Gov. Blagojevich announces grants to help local communities preserve history

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rod Blagojevich today announced that Alton, Carbondale, Chicago, Chicago Heights, Glenview, Hinsdale, Jacksonville, Lemont, Mt. Carroll, Oak Park, Rock Island, Springfield and Urbana been selected to receive Certified Local Government grants from federal funds made available through the state for local historic preservation projects.

           

"Historic preservation begins at the grassroots level, in local communities which have made their heritage a top priority," said Gov. Blagojevich.  "These grant funds will help preserve that heritage as well as improve the quality of life for current and future generations."

           

Communities that have achieved Certified Local Government status under the National Historic Preservation Act were encouraged to apply for $80,523 in grant funds that are available this fiscal year through the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA).  These federal funds are specifically earmarked for local grants in the areas of public preservation and development.

           

The federal grant funds administered by IHPA were awarded on a matching basis, with the federal funds paying for up to 60 percent of the project cost and local funds making up the remainder.  The projects must relate to historic preservation, and could include planning, public education, survey of historic properties, National Register of Historic Places properties, and development.

           

Only Certified Local Governments may apply for the grants.  Those communities that have achieved this status are listed at www.Illinois-History.gov/ps/clgs.pdf.

           

"The Certified Local Government program allows municipalities and counties to participate as partners in state and federal preservation activities," said Mike Ward, Certified Local Government program administrator for IHPA.  "Currently, we work with 56 such communities in the state."   

 

 

ALTON: $1,980:  A website will be created for the Alton Historical Commission. Residents will be able to access information about properties within the three Alton National Register districts. Information about historic preservation programs will also be included.

 

CARBONDALE:  $1,572:  The grant will fund two workshops, one to promote oral history programs, the second to encourage National Register and local landmark designations.

 

CHICAGO:  $6,000: The grant will be used to update and print 30,000 copies of the Chicago Landmarks Map and brochure, and to create new web pages for each landmark designated in 2004.

 

CHICAGO HEIGHTS: $13,000:  Grant funds will be used in the restoration of the Flat Iron Building, which is listed on the National Register and is a local landmark.

 

GLENVIEW: $9,649.80:  The grant will fund an architectural survey of the residential area adjacent to and west of the downtown area. A total of 365 structures will be inventoried, leading to potential for National Register and local landmark designations.

 

HINSDALE: $8,532:  The grant will pay for the architectural survey of the North Hinsdale East area, a potential National Register and local landmark district.

 

JACKSONVILLE:  $847.45:  The grant will provide support for the Historic Preservation Commission newsletter and website.

 

LEMONT: $7,260:  The grant will be used to conduct an intensive architectural survey of the Lemont Historic District. This locally designated district includes 236 buildings. It contains the traditional central business district, as well as structures dating from the Illinois and Michigan Canal era.

 

MT.CARROLL:  $6,600: Grant funds will help pay for a walking tour brochure and a companion CD that will highlight the city's National Register Historic District.

 

OAK PARK: $2,400:  An architectural survey of the Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture Historic District will be funded by the grant. The District is listed on the National Register, and is also a locally designated historic area.

 

ROCK ISLAND: $11,076:  The grant will be used to help celebrate the 150^th anniversary of Chippiannock Cemetery, listed on the National Register. Commemorative products will include promotional materials and a booklet describing the cemetery's importance to the region.

 

SPRINGFIELD: $3,375:  Funding will support the development and expansion of the Historic Sites Commission Website.

 

URBANA:  $1,470:  The grant will be used to fund a workshop on historic stucco houses, using the locally landmarked Buena Vista Court Historic District as a model. A workshop on stucco repair techniques will also be included.