The special designation recognizes that Atlanta has met the
requirements of the National Park Service by appointing a historic
preservation commission and creating a strong local government
program to preserve its valuable local heritage. The Logan County
community's efforts to protect and restore the historic
J.H. Hawes
Grain Elevator, which was designated as one of their first official
local landmarks, led to the move to apply for the Certified Local
Government program, administered by the Illinois Historic
Preservation Agency.
"We've been especially pleased with the proactive role that
Atlanta's mayor and city council have taken to ensure that their
historic preservation ordinance and guidelines meet the standards of
the secretary of the interior," said Catherine O'Connor, manager of
IHPA's Local Government Services division. "Historic preservation
begins at the grass-roots level, in local communities which have
made their heritage a top priority. Effective local preservation
activities preserve that heritage and improve the quality of life
for current and future generations."
Atlanta will now be eligible for technical assistance from the
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and can compete for matching
Certified Local Government grants from federal funds made available
through the state for local historic preservation projects.
Communities that have achieved Certified Local Government status are
eligible to apply for grant funds that are available each fiscal
year through the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. These
federal funds are specifically earmarked for local grants in the
areas of public preservation and development.
[Text from
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency news release received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
From the LDN archives:
|