Standing Up For Federal Historic Preservation Investment
As our nation approaches our 250th anniversary in 2026, it is clear why we celebrate historic preservation. Our built environment embodies the craftsmanship, investment, and ingenuity of citizens who came before us. They built and defended the nation we enjoy today. We honor them by preserving the sites and buildings of their creation so that those who come after us will hold the same passion for places that we enjoy.
The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) represents the federal government’s investment into a public/private partnership to save these important historic sites that respect our shared past. Federal allocations are matched “dollar for dollar” by state funding to manage a federal/state/private partnership that enables use of Historic Tax Credits through the National Park Service and the National Register of Historic Places.
Despite being fully funded by Congress in March 2025 through a Continuing Resolution, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 appropriations for the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) still have not been released for the needed, intended investments. This delay threatens the work of our North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (NC SHPO) by short funding North Carolina’s federal/state program.
Additionally, the Administration’s proposed FY 2026 federal budget would slash the federal share of the partnership entirely — dramatically reducing the ability of our NC SHPO to fulfill its role in federal/state work.
What’s at risk?
last year, the NC SHPO received about $1.3 million of federal support, which amounts to about 40% of the department’s annual budget. The SHPO is responsible for a number of tasks that keep our innovative public/private partnership working efficiently.
- In partnership with the National Park Service, the NC SHPO manages nominations to the National Register. In North Carolina, this can include a variety of places including rural historic districts, large brick textile mills, and classic decommissioned schoolhouses that represent our state’s contribution to the nation’s history.
- In partnership with the National Park Service, the NC SHPO carefully reviews applications for Historic Tax Credits (HTCs). HTCs bring private sector investment through small businesses, developers, and even homeowners to encourage rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of National Register properties.
- In partnership with local communities, the NC SHPO certifies local governing commissions in best practices for working with developers and homeowners to reinvest in our historic buildings. They guide local commissions in making design review decisions based on fact, not feelings.
- In partnership with the NC Department of Transportation and other departments, the SHPO works to make sure a government investment does not adversely affect historic places. This includes widening roads or locating new roads in ways that least impact places important to our history.
All of these tasks require skilled staff that understand applicable laws and keep these important processes functioning efficiently. Our state will experience slower approvals for rehabilitation projects using Historic Tax Credits, project development review, and National Register nominations ahead of our celebrational 250th year.
This impacts everyone, from the specialized historic trades to the downtown denizens that create vibrant and functioning businesses that generate economic growth. Our historic downtowns have been likened to “business incubators” through rents to make tenant occupation more attainable. With more businesses in the historic cores of our cities, the higher the quality of life in our communities. From specialized craftsmen, to plumbers, architects and contractors, local investment is at risk when we lose tax incentive opportunities to revitalize our communities through historic preservation.
Collectively, since 1976, HTCs have leveraged $3.849 billion of private investment across 91 of our 100 counties. In a state with the deep history that North Carolina has, preservation is a big business that is critical to our economic success through cultural and heritage tourism. Let’s not slow our momentum.
Congress needs to hear from you.
Take Action Today:
Urge your federal elected officials to:
- Immediately release FY25 HPF funding so the North Carolina SHPO can continue their critical, federally mandated work.
- Robustly fund the HPF in FY26 to support preservation ahead of our nation’s 250th anniversary to tell the full American story.
If you are unsure of your congressional representation, our partners at the National Trust have made it easy to connect: click here and simply fill out your address information to identify your members in Congress. Then, you can send a customizable letter to your representatives now to urge them to do their part to preserve the full history of our nation and the many important stories that contribute to the American experience. Feel free to add in your own story about what the critical work of the HPF means to you and your community.
North Carolina’s important past deserves a future. Make your voice heard.
Claire Edwards, Chair of the Preservation North Carolina Board of Directors
Benjamin Briggs, President and CEO of Preservation North Carolina
