Harrisburg, PA – To help protect and celebrate Pennsylvania’s rich local history, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) awarded $151,477 in grants on March 19, 2026. These funds will go to six municipalities across the state to support their local historic preservation efforts.
The grants are awarded to communities designated as Certified Local Governments (CLG). The CLG program is a unique partnership between municipal governments, the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office, and the National Park Service.
Earning the CLG title is a true mark of distinction. It shows that a municipality views the preservation of its historic character as a vital part of its ongoing economic and community development and is committed to following best practices.
In return for this commitment, participating communities receive access to expert technical assistance, availability to dedicated grant funding, and increased credibility for preservation activities. The money for these grants comes from the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Fund, with Pennsylvania passing 10% of its federal share directly to these local partners through a competitive grant process.
These grants, awarded under Federal Fiscal Year 2025 funding, give local leaders the financial support they need to actively protect their community’s heritage. This year’s funding will be used to make publicly available significant historic records, update historic preservation ordinances, conduct historic surveys, and research historic contexts.
Funded projects include:
- City of Allentown ($25,000): to digitize and make publicly available historically significant records that document the development, planning, and cultural history of the City, and to update the City’s Design Guidelines.
- Borough of Ambridge ($13,500): to update the historic preservation ordinance for the borough, including public engagement and stakeholder outreach.
- City of Erie ($25,000): to create a multiple property documentation form and accompanying National Register nomination for Erie’s firefighter and firehouse history.
- City of Harrisburg ($21,000): to create a publicly accessible digital archive, with support for scanning and metadata oversight.
- Lower Makefield Township ($25,000): to conduct historic resources survey of properties within the Township, focused on properties dating through 1945.
- City of Pittsburgh ($25,000): to create a social historic context for LGBTQ+ history in the city.
Note: An additional $16,977 has been set aside for CLGs to apply for scholarships and mini-grants.
About The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office
The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) is the official historic preservation agency for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A bureau within the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, the PA SHPO administers state historic preservation programs authorized through the Pennsylvania History Code (Title 37) and manages several federal programs created by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA, 16 U.S.C. 470).
The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission is the official history agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Learn more by visiting PHMC online or following us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram or LinkedIn.