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Media contacts: Kim Schuette: 614.297.2314 or kschuette@ohiohistory.org
For Immediate Release
Governor Names Strider State Historic Preservation Officer
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - Gov. Ted Strickland recently appointed James D. Strider, as the state historic preservation officer (SHPO). Strider, acting executive director of the Ohio Historical Society as well as its director of historic preservation and outreach services, assumes the SHPO responsibilities held by William K. Laidlaw Jr., OHS executive director and CEO until his death in August.
"Historic preservation is important to Ohio communities," Strider said. "It strengthens local economies, fosters civic beauty and community pride, and cultivates the appreciation of local and national history. Last year, Ohio was third in the nation with 63 completed rehabilitation projects resulting in almost $68 million invested in historic buildings and the creation of about 3,500 new jobs."
The SHPO is responsible for administering Ohio’s historic preservation program. The Ohio Historical Society's Ohio Historic Preservation Office has carried out the day-to-day historic preservation operations on behalf of the state of Ohio since the program was authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act in 1966.
"The Ohio Historic Preservation Office works hard to carry out the state's historic preservation program," Strider said. "It is one of the best state historic preservation offices in the nation."
The Ohio Historic Preservation Office works to preserve Ohio’s historic resources by identifying historic properties and nominating them to the National Register of Historic Places, certifying federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credit projects, providing technical assistance on historic preservation issues, qualifying communities for the Certified Local Governments program and administering a related competitive grants program for participating communities, and reviewing about 6,500 federally-assisted projects a year to ensure that alternatives are considered in any undertaking that may affect properties listed on, or eligible for, the National Register of Historic Places.
Each year Ohio ranks at or near the top nationally in the number of federally-assisted projects reviewed. Ohio is regularly among the top states in number of buildings rehabilitated and amount of private dollars invested through a program administered in Ohio by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office that rewards those who invest in rehabilitating income-producing properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places with a federal income tax credit. Ohio has the third highest number of properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, following New York and Massachusetts.
The Ohio Historical Society is a nonprofit organization that serves as the state's partner in preserving and interpreting Ohio's history, archaeology and natural history. For more information about the Ohio Historical Society and its programs, call 614.297.2300/800.686.6124 or visit www.ohiohistory.org.
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