Active participants in the Certified Local Government Program are eligible for funding, training, technical assistance and access to a supportive network of other preservation-minded communities.

Under the Certified Local Government Agreement, the local government is responsible for fulfilling the terms of the agreement. A local government must provide ongoing support for the program and the historic preservation commission. This support includes assigning a staff member to the commission. The staff member sees that the commission gets clerical assistance, prepares an annual budget and coordinates with other local commissions and agencies. In addition, the commission will need a meeting space and centralized storage space for commission files.

The local government also provides financial support for the historic preservation program and commission. This includes a budget for office supplies, postage, telephone, printing, and photography and annual training. While grant programs help local governments defray the expense of historic preservation activities, all require a local commitment in the form of cash and/or in-kind match. The local government is the official applicant for the grant and provides the required match.

Process

A detailed explanation of the application process is available in the Certified Local Government Program Guide. The guide also contains sample ordinance/resolution, inventory and other useful documents.

  1. Contact us to let us know of your community’s interest in the program.
  2. Your local government will then set up a local historic preservation program that is consistent with the Certified Local Government Program requirements.
  3. The local government submits an application to the Certified Local Government Program.
  4. The application is reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Office to ensure it is complete.
  5. Once the application is complete, the local government and the State Historic Preservation Office sign a Certified Local Government Agreement.

The application packet is sent to National Park Service for review and approval.