Long time blog readers may recall back in June of 2023, the PA SHPO announced the Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant recipients of our FY23 funding. These grants are intended to advance local historic preservation activities.
The CLG grant program provides participating communities with matching grants to undertake projects that help build local capacity and achieve preservation outcomes. Eligible projects include design guidelines, cultural resource surveys, ordinances, comprehensive plans, National Register nominations, feasibility studies, educational programs, and other activities that may help the community preserve historic places.
In addition to project grants, the PA SHPO has a scholarship and mini-grant program for CLGs. Scholarships are intended to assist with cost associated with attending conferences and bringing in speakers for continuing education and training. Mini-grants are intended for smaller scale projects or those which are shorter in duration.
Funding for the CLG Grant Program comes from Pennsylvania’s allocation of the federal Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). The HPF is funded by royalties from offshore oil and gas leases and annual grants help support staffing and programs at the State Historic Preservation Office.
As our FFY23 is coming to a close at the end of September, here is update on these projects!
Illustrated Design Guidelines: City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County prepared illustrated design guidelines for three of the city’s historic districts: Mexican War Street Expansion, Schenley Farms, and Roslyn Place. These guidelines will help the Historic Review Commission and community residents plan and review projects in the districts.
The project has been documented on their website, showing progress and allowing residents to participate in the planning process. You may notice some additional guidelines in the works in Pittsburgh – the City has also received funding for additional work under our FY24 grant cycle and will finish that project in September of 2026.
A draft of the guidelines developed for the Mexican War Street Historic District Expansion.
The Borough of Strasburg, Lancaster County also used grant funds to prepare illustrated design guidelines for their local historic district. Strasburg included updates to their preservation ordinance in this planning process.
Historic Resources Surveys: Carlisle Borough, Cumberland County, Columbia Borough, Lancaster County, and Lancaster City, Lancaster County all used CLG grant funds to support historic resources survey of properties located within their local historic district and other priority areas across these municipalities. Between the three communities, more than 3,000 historic resources were added to their databases, and to PA-SHARE!
Preservation Plan for the Mother Archie’s Corner: Chadds Ford Township, Delaware County used CLG grant funds to prepare a preservation plan for a site that includes the remnants of Lydia ‘Mother’ Archie’s African United Methodist Protestant Church and cemetery.
The site was identified by stakeholders as a planning priority during Chadds Ford’s Comprehensive Plan development process. Funding were used to identify “identifying long-term strategies to preserve, interpret, and honor the history and cultural impact of Mother Archie and her congregation.”
Report cover for the Archie’s Corner preservation assessment.
Scenic Viewshed Study: Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County focused their CLG grant funds on the second phase of work to complete a scenic viewshed corridor study. Phase one consisted of survey of historic landscapes and viewsheds in the township, while this final phase completed the survey work and provided regulatory recommendations to protect their historic viewsheds.
FY23 also included a number of mini-grants and scholarships for CLGs, helping these communities receive training, work on small projects, and make materials more accessible. For example:
- the City of Allentown, Lehigh County, received funding to translate preservation materials into Spanish.
- The City of Erie, Erie County, kicked off a project to list the Erie City Hall in the National Register of Historic Places.
- Staff and historic review board members from Bradford, McKean County, East Bradford, Chester County, Tredyffrin, Chester County, and Lower Makefield, Bucks County, all received funding for ongoing training needs.
- AND, through CLG funding, all 49 of PA’s CLGs received memberships to the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC).
About the CLG Program
The Certified Local Government (CLG) program is a partnership between municipal governments, the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO), and the National Park Service (NPS) that promotes and supports holistic and effective historic preservation programs and policies in Pennsylvania municipalities.
CLG designation is a mark of distinction that provides participating communities with credibility, as well as access to technical assistance and grant programs; it means that the municipality views preservation as an integral part of its community and economic development. There are currently 49 municipalities spread across the Commonwealth participating in the program.
If your community is interested in learning more about the CLG program and whether you’re eligible to participate, visit our website for more information and a brief eligibility quiz. Or, if your community is a CLG and interested in pursuing a CLG grant to further your preservation goals, please reach out to the Community Preservation Coordinator for your region for further assistance.
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