Certified Local Governments Grants

In Ohio, cities and villages with a local historic preservation ordinance in place that meets requirements set forth by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service are eligible to participate in the Certified Local Government (CLG) program. Once certified, these local governments may compete annually for grants to help carry out a wide range of historic preservation activities. Funding for grants to Certified Local Governments comes from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service, which provides financial support to State Historic Preservation Offices. Under provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act, 10% of the annual appropriation to Ohio is set aside for Certified Local Government grants.

Eligible Applicants
Certified Local Governments in Ohio may apply for the grants; Certified Local Governments may also designate a second party to administer a grant. In such cases, the grant is awarded directly to the second party and that party is responsible for administering the project.

Eligible Activities

Projects can include:

1. Planning
• preparing or updating a preservation plan for a neighborhood or community
2. Survey
• identifying historic properties or archaeological resources through geographically or; thematically based surveys
3. Registration
• local designation or nomination of buildings and sites to the National Register of Historic Places
4. Administration
• staff work for historic preservation commissions
• writing or amending preservation ordinances
5. Public Education
• providing workshops for property owners or technical training for community officials


• publication of historic site inventories, design guidelines, walking tour brochures and other; educational materials
6. Pre-Development
• pre-construction projects such as feasibility studies or the preparation of drawings and specifications


7. Acquisition or Development
• acquisition or development of properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places

Grant Cycle and Selection Process
Dr. William K. Laidlaw, Jr., state historic preservation officer, has announced changes for the 2009 Certified Local Government (CLG) grant funding round.

The CLG program, administered by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office, of the Ohio Historical Society, is funded by an annual state allocation from the Historic Preservation Fund of the U. S. Department of the Interior’s National Park Service. Each year, 10 percent of Ohio’s allocation from the Historic Preservation Fund is set-aside for CLGs and made available through a competitive matching grant program.

Delay in passage of the federal budget the last several years has affected the process of re-granting the funds to local governments for this program. Not knowing the level of funding that would be available has resulted in multiple funding rounds in recent years.

To address this issue and to bring the CLG grant cycle more in line with the operating budget calendars of local governments, grant applications for federal fiscal year 2009 CLG funding will become available in January, 2009 and proposals will be due in early March. The project period will run from May 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010.

In addition to changing the CLG grant cycle, the grant application, selection criteria and OHPO priorities have been modified and will be available online for public review and comment November 1 – 31. All comments can be directed to Judy Krasniewski, grants manager, at jkrasniewski@ohiohistory.org.

Projects eligible for CLG grant assistance include historic preservation planning, surveys of historic resources, nominations of properties and districts to the National Register of Historic Places or local registers, predevelopment and rehabilitation of properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and public education programs on historic preservation-related topics.

The application, guidelines, schedule, and selection criteria will be available on our web site at www.ohiohistory.org/resource/histpres/toolbox/clg/index.html or by paper copy upon request.

Cities and villages in Ohio that have attained Certified Local Government status are eligible to apply for assistance for their local preservation projects.

For any questions about the CLG program or grant, contact the Ohio Historic Preservation Office at www.ohpo.org or (614) 298-2000.

Project Standards
All Certified Local Government grants must result in a completed, tangible product or measurable result and all must be carried out in accordance with the applicable Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Archaeology and Historic Preservation. A copy of these standards is available from the Ohio Historic Preservation Office.

Procurement of Goods and Services
Project work may be performed by CLG staff or by consultants or contractors (meeting appropriate 48 FR 44716 professional qualifications) hired to perform particular tasks.

Project Monitoring and Reporting
The Ohio Historic Preservation Office will work closely with the Certified Local Government or the second party administrator to monitor project work. Provision is to be made in the project contract for the review of drafts of all products locally and by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office. For development projects, drawings and specifications must have Ohio Historic Preservation Office approval prior to initiation of project work. Over the course of the project, progress reports and financial documentation of project expenditures will be required.

Grant Payment
Payment of the Certified Local Government grant is made on a reimbursement basis and follows submission of financial documentation of project expenditures. Partial grant payments can be made.

To request additional information about Certified Local Government Grants click here, or call 614/298-2000.

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