In partnership with the federal government, 59 State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs) work tirelessly to enhance, protect, and promote historic places – benefitting residents and communities across the nation.
For decades, SHPOs have responsibly utilized funds allocated through the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) annually, to convey the history of our great nation.
FY 2025 HPF funding has not yet been released to SHPO offices – funding which is crucial to uninterrupted, efficient operation of each office
Under the National Historic Preservation Act, SHPOs utilize federal funding to document America’s historic places, propose nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, provide technical assistance for historic tax credit rehabilitation projects, review impacts of federal projects (Section 106), collaborate with local governments, and participate in comprehensive preservation education and planning.
Many SHPOs find themselves in dire financial situations, which in many cases will lead to significant forced reductions in staff – resulting in the inability of SHPO offices to perform federally mandated Section 106 review and review of historic tax credit projects which bring a multitude of economic benefits.
Approval of the FY 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), and swift review and approval of applications will ensure the work of SHPOs continues to aid in the preservation of our heritage, the revitalization of communities, economic development and retention of state and local input into the federal agency project decision-making process. This action will facilitate:
- Investment in our nations history, ahead of the 250th commemoration in 2026
- Promotion of economic investment through historic tax credit projects
- Increased efficiencies for section 106 project review, resulting in successful preservation of historic resources AND efficient project delivery
