FRANKFORT, Ky. — Nine projects in seven communities were recently awarded Kentucky Certified Local Government (CLG) Program grants, including three to the city of Covington to support instructors, supplies and consultant fees for the newly established Covington Academy of Heritage Trades (CAHT). CLG funding has been the lynchpin for this new hands-on training program focused on traditional building skills, which also received three start-up grants in 2021.
Also receiving grants totaling $103,058 for FY 2022-23 projected in Bardstown, Boone County, Frankfort, LaGrange, Newport and Pikeville, with local matches of $68,706 in funding and in-kind services creating a total investment of $171,764. The CLG program is administered by the Kentucky Heritage Council/State Historic Preservation Office (KHC), with grant funds allocated annually by the National Park Service to participating communities.
The nonprofit academy’s mission is to provide an opportunity for individuals to learn a trade greatly needed in Northern Kentucky and the greater region and to enable economic mobility while preserving and protecting historic properties.
“Covington has quantified Kentucky’s pressing need for skilled preservation tradespeople, and through their commitment to preservation as a CLG community, the city is now able to apply for this funding as a resource to fill that need,” said Dr. Orloff Miller, KHC’s CLG Program and Planning Coordinator.
Contracts were recently executed for selected CLG projects, approved in July by the KHC board. Activities must directly support goals outlined in Kentucky’s state historic preservation plan. Those charged with training and implementing projects must adhere to the federal Secretary of the Interior’s standards for treating historic properties.
Other funded projects include a design review guidelines update for Bardstown, a revised National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Dinsmore House in Boone County to include African American historical context, a historic preservation economic impact study for Frankfort, and funds for local and elected officials to attend professional training. Project descriptions follow.
CLG designation offers a way for local governments to develop a comprehensive approach to historic preservation and promote the integration of preservation interests into the planning process. City and county-wide historic preservation commissions must become designated to qualify for the grants, made available through a federal Historic Preservation Fund pass-through to state historic preservation offices to assist their work in recognizing, protecting, and saving historic places.
2022-23 Certified Local Government Program funded projects
Bardstown – Design Review Guidelines Update ($4,200 federal, $2,800 local match, $7,000 total impact)The city of Bardstown proposes contracting with Rachel Kennedy of CARDNO to update local Design Review Guidelines for the Bardstown Historic Preservation Review Board (HRB). Updates will include the Introduction detailing the role of the HRB, the design review process, grants and financial incentives; Historic Architectural Styles and Types, which will incorporate guidance for additional housing styles to include Ranch, Minimal Traditional, and Split-level as well as new detail on historic commercial buildings; and Local Historic Districts, which will include updated maps and historic district boundaries, architectural significance, and styles and types within the districts. Public meetings will be incorporated into the revision process.Â
Boone County – Revised National Register Nomination of Dinsmore House to include African American Historic Context ($7,500 federal, $5,000 local match, $12,500 total impact).The Boone County Historic Preservation Review Board and Boone County Public Library will collaborate to manage a contracted consultant to expand upon the current Dinsmore House National Register of Historic Places nomination, originally listed in 1979, to include documentation of significance under Criterion A reflecting extensive African American occupation of the site. The consultant will coordinate with Kentucky Heritage Council staff and local and state review boards. Dr. Eric Jackson will participate in the project in an advisory role as Director of Northern Kentucky University’s Black Studies Program, as a Dinsmore Homestead Foundation Board Member and as an advisor to the “African Americans of Boone County” survey initiative.
Covington (Grant 1) – Instructors, Covington Academy of Heritage Trades ($24,999 federal, $16,666 local match, $41,665 total impact)The city of Covington requested the largest grant amount to hire instructors for a single course to train students at the Covington Academy of Heritage Trades (CAHT). Funds will reduce per-student tuition costs for workshops taught by these instructors, as these instructors will be hired by the workshop, not as long-term employees. Tuition income will be applied to the match. Covington is establishing the CAHT to teach students highly specialized skills needed to complete repairs necessary to preserve historic properties. To maximize classroom utilization and scholarship availability, CAHT will prioritize Covington applicants from underserved communities, especially women, veterans, and recent high school graduates.
Covington (Grant 2) – Supplies, Covington Academy of Heritage Trades ($18,000 federal, $12,000 local match, $30,000 total impact)The city of Covington requests grants funds to purchase supplies for students enrolled in the Covington Academy of Heritage Trades. Funds will help reduce student tuition costs, purchase supplies to assist with training and help keep the academy financially solvent. With the actual supplies cost estimate exceeding $100,000, this grant would cover enough workshops for the coming year. Any supplies remaining outside the grant period will be used for their original purpose until consumed.
Covington (Grant 3) – Consultant’s Fees, Covington Academy of Heritage Trades ($9,000 federal, $6,051 local match, $15,051 total impact)The city of Covington is seeking grant funds to hire a consultant to facilitate setting up the Covington Academy of Heritage Trades. This consultant would be responsible for coordinating workshop and trainer schedules, recruiting students, processing applications and other logistics critical to student success. The funds requested will also help reduce workshop tuition costs. An economic analysis paid for in part by an FY21 CLG Grant concluded that for planning purposes, Covington should have at least one consultant assist with logistical and administrative needs for the academy in addition to the city’s historic preservation coordinator, Christopher Myers. CAHT hosted is first workshop/open house in June.
Frankfort – Economic Impact Study of Historic Preservation Activities in Frankfort ($24,999 federal, $20,000 local match, total impact $45,000)This application from the city of Frankfort is to create a Certified Local Government subgrant to conduct an economic impact analysis of historic preservation activity in the community. This document will quantify the impacts of historic preservation and rehabilitation on the local economy. Metrics that may be considered for inclusion are a total investment, jobs created, property values and their impact on tax-base growth, and heritage tourism. The report will provide concrete data for future decision-making and historic preservation planning. The anticipated cost to hire an experienced, qualified firm that has previously conducted local historic preservation economic impact analyses will be approximately $45,000. Vicki Birenberg, AICP, Frankfort Historic Preservation Officer, will oversee the project.
LaGrange – Commission Assistance & Mentoring Program (CAMP) Training for Commissioners, Elected Officials and Property Owners ($4,860 federal, $3,240 local match, $8,100 total impact)After consulting with property owners in local historic districts and analyzing the most common questions from the public and elected officials, the city of LaGrange is seeking grant funding for historic preservation training through the Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program (CAMP) provided by the National Association of Preservation Commissions (NAPC). The weekend program would accommodate in-person training for a six-session workshop targeting three core audiences: historic district property owners, elected officials and LaGrange Historic District Commissioners.
Newport – Annual Northern Kentucky Restoration Weekend 2023 ($6,500 federal, $4,505 local match, $11,005 total impact)The city of Newport is applying for grant funds to sponsor the 12th annual NKY Restoration Weekend in partnership with Bellevue and Newport, partner Northern Kentucky CLG programs. NKY Restoration Weekend is an educational, multi-day, free event open to anyone interested in learning more about various topics relating to historic preservation. Specifically, the city is requesting funds to offset project management costs, printing, postage, physical set up and a meal for those attending the AIA AICP professional workshop, in addition to live streaming and recording public workshops.
Pikeville – Board Attendance at the 2022 National Alliance of Preservation Commission Forum Conference July 13-17 in Cincinnati, OH ($3,000 federal, $2,221 local, $5,221 total impact)The city of Pikeville requested grant funding for local officials to attend the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions Forum 2022, which took place July 13-17 in Cincinnati, OH. Historic Preservation Review Board members and staff had an opportunity to attend educational programs and tours of historic properties. Costs included registration fees for five board members plus the CLG Coordinator, travel, expenses and hotel costs.
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