Latest posts tagged in Advocacy

Advocacy

Preservation Maryland works at the federal, state and local level to influence the policies, programs and funding mechanisms that make preservation possible. Advocacy remains one of the primary activities of the organization because of the dramatic scale of its impact.

2019 Legislative Priorities

Historic Revitalization Tax Credit
Historic Preservation Grant Fund
Smart Growth Investment Fund
Program Open Space and Maryland Heritage Areas

Bills to watch

Rather than just saving one building, aggressive advocacy gives us an opportunity to save thousands of buildings.

The following advocacy issues represent our current portfolio of active efforts. Each issue presents itself with an opportunity to get involved – and each urgently requires donor support to make them a success.

2019 Priority Preservation & Conservation Issues

Report: The 2019 Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly came to a close on Monday, April 8, 2019. After 90 days of championing key bills and testifying on many other pieces of important legislation, it is safe to say that Preservation Maryland had one of its busiest legislative sessions in recent history. With Session adjourned until January 2020, we are happy to report that we were able to accomplish significant advances for preservation and smart growth in Maryland.

Read our 2019 end of session report

Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit

The revitalization of Maryland communities is fueled by the Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit program. Senator Bill Ferguson and Delegate Brooke Lierman of Baltimore’s District 46 plans to introduce legislation that will strengthen this effective community redevelopment tool.

HISTORIC TAX CREDITS WORK FOR MARYLAND

As of FY19, Maryland invested only $9M in the Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit program for the year for the entire state. By comparison, Virginia invests nearly $100M annually, and West Virginia invests $30M. Maryland is falling behind. This legislation will require the Governor to appropriate at least $20M annually for this essential program and will extend the authorization of the program through 2024.

COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION

We recognize the positive impact that historic preservation projects can have for the surrounding community. This new legislation will help incentivize the use of historic buildings to create affordable housing. The forthcoming bill would:

  1. Better convey the catalytic nature of historic tax credit projects by changing the name of the program to the Historic Revitalization Tax Credit,
  2. Allow the state Historic Tax Credit to be used more easily for contiguous small residential projects,
  3. Allow the state Historic Tax Credit to be transferred outside of development partnerships. This would go a long way to offset the damaging impact the change to the federal Historic Tax Credit, that came out of recent tax reform, will have on community redevelopment, and
  4. Create two pilot resource specific pilot programs for agricultural structures in rural communities and mid-century modern resources in suburban Maryland.

Preservation Grant Funding

Maryland’s preservation grant programs had gone completely unfunded since FY10. Because of our advocacy, in FY18, funding was restored to the Capital and Non-Capital grant programs. Current funding is still at starvation level. We must and will do more to support those safe-guarding our state’s rich and unique history.

CURRENT GRANT PROGRAM FUNDING: $800K
TOTAL FY20 REQUEST: $1M

  1. Capital Grant Program
    Current Funding: $600k
    FY20 Capital Request: $600k
    This program funds capital upgrades and repairs to certified historic structures owned by non-profits and local governments. It is operated as a competitively-awarded program with statewide reach and impact.
  2. Non-Capital Grants (Planning & Research)
    Current Funding: $0
    FY20 Operating Request: $400k
    This program was previously funded via the state operating budget. This program awarded competitive grants for architectural and archaeological research, survey and documentation, public education, and planning projects. The program directly supported local government efforts to preserve places important to their constituents.

Smart Growth Investment Fund

The Smart Growth Investment Fund was established to help provide loan guarantees for smart growth infill projects. The Fund will help incentivize growth and revitalization in existing communities, protecting critical natural, cultural, and historic resources from development and sprawl. Legislation this Session (SB3) will appropriate $7M for the Fund.

Program Open Space

In 1969, the Maryland General Assembly created Program Open Space through the institution of a transfer tax of .5% on every real estate transaction in the state. Since then the program has been responsible for:

The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority is funded by Program Open Space. Preservation Maryland supports full funding of Program Open Space and the Heritage Area Authority, opposes any attempts to shortcut, reduce, or cap the program in any way, and supports the repayment of previous diversions from the fund.

Learn More About the Issues

Main Street

Main Street Maryland’s traditional downtown economic and cultural districts are the cornerstones of local communities throughout the State of Maryland.

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Maryland Heritage Areas

Promoting and enhancing the history of Maryland is a big job – and one that fuels one of the state’s most important industries: Heritage Tourism.

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Program Open Space

Thanks to this program, nearly all Marylanders are just 15 minutes away from a state, local park or public open space.

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State Agency Funding

Several key state agencies are charged with protecting Maryland’s history – a job that requires adequate resources.

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Local Incentives

All across the state, local governments have realized the value of a well-preserved community and many offer lucrative programs to assist with rehab efforts.

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State Grants

State funding for preservation benefits all Marylanders – and has saved historic resources from Oakland to Ocean City.

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Maryland Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit

In Maryland, tax credits for rehab projects have saved thousands of historic buildings statewide and created billions in state revenue.

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Federal Issues

Federal agencies oversee key funding programs and policies that protect America’s historic resources from needless destruction.

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