On February 23, 2016 Preservation Maryland joined together advocates and partners from across the state to make the case to State decision-makers for the value of Maryland’s history. Speaking with one voice, Marylanders joined together to let their state legislators know that our history is worth protecting and highlighted the specific policies, programs, and funding that makes preservation possible.
OUR PRESERVATION PLATFORM
The Preservation Platform that our team of advocates used as the basis for their meetings calls for restored funding of $1.5 million for traditional history and preservation grant programs divided evenly between capital grants, museum grants, and survey-and-research grants—these grants have gone unfunded since 2010. It also calls for level funding of $1 million for the African-American Heritage Grant program.
In addition, the Platform calls for increasing funding to $30 million for the state’s historic rehabilitation tax credit, officially known as the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit. Advocates explained that the current $9 million available for historic rehabilitation tax credits in Maryland is simply not meeting demand—and pales in comparison to the $100 million Virginia invests annually.
Those in attendance also advocated for Main Street Maryland, and the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Community Legacy, Community Investment Tax Credit and Neighborhood BusinessWorks programs—each a critical tool for enhancing economic prosperity in the state’s traditional communities and downtowns.
The day’s activities started with a morning briefing led by Preservation Maryland Executive Director Nicholas Redding and hosted by the Historic Annapolis Foundation at the James Brice House, just two blocks from the State House. After the training session, registrants spread out across the complex of House and Senate office buildings to carry the message in one-on-one meetings with their State Legislators. In total, over 80 meetings were held. Following a day of meetings, participants returned to the Brice House for a reception that entertained the advocates and elected officials who attended.
Ultimately, the real value of these efforts is in giving Maryland history a voice—and a seat at the table.
Preservation Maryland is extremely grateful to the many organizations that joined the effort to co-sponsor this event, including the Maryland Association of Historic District Commissions, the Campaign for Maryland History, the Maryland Historic Tax Credit Coalition, the Maryland Heritage Council, the Maryland Humanities Council, the Maryland Heritage Area Coalition and the Historic Annapolis Foundation.
EVENT PHOTOS
