FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 2, 2026) — Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that seven Certified Local Government (CLG) Program communities received $113,500 in federal grant funding to support projects focused on preservation efforts, including public education, documentation and community revitalization.
“These investments help our communities protect the places that make our New Kentucky Home special while creating new opportunities for tourism and economic growth,” said Gov. Beshear. “Congratulations to all the recipients and thank you for your commitment to strengthening our communities.”
The city of Frankfort received $22,500 in grant funding to complete the survey of the Holmes Street Corridor. The project includes a summary report providing a historic context for the neighborhood and recommending boundaries for a potential National Register historic district. It also supports the city’s ongoing efforts to document and evaluate historic resources.
“The city of Frankfort is very pleased to receive this award, which furthers our preservation planning efforts to eventually achieve a National Register designation for this neighborhood,” said Vicki Birenberg, Frankfort’s historic preservation officer. “This neighborhood is undergoing a transformation with federal funding to promote complete streets and aesthetic improvements. Planning to preserve its essential character while providing rehabilitation incentives benefits the city and its current and future residents."
La Grange received $7,983 to host a series of workshops, themed “Show Me the Money!” to highlight the economic benefits of historic preservation. The workshops will target households and businesses within the Central Historic District and Russell Court Historic District, as well as local officials, contractors, Main Street members, the Tourism Board, the Chamber of Commerce, realtors, insurance brokers, contractors and surrounding CLGs.
“We are excited to have CLG grant funding for this year’s project, ‘Show Me the Money!’, which is a public outreach/educational series of workshops and printed materials on the financial and economic benefits of owning property in a historic district,” said Barbara Manley Calloway, La Grange Historic Districts Commission coordinator.
The federal funding is matched by local investments totaling $76,689. The CLG Program is a partnership among the National Park Service, the Kentucky Heritage Council and local governments to promote historic preservation. Grant recipients for the 2026 federal fiscal year include:
- City of Frankfort – Holmes Street Corridor Survey
Federal grant: $22,500 | Total project: $37,500
Funding will support the completion of Phase II of the survey of the Holmes Street Corridor.
- City of Frankfort – 2027 Historic Preservation Conference
Federal grant: $5,000 | Total project: $8,334
The city of Frankfort is hosting the next statewide Historic Preservation Conference, scheduled May 12-14, 2027. This is a biennial, educational event that brings together preservation professionals, city officials and community leaders from across Kentucky to learn about best practices and emerging trends in historic preservation.
- City of Hopkinsville – Survey of Historic Districts
Federal grant $22,500 | Total project: $37,500
Funding to help complete a survey of properties in Hopkinsville’s historic districts.
- City of Paducah – Survey and National Register of Historic Places Nomination
Federal grant $18,000 | Total project: $30,000
Grant funding will support surveying and the creation of a National Register nomination for the Broad Street district. The city also plans to implement a structured and inclusive community engagement strategy, including neighborhood meetings, press releases and other targeted communication channels, to educate residents and property owners about the National Register process, encourage feedback and participation.
- City of Newport – Public Workshop
Federal grant $10,000 | Total project: $16,690
Funding will support hosting a public archive workshop focused on the Southgate Street School. The free workshop will engage community members who maintain historical records, photographs and artifacts, providing guidance on protecting and preserving these materials.
- City of Newport – CAMP training
Federal grant: $3,541 | Total project: $6,900
The cities of Newport and Covington, in partnership with the Northern Kentucky Association of Realtors (NKAR), are receiving funding to host a Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program (CAMP) Workshop offered through the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC) for local realtors.
- City of Covington – Northern Kentucky Restoration Weekend
Federal grant $9,000 | Total project: $15,000
The City of Covington, in partnership with the City of Newport and Boone County, will utilize the funding to host the 16th Annual Northern Kentucky Restoration Weekend (NKYRW). This is a free educational event focused on preservation education for homeowners.
- City of Covington – Covington Academy of Heritage Trades
Federal grant $8,976 | Total project: $14,960
Grant funding will support the hiring of instructors to train students at the Covington Academy of Heritage Trades (CAHT). Covington established CAHT to teach students the highly specialized skills needed to complete repairs and preservation work on historic properties.
- City of LaGrange – Community Outreach
Federal grant $7,983 | Total project: $13,305
Funding will support a series of community outreach and educational events on the economic benefits of historic preservation.
- Boone County – Updating Documentation District Design Review Guidelines
Federal grant: $6,000 | Total project: $10,000
Grant funding will support updating the Burlington Historic District Design Review Guidelines, which will serve as a template for developing design review guidelines across the county.
Grant funding is allocated through the CLG Program, administered by the Kentucky Heritage Council/State Historic Preservation Office (KHC). Communities must meet specific criteria to become certified and remain eligible for annual grants.
City- and county-wide historic preservation commissions must earn CLG designation to qualify for the grants, made available through an annual allocation to KHC from the federal Historic Preservation Fund and jointly administered by the National Park Service (NPS). Grant awards require a local match of at least 40 percent. For the fiscal year 2026 cycle, adding the $76,689 in local matches with the grant awards brings the total investment in these seven communities to $190,189. 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. To qualify, local governments must meet five broad standards, including enacting a historic preservation ordinance and appointing a qualified preservation commission or architectural review board. In addition to grant eligibility, CLG benefits include access to technical assistance from both KHC and NPS.
Kentucky currently has 24 designated CLGs. Grants recommended for funding in the current cycle were approved by the KHC board in April, and projects must be completed by Aug. 1, 2027. Funded projects and qualified professionals engaged in training must adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Rehabilitation.
For information about becoming a CLG, contact Nicole Roth, site identification program administrator, at 502-892-3606, or visit Heritage.Ky.Gov.