In 1980, Congress enhanced the role of local governments in the nation's historic preservation program that was set forth in the National Historic Preservation Act by establishing the Certified Local Government Program. The certification program supports local governments willing to make a commitment to historic preservation.
A Certified Local Government or "CLG" demonstrates its commitment to historic preservation by enacting a preservation ordinance and establishing a citizen-led commission to oversee the local preservation program. As a CLG, the community is a partner in preservation with the Historic Preservation Division (HPD) and the National Park Service.
A National Park Service program enabled by the National Historic Preservation Act, the CLG program gives municipalities the option of strengthening local historic preservation activities through exclusive funding incentives and enhanced technical assistance from HPD.
In New Mexico, the CLG program is administered by the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division. For more information on the CLG program or how to become certified, download the CLG Program Manual, or the guiding legislation, below.
The Village of Santa Clara has been a CLG since 2017 and has utilized CLG grant funding for preservation work at Fort Bayard.
The National Park Service has a website with FAQs about the CLG Program:
Certified Local Government Program Information
Grants to Certified Local Government Communities
HPD must set aside 10% of its annual Historic Preservation Fund allocation for a grant program to communities that are certified through the National Park Service as a Certified Local Government. The CLG Grant program is an annual program. Please see the Funding Opportunities & Financial Assistance page for more detailed information about CLG grants.
A Grant Announcement will be sent out to all CLG communities and is posted below. Please read the Grant Announcement to learn more about these financial incentives for advancing preservation in your community.
The CLG grant announcement, application forms, guiding documents, and grant reporting forms may be found below. The deadline for applications is Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Related Documents
Certified Local Government Program — Information
CLG Grants — Information
CLG Grants — Application Materials
All of the grant application forms are available for download below. Please complete the forms per examples in the New Mexico Grants Manual, available above.
CLG Grants — Reporting Documents & Forms
These forms are used by grant recipients while a grant is in process or being completed.