CLG Program

Historic preservation efforts are strongest when they begin at the local level. The Certified Local Government Program (CLG) supports and strengthens local preservation activities by assisting communities to achieve their preservation goals through the development of an action plan. Established by a 1980 amendment to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the CLG program is a nationwide initiative that directly links a community's preservation goals to state and federal preservation programs. Each State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) administers the program through a variety of services designed to help communities protect, preserve, and celebrate their historic resources. In New York State, the SHPO is in the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP).

CLG Program Benefits
Any city, county, town, or village can be a CLG, once the SHPO determines that it meets state and federal standards. The standards include having enacted appropriate preservation legislation and appointing a qualified preservation review commission. After being approved at the state level, applications are forwarded to the National Park Service for certification. All certified CLGs are eligible to receive a variety of services from the SHPO, including:

• Ongoing, focused support from your SHPO;
• Technical preservation assistance and legal advice;
• Direct involvement in SHPO programs, such as identifying properties that may be eligible for listing in the State and National Registers of Historic Places;
• Training opportunities that increase the ability of communities to protect their historic resources and integrate them into short- and long-term planning initiatives;
• Grants designated exclusively for CLG projects; and
• Membership in statewide and national CLG networks.

CLG Program Application Information

• The Certified Local Government program in NYS Adobe Acrobat (pdf) | Microsoft Word(doc)
• Model Law for Local Governments Adobe Acrobat (pdf) | Microsoft Word(doc)
• Commission Members Qualifications Adobe Acrobat (pdf) | Microsoft Word(doc)
• The Certified Local Government Grants Program Criteria Adobe Acrobat (pdf) | Microsoft Word(doc)

To apply to this program or receive more information, contact:
Julian Adams, CLG Program Coordinator
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation
P.O. Box 189
Waterford, NY 12188-0189
(518)237-8643 ext.3271

Top