2025-108

WHEREAS, The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) operates under the National Park Service (NPS) and provides financial assistance to states to carry out activities related to historic preservation;

WHEREAS, the HPF is funded by oil and gas leases, not taxpayer dollars;

WHEREAS, the funds have already been approved by Congress in March 2025;

WHEREAS, the NPS is withholding funds which causes State Historic Preservation Offices (SHIPOs) to be severely under-funded leading to layoffs and the halting of preservation projects;

WHEREAS, SHIPO reviews National Register Nominations that bolster our cultural assets, processes Historic Tax Credits critical to housing development, and issues grant money for preservation efforts through the Certified Local Grant (CLG) grant program;

WHEREAS, Newport has received hundreds of thousands of dollars of CLG grant money to aid in historic preservation efforts;

WHEREAS, historic preservation is crucial to Newport’s cultural significance, sense of place, and tourism economy;

WHEREAS, without the support of SHIPO, Newport will lose out on grant opportunities that directly impact historic preservation. Whereas, local developers who rely on historic tax credits to appropriately restore buildings for housing or public use will be severely impacted by the loss of tax credits; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Newport City Council asks the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation to urge the NPS to release the appropriated funding to allow the City and other preservation offices to continue essential work; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, that the Newport City Council urges the Delegation to support future HPF funding In the 2026 proposed budget; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to each member of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.

LYNN UNDERWOOD CEGLIE

IN COUNCIL
READ AND PASSED
JUNE 11, 2025

LAURA C SWISTAK, CMC
CITY CLERK