Next week, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is hosting a FREE webinar on Historic Preservation Advocacy in the 118th Congress on Thursday, Feb. 23rd at 3pm ET. The webinar will feature national preservation leaders and policy experts to discuss opportunities and challenges for historic preservation advocacy in the new Congress. Learn about the dynamics of the newly divided Congress and discover what is possible over the next two years. Hear about efforts to fund and reauthorize the Historic Preservation Fund, strategies to enhance the Historic Tax Credit, and key opportunities to protect diverse historic places.

The webinar will also feature remarks from the recently confirmed Chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Sara Bronin. Sara Bronin is a Mexican-American architect, attorney, professor, and policymaker whose interdisciplinary work focuses on how law and policy can foster more equitable, sustainable, well-designed, and connected places. She was confirmed by the U.S Senate with unanimous consent in December, becoming the ACHP's 2nd full-time Chair.

This webinar will especially be great background as advocates prepare to attend National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week in just a few short weeks. Learn more and register today!

This month legislation was introduced in the Minnesota House and Senate to reinstate the state's historic tax credit program. The program was allowed to sunset in June of last year, after the legislature adjourned without taking action. This legislation (H.F. 1488, S.F. 1340) would reinstate Minnesota's 20% historic tax credit, repeal the 2022 sunset date, and allow the credit to be taken in one lump sum, instead of being granted over a 5 year period. Efforts to bring back the state's historic tax credit has significant support. The bill was recently advanced by a state House panel, that included testimony from developers, architects, community leaders, and other champions in support of renewing the credit.

Since the program was established in 2010, Minnesota's historic tax credit had been a successful economic development tool to revitalize vacant and underutilized historic properties, creating 29,000 jobs and adding nearly 6 billion to the state economy.

Learn more about these efforts and find out how you can help by checking out our partners at Rethos and RevitalizeMN.

Time is running out to register for National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week 2023, hosted by Preservation Action and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers. Advocacy Week will be held in-person, March 6-8th in Washington, D.C and feature trainings, policy briefings, networking opportunities, and of course in-person hill visits, providing the opportunity to meet with your members of Congress and their staff directly. Be sure to register today! The deadline to register has been extended through Feb. 24th!

We are so excited to be back in-person for Advocacy Week this year to bring our message of preservation-positive legislation directly to lawmakers. We need your voice! As a new Congress gets underway, there will be over 80 new members of Congress, making it critical that lawmakers hear from preservation advocates. We'll need your help as we push to reauthorize the Historic Preservation Fund and continue the growth the program has seen over the last several years. We'll also look to build on our success from the last Congress to advocate for long over due changes and enhancements to the Historic Tax Credit. Register today!

Preservation Action is also currently seeking sponsors Historic Preservation Advocacy Week and our programs throughout the year. Check out Sponsorship Menu to learn more about sponsor opportunities!

National Park Service: "National Park Service Awards $1.1 Million to Protect Over 272 Acres at Four Civil War Battlefields"

Texas: "Over $2 Million in Grants Awarded to Protect and Preserve Austin's Historic Places"

Minnesota: "Opinion: Rectify a Wrong- Renew State Historic Tax Credit"

Maryland: "Maryland Nonprofit Wants Young People to Find a Future in Preserving the Past"

West Virginia: "Historic Preservation Development Grants Available in West Virginia"