to Birmingham, Manistee, Mason

LANSING, Mich. – The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has awarded $188,000 in grants to three Michigan communities, the Michigan Strategic Fund announced today. The grants represent awards from the federal Historic Preservation Fund—Certified Local Government (CLG) program administered by the SHPO and will benefit local preservation and community planning goals.
“Historic preservation is about finding ways to make sure Michigan’s historic places not only retain their special character but that they also remain viable community assets,” said Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Martha MacFarlane-Faes. “The CLG program is one of our most important tools for supporting local communities in their preservation efforts, and we are pleased to assist this year’s grant recipients with their projects.”

Certified Local Governments are counties, townships, cities, or villages that partner with the State Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service to preserve their historic and cultural resources. CLGs demonstrate ongoing commitment to historic preservation through the enactment of a historic preservation ordinance and the formation of a historic district commission. Participating communities receive access to specialized technical assistance and grant funding opportunities from SHPO, which are designed to complement local preservation activities.

This year’s grant recipients include:

• The city of Birmingham is receiving a $15,000 grant to hire a federally-qualified historic preservation consultant to create the city’s first set of comprehensive historic preservation design guidelines. The city oversees the administration of numerous local historic districts, including the Bates Street and Central Business districts. The new design guidelines will synthesize and summarize nearly 50 years of historic preservation efforts in the city while also equipping the Birmingham Historic District Commission with the tools necessary to help guide historic preservation activities into the future.
• The city of Manistee is receiving a $51,050 grant to hire a federally-qualified historic preservation consultant to complete a facility and master plan analysis for the Ramsdell Theatre, owned by the city since 1953. The result of the project will be a new master plan for the theatre, which was built in 1903 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The new master plan will enhance the ability of the city and the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts to effectively plan for the future of the facility and expand arts and cultural programming for the community.
• The city of Mason is receiving a $116,950 grant to hire a contractor to complete rehabilitation work at the Mason Library, which has served as a community library since its construction in 1939. The project will help ensure that the building, listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of Mason’s downtown historic district, remains a community resource for future generations. The project includes building an accessible front entrance, adding an accessible first-floor restroom, restoring the fireplace to working order, and renovating first-floor spaces to increase capacity and enhance utilization.

CLG grants are awarded annually on a competitive basis. Eligible applicants include active CLG communities, which may partner with a non-profit organization or other public entity. The State Historic Preservation Office welcomes innovative proposals that promote historic preservation. For more information on the CLG program and funding opportunities, visit http://www.michigan.gov/CLGgrants.

The activity that is the subject of this project has been financed in part with Federal funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, through the Michigan Strategic Fund. However, the contents and opinions herein do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior or the Michigan Strategic Fund, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial product herein constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior or the Michigan Strategic Fund.

This program receives Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, or age in its federally assisted programs. Michigan law prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, marital status, or disability. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to:

Chief, Office of Equal Opportunity Programs
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
1849 C Street, NW, MS-2740
Washington, DC 20240

Focused on the historic preservation of culturally or archaeologically significant sites throughout the state, Michigan's State Historic Preservation Office’s main function is to provide technical assistance to local communities and property owners in their efforts to identify, evaluate, designate, interpret and protect Michigan’s historic above- and below-ground resources. SHPO also administers an incentives program that includes federal tax credits and pass-through grants available to Certified Local Governments.

To learn more about the State Historic Preservation Office and the Certified Local Government program, visit https://www.miplace.org/historic-preservation/.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
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