
(e) Eligible planning and implementation projects include but are not limited to costs incurred to plan, implement, administer or monitor a development or acquisition project. Examples of such costs include:
1. (1) preparation of predevelopment plans, specifications, cost estimates and other contract documents;
2. (2) feasibility studies, including planning and economic development studies;
3. (3) structural assessments, historic structure reports, cultural landscape reports, archaeological, architectural or historic research reports; and
4. (4) project completion or archaeological investigation reports, audit reports and project signs.