Kentucky: Heritage Council

Jointly administered by the Kentucky State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and the National Park Service (NPS), Kentucky’s Certified Local Government (CLG) Program is a local, state and federal partnership that promotes the community preservation planning and protection of prehistoric and historic resources, as well as heritage education, at the local level.

GOALS

Historic preservation issues are understood and addressed at the local level and are integrated into local planning and decision-making processes at the earliest possible opportunity.
Local interests and concerns are integrated into the historic site identification, evaluation, nomination and protection functions of the Kentucky Heritage Council.
Information concerning local historic preservation issues is provided to the Kentucky Heritage Council and to the public.
Local historic preservation ordinances and historic preservation commissions are established in cities where they do not yet exist and are updated, if necessary, where they already exist.
Information in the Kentucky archaeological inventory and historic buildings database is made available to the local community to use in identifying and defining community and neighborhood development and conservation areas.

BENEFITS

By becoming a CLG entity, communities:

Are eligible to compete for matching grants for approved projects from a CLG fund and annual set-aside through the Kentucky Heritage Council. By federal law, at least 10% of the state's annual federal Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) apportionment must be allocated to the statewide CLG fund.
Assume a leadership role in the preservation of the community’s prehistoric and historic resources.
Have a formal role in the nomination review process of local sites proposed for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
Participate in the establishment of regional and state historic preservation objectives.
Receive technical and advisory services from the Kentucky Heritage Council.

FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION
The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) requires a local government seeking certification to meet five broad standards:

Enforce appropriate state or local legislation for the designation and protection of historic properties. A local government must adopt a local historic preservation ordinance that meets Kentucky guidelines for CLGs.
Establish an adequate and qualified historic preservation review commission under state or local legislation.
Maintain a system for the survey and inventory of historic properties.
Provide for adequate public participation in the local historic preservation program, including the process of recommending properties for nomination to the National Register.
Satisfactorily perform any other responsibilities delegated under the National Historic Preservation Act outlining federal CLG legislation.

HOW TO APPLY FOR CLG CERTIFICATION
Communities interested in becoming a CLG program must submit an application to the state historic presrevation office requesting certification. Applications are available by contacting Peggy Guier, Community Preservation Coordinator, at the Kentucky Heritage Council.

More information is also available by going to the National Park Service Web site. External Link - You are now leaving the .gov domain.

Also see the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions. External Link - You are now leaving the .gov domain.

Certified Local Governments