Shiloh Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, has received a $750,000 grant from the National Park Service’s African American Civil Rights Grant Program, thanks to the Cleveland Restoration Society’s application. The congregation, founded in 1849, moved into its current Scovill Avenue building in 1926, and has long served as a community hub during the Great Migration and the 1966 Hough riots.
The grant will fund restoration of the deteriorating portico, repair water‑damaged plaster, install air‑conditioning in the sanctuary, and add an elevator to improve accessibility. An updated National Register of Historic Places nomination will also be prepared.
Pastor Lisa Goods said the infusion will keep the church open for worship, health services, food access, and youth outreach. Cleveland Restoration Society president Kathleen Crowther noted the funding is vital for urban congregations preserving historic structures.
The project also supports a feasibility study exploring affordable housing on vacant church land, expanding its role as a community anchor while honoring its civil‑rights legacy.