Voice Benefits of Preservation, Arts, and Humanities Activity
As federal and state leaders reshape government, we hope that you'll communicate the economic and social benefits of historic preservation and intersecting activities like arts and humanities to federal and state leaders.
Here is an excerpt from our recent communication to our federal delegation about the Historic Preservation Fund and a link to information about generating rehabilitation and housing with more CDFA tax credits, our top state policy priority.
We have also included advocacy alerts from colleagues at the NH Humanities Council and Advocates 4 Arts in New Hampshire below.
From N.H. Preservation Alliance
In New Hampshire, the Historic Preservation Fund provides critical support for functions of our state historic preservation office (N.H. Division of Historical Resources or DHR) that bring economic benefits to local communities and the state. DHR’s National Register, Federal Rehabilitation Historic Tax Credit and other programs are central to both the effectiveness of federal historic preservation program and success on the ground in New Hampshire. As you know, historic preservation activity supports good-paying jobs and keeps more money circulating in local communities than new construction. It protects and enhances the kinds of places that draw and hold residents, visitors and businesses. Two recent snapshots of recent DHR work leading to significant benefits fueled by HPF are the transformational revitalization of the Stevens Mill in Franklin and the National Historic Landmark designation of the popular Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough.
Without adequate HPF support, DHR will be unable to help communities direct future investment, prepare for severe weather-related events, conduct timely compliance reviews for investments by developers and communities, and aid old building re-use projects that create much-needed housing.
At the State House, we hope that our proposal with partners to increase available CDFA tax credits to provide opportunities for more housing and other uses in older structures is included in the state budget.
From N.H. Humanities
For 50 years, New Hampshire Humanities has provided wide-ranging and thought-provoking humanities programs that connect people across New Hampshire to culture, history, places, ideas, and each other through free public events, literacy programs, and grantmaking.
ALERT! The National Endowment for the Humanities is facing severe proposed cuts to both funding and staff, threatening the very foundation of our work. Cuts to our critical federal funding would force us to drastically reduce or eliminate grant-making, leaving hundreds of libraries, schools, museums, and nonprofits without essential support. Contact your Congressional representative today and urge them to preserve the stories, histories, cultures, and conversations that make New Hampshire communities strong and vibrant. Visit our website for sample messages and other resources: www.nhhumanities.org/protectNEH and view our public statement here.
From Arts 4 NH
Call to action: New Hampshire is facing potential budget cuts to the State Council on the Arts (NHSCA) both from State and Federal funding sources. This is an opportunity both to advocate for funding the arts, but also to bring together NH’s creative community to tell a new story about how robust and vital the arts are to NH’s culture, economy and health.
https://arts4nh.org/advocateforthearts
Questions or suggestions? Contact Preservation Alliance executive director Jennifer Goodman at jg@nhpreservation.org or 224-2281.