To receive a Local History General Operating Support Grant, an institution shall be the officially certified county historical society receiving cash support from county government. The institution shall meet the following specific criteria:

1. (1) Be located in this Commonwealth.
2. (2) Have a current letter of certification from the chair of the county commissioners designating the organization as the official historical society for the county.
3. (3) Be incorporated and operating for a minimum of 2 years as a membership group with at least 100 paid members prior to filing the grant application.
4. (4) Hold at least one public meeting per year.
5. (5) Have a properly adopted constitution and bylaws and have elected officers to conduct the business of the society.
6. (6) Have tax exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service.
7. (7) Have a permanent physical facility wherein books, documents, papers and other objects of historical interest are deposited and available to the public at least 100 days per year.
8. (8) Have at least one full-time paid or unpaid staff member or the equivalent who is responsible for the operations and programs of the society.
9. (9) Sponsor programs relevant to county history, including educational and public programs, and have an active research and publications program.