PRATTVILLE BECOMES A CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT

02/24/21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Wendi Lewis, Marketing and Public Relations Manager  

wendi.lewis@ahc.alabama.gov, 334-230-2680

 

February 19, 2021

 

Prattville Becomes A Certified Local Government

 

(Montgomery, AL) The Alabama Historical Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, announces the latest municipality to join the Certified Local Government program.

On December 21, 2020, the National Park Service (NPS) in Washington, D.C. certified the city of Prattville as Alabama’s newest Certified Local Government.

A Certified Local Government (CLG) is a town or city that demonstrates its commitment to preserving what is important from the past for future generations through a partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) and the Alabama Historical Commission (AHC). A town or city becomes a CLG by enacting a special historic preservation ordinance, enforcing the ordinance through a local preservation commission, and meeting minimum standards for certified local governments as determined by the National Park service and the Alabama Historical Commission. Only cities and towns with a comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance can adopt a preservation ordinance, one of the cornerstones of the CLG program.

The Alabama Historical Commission receives an annual appropriation from the Federal Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) and is required to grant at least 10% of their funding to CLGs. These grants can fund a wide variety of historic preservation projects such as architectural surveys, National Register nominations, rehabilitation work, design guidelines, educational programs, training, structural assessments, and feasibility studies.

Historic preservation has proven economic, environmental, and social benefits. Studies show that historic districts maintain higher property values, less population decline, more walkability and greater sense of community. Through a public process, cities can opt to have more local control over development in locally designated historic districts.

Prattville joins a network of Certified Local Governments across the United States. The CLG program encourages decision-making about historic preservation at the local level with input from citizens and local government. Alabama has 31 CLGs across the state. For a complete list please visit https://ahc.alabama.gov/CLG.aspx.

“We are proud to Welcome Prattville as the 31st addition to Alabama’s network of Certified Local Governments and look forward to continuing to support its preservation efforts through our professional staff and through the CLG grant program,” said Eddie Griffith, Alabama Historical Commission Chairman. “Prattville’s commitment to preservation is creating a vibrant downtown district attracting both residents and visitors.”

Founded in 1839 as a manufacturing town, Prattville still retains many historic structures throughout its quaint, walkable downtown. Prattville’s significant history was recognized by the Alabama Historical Commission and the National Park Service when the downtown was listed to the National Register of Historic Places on August 30, 1984. Listed as the Daniel Pratt Historic District, it covers 140 acres and consists of over two hundred properties representing a diverse collection of commercial, industrial, residential, and institutional architecture.

 

About the Alabama Historical Commission

Located in historic downtown Montgomery at 468 S. Perry Street, the Alabama Historical Commission is the state historic preservation agency for Alabama. The agency was created by an act of the state legislature in 1966 with a mission to protect, preserve and interpret Alabama’s historic places. AHC works to accomplish its mission through two fields of endeavor: Preservation and promotion of state-owned historic sites as public attractions; and, statewide programs to assist people, groups, towns, and cities with local preservation activities. For a complete list of programs and properties owned and operated by the AHC, hours of operation, and admission fees please visit ahc.alabama.gov.  

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