Polk Achieves Certification for Interior Department Services, Historic Preservation Grants

In a move that will open the door to obtaining additional historic preservation program funding, grants, training, and technical assistance, Polk County has been designated a nationally Certified Local Government Program by the United States Department of the Interior.

Courtesy Josh Hallett via Flickr

The historic Polk County Courthouse in Bartow is now a center for the history of the area. The facility includes a genealogical library and database.

In addition to access to resources for the county, the designation will also be a tool to help Polk County property owners who are seeking historical designations, according to Polk officials.

"Polk County's history is a source of pride for our residents and this county," said County Manager Bill Beasley. "This distinction will allow us to better maintain our historical and architectural values. We are very honored to have been designated as a Certified Local Government and we are very grateful to our Historic Preservation Manager Myrtice Young and her team."

The Certified Local Government (CLG) Program was enacted as part of the National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 1980. The program links three levels of government: federal, state and local, into a preservation partnership for the identification, evaluation and protection of historic properties.

The Board of County Commissioners adopted the Polk County Historic Preservation Ordinance in December, 2023 that makes historic preservation in Polk a matter of public policy. The ordinance also enabled the Polk County History Center, with the support of the Polk County Historical Commission, to recommend Polk County for the national Certified Local Government Program.

More information about the Certified Local Government program is available at nps.gov/subjects/clg.