The Certified Local Government Program in Virginia

Communities are strengthening and expanding their local preservation programs through the Certified Local Government Program (CLG). The program was created by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended in 1980, and establishes a partnership between local governments, the federal historic preservation program, and the Department of Historic Resources (DHR). The program allows DHR, as the State Historic Preservation Office, to recommend for certification local governments that have put key elements of a sound local preservation program in place in their communities. Designation as CLGs gives local governments a way to participate more formally in the state and national historic preservation programs. General requirements for certification are identified in the federal program; specific requirements for the Virginia program have been established by DHR.

Goals of the Virginia CLG program are threefold:

• Promote viable communities through preservation
• Recognize and reward communities with sound local preservation programs
• Establish credentials of quality for local preservation programs

Requirements and Benefits of participation in the Certified Local Government program.

CLG Grants. Click on link to find out about the specific uses of CLG grant funds.

Currently Virginia has 31 CLGs. Click on link to see the list of localities.

How to Apply for Designation as a Certified Local Government in Virginia

Application Requirements. Click here to see the current requirements for application for designation as a CLG. Additional Information is available from Department of Historic Resources regional offices and from the CLG Program Manager:

Camille Bowman
Manager, CLG Program
Department of Historic Resources
Tidewater Regional Preservation Office
14415 Old Courthouse Way, 2nd Floor
Newport News, Virginia 23608

Phone: (757) 886-2818
Fax:(757) 886-2808

Grants to CLGs encourage development of local historic district design guidelines.

The city of Alexandria, with its long history of preservation, has been a CLG since 1994. The Alexandria Old and Historic District is pictured here.

Leesburg used CLG funds to resurvey its historic district, pictured here, to update its local inventory of historic resources, and to compile a database.



 

The city of Manassas, like a number of CLGs, used CLG funding to prepare, print, and distribute design review guidelines.