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Certified Local Governments

Certified Local Government (CLG) Program

The designation Certified Local Government indicates that a municipality meets certain qualifications and is therefore "certified" to carry out specific regulatory and administrative preservation activities at the local level. To apply for this federal designation, a city or town must have:

  • A local preservation ordinance for the designation and protection of local properties
  • An active and qualified historic preservation commission
  • A qualified professional staff person to support the commission
  • An up-to-date inventory of historic properties within its jurisdiction.

In addition, the community must:

  • Participate in the process of nominating properties to the National Register of Historic Places
  • Provide for public participation in its meetings and activities.

Pendleton Historic District West End Historic District New Albany Historic District

(L to R) Pendleton Historic District, Madison Co.; West End Historic District, Fort Wayne, Allen Co.; and Downtown New Albany Historic District, Floyd Co.

Benefits to the community

CLG communities qualify for technical assistance and training opportunities from the DHPA, gain a significant competitive advantage in applying for federal Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) grants, and receive a more advantageous grant-to-match ratio under this program. Federal guidelines require that at least 10% of each state's annual HPF allocation be disbursed to CLG communities.  More than $100,000 in grant funding is awarded to Indiana’s CLGs each year.  Learn more about the HPF grant program here.

Indiana’s CLG communities include:

  • Bloomington
  • Carmel
  • Crown Point
  • Elkhart
  • Evansville
  • Fort Wayne
  • Huntington
  • Lafayette
  • LaPorte
  • Logansport
  • Madison
  • Mishawaka
  • Monroe County (excluding incorporated communities)
  • Muncie
  • Nappanee
  • New Albany
  • Newburgh
  • Pendleton
  • Richmond
  • St. Joseph County (excluding incorporated communities)
  • South Bend