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Mackinac Island Accepted to Certified Local Government Program

The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) announced Thursday that the City of Mackinac Island has been accepted to the Certified Local Government (CLG) program following confirmation from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

The Certified Local Government program is a partnership among local, state and national governments. It is focused on promoting historic preservation at the local level.

The National Park Service administers the program in coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office, and certification makes the City of Mackinac Island eligible for specialized technical assistance and programming from SHPO.

Moreover, participation in the program also makes the community eligible for federal grants provided by the U.S. Department of the Interior and administered by SHPO.

The grants can be used for a multitude of preservation activities, including: historic resource surveys, National Register of Historic Places nominations, educational and heritage tourism initiatives, pre-development plans and studies, and rehabilitation of certain historic properties.

“The city of Mackinac Island wishes to express its appreciation to the State Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service,” said Mayor Margaret Doud. “The city and its Historic District Commission, as well as the Mackinac Island Foundation, see this is a great opportunity to receive further guidance and support from the SHPO and the National Park Service. The state and the nation are blessed with this island that has so many historic structures and settings, all of which tell great stories about our heritage.”

“Mackinac Island is one of Michigan’s premier cultural destinations, and it is in large part because of the community’s efforts to maintain the unique history of the community, that so many visitors are drawn to the island year after year,” said Dave Lorenz, vice president of Travel Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “Efforts like the CLG program are extremely important in supporting our tourism industry across the state. We applaud the city of Mackinac Island’s continued commitment to historic preservation.”

According to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, preservation efforts on Mackinac Island date back to 1875, with the federal government’s establishment of Mackinac National Park. This however, would later become Mackinac Island State Park, which covers over 80% of Mackinac Island.

In 1960, the entire island was designated as a National Historic Landmark, recognizing the islands significance to indigenous cultures and its role in the fur trade, defense on the western frontier and the rise of the summer resort industry following the Civil War.

In 2010, the City of Mackinac Island established their first historic districts to protect the character of the island’s heritage assets, and in 2013, two additional districts were established.

Presently, the city continues to build on their preservation ethic by working with property owners and documenting additional sites of significance to the community.

With this certification status, Mackinac Island joins more than 2,000 Certified Local Governments across the United States, including 35 other communities in Michigan.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation states that there is no cost to join the program, but certain requirements must be met.

These requirements include the following: having a historic district ordinance, appointing a historic district commission to review proposed work in locally designated historic districts, encouraging public participation in the local historic preservation program and seeking ways to identify, protect and celebrate important historic resources in the community.

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