What is a Certified Local Government?
Local governments play a vital role in our ability to preserve, protect, and increase awareness about cultural heritage found in the built environment on Long Island and across the country. The main goal of the Certified Local Government (CLG) Program is to develop strong partnerships that improve preservation in local communities. Local, state, and federal governments work together via the CLG Program to help protect our irreplaceable historic and cultural resources.
- Established by a 1980 amendment to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the Certified Local Government (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, the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation coordinates the federally-sponsored CLG and provides assistance to participating/member communities.
How does Seneca Falls benefit from its CLG status?
- CLG requirements include adopting local preservation law that meets state and federal criteria, a qualified and operational preservation commission, member training, an inventory of historic resources, preservation plan, public outreach programs, and demonstrated preservation results.
- In 1990, the former Village of Seneca Falls became a Certified Legal Government until its dissolution at year end of 2011.
- The Town of Seneca Falls has proudly met these requirements and became a CLG in 2016, joining now over 1,966 other CLGs in New York State.
- As a certified CLG, the HPC is eligible to receive a variety of services from SHPO, including:
- Technical preservation assistance and legal advice
- Programs that allow us to identify properties that may be eligible for listing in the State and National Registers of Historic Places
- Training that increases our ability to protect our historic resources and integrate into short and long term planning initiatives
- Membership in statewide and national CLG networks
- Grants designated exclusively for CLG projects