State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Update
 amendments passed in budget bill

On July 20 Governor Strickland signed two amendments, introduced by Senator Kirk Schuring, ensuring that the state's historic preservation tax credit program will continue. One covers special allocation of tax credits, the other the Ohio HTC loan guarantee program. To date approved HTC projects totaling over $1 billion in construction costs have generated hundreds of millions in increased state and local taxes.

 

 2009 Certified Local Government Grants
 $100,000 awarded

The Ohio Historic Preservation Office has announced that eight communities received awards this year: Berea, Brookfield Township, Canal Winchester, Cleveland, Columbus, Euclid, Massillon and Mt. Pleasant. The Cleveland award was made to the Cleveland Restoration Society as the administrator of a $5,000 grant to provide internet-based technical and funding-source information to Cleveland religious organizations of all faiths that are struggling to remain open and viable in the current challenging economic environment. Grant recipients are selected by the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board.

 

 Ohio Historical Society Responds to Cuts
 slashed budget requires restructuring

Due to severe reduction in State support, from $13.5M two years ago to $7.9M for fiscal 2010, the Ohio Historical Society is taking steps to bring its expenditures in line with the funds that will be available. Significant changes will be made to the state history museum, the Ohio Historical Center at Columbus and 10 of its historic sites, where local groups are being sought to manage them. This comes at a time when surveys strongly suggest that the public want more, not fewer, offerings in Ohio history. The OHS quarterly, Timeline, may cease publication unless private underwriting can be found to keep it going.

 

 Ohio Arts Council Survives Budget Cuts
 but funding radically reduced

The Ohio FY 2010-2011 budget signed by Governor Strickland allocates $13,188,580 over the next two years, down 38% from the final allocation for the last biennium, to the Ohio Arts Council. It seems clear that the OAC survived in large part because of the impressive number of Ohioans who expressed their support during the budget cycle; more than 25 million emails were sent to the Governor and members of the Ohio House and Senate.

 

 New Fundraising Publications
 National Trust offering for sale

During these trying economic times, we need all the help we can get to maintain current programs. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has made available several new low-cost guides at Preservation Books: Fundraising Basics for Preservation Organizations, Successful Fund-Raising Activities for Preservation Organizations, Creating a Fund Raising Plan and Membership Development: A Guide for Nonprofit Preservation Organizations.

 

 This Place Matters Photo Contest
 9/15 deadline

The National Trust for Historic Preservation and Fireman's Fund Insurance have announced the Summer 2009 Places That Matter Photo Contest. Persons entering the contest are encouraged to send a photo or several photos of their favorite places, whether nationally known or relatively unknown, that means something to you. The top three winners will each receive a digital camera, and a Sandisk Extreme III 8GB SD memory card. The contest closes at 11:59 pm CST on Tuesday, September 15.

 

 Michigan Sustainable Jobs Training Program
 Kalamazoo model collaboration

Michigan Historic Preservation Network, the Michigan Historic Preservation Office and the City of Kalamazoo have created a ground- breaking program that may be of interest to other communities that are experiencing high rates of unemployment. This new initiative is centered on the concept of training persons currently unemployed in how to restore wood, double-hung windows, emphasizing the inherent value that these older windows have and encouraging their repair rather than replacement. In many cases, window repair is far more cost effective and energy conservative than ripping out the old and putting in new windows.

 

 Job Opportunity
 

The Ohio Historic Preservation Office has an opening for a Survey and National Register Manager. The position is primarily responsible for managing the Ohio Historic Inventory and National Register of Historic Places program. The job opening was posted on July 10, 2009 and has no closing dated listed.

 

 2009 Burning River Fest at Coast Guard Station
 Think globally. Jam locally.

Every August, people from all over the Great Lakes region raise a pint at the annual Burning River Fest to salute the "watershed moment" that raised a new level of eco-consciousness - the 1969 burning of the Cuyahoga River. In recognition of the river's 40th "rebirth-day," 2009's party, on August 15 from 4:00 - 11:00 pm, will feature live music, food from local and organic farms and eateries, and, naturally, Great Lakes Brewing Company beer in a very cool location - the Coast Guard Station at the mouth of Cuyahoga River on Whiskey Island! Tickets are available online.

 

 Sarah Benedict House Event Rental
 a wonderful venue for your next meeting or reception

Why not hold your next event at the historic 1883 Sarah Benedict House? The first floor, with elevator access, caterer's kitchen and public restrooms, offers four handsome rooms of varying size that can be leased either individually or in combination to meet your needs for a focus session, cocktails, buffet luncheon, or wedding reception during the day or evening and on weekends. An added plus is direct access to the house's lovely garden, with its colorful flowers and bubbling fountain. To plan your special event contact Felicia Hall, 216-426-3110.

 

 Calendar of Events
 what to do, where to do it, and when to go

August 6
First Thursday at Playhouse Square
5:00 - 7:30 pm
Blue Bar at the Wyndham Hotel, Bricco, Hanna Restaurant & Au Bar
Moko Café, Otto Moser's and Star Restaurant
PlayhouseSquare

August 6
Thursday Night Live Block Party
Historic Warehouse District, 5:00 - 9:00 pm
Downtown Cleveland Alliance, 216-736-7799

August 12 -14
Sustainable Cleveland 2019
By invitation or pre-registration only
City of Cleveland

August 13
Thursday Night Live Block Party
Historic Warehouse District, 5:00 - 9:00 pm
Corn Hole Tournament, Live Music, Free Movie
Downtown Cleveland Alliance, 216-736-7799

August 15
Urban Harvest Garden Tour
Ben Franklin Community Garden, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
1905 Spring Road, Cleveland
The Ohio State University Extension
Summer Sprout
City of Cleveland, 216-429-3148

August 15
Burning River Fest
Historic Coast Guard Station, Whiskey Island
4:00 - 11:00 pm, $$
The Burning River Foundation

August 30
2nd Annual Historic Cleveland Cemeteries Progressive Scavenger Hunt
Begins at 3207 Monroe Ave., Cleveland, 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Woodland Cemetery Foundation
Monroe Street Cemetery Foundation
Ohio Cemetery Alliance

 

 Save the Date!
 

September 17
Celebrating Paper: The 25th Anniversary Ohio Preservation Council Symposium
The Msgr. Joseph Jessing Conference Center, Columbus
9:00 am - 4:00 pm, register, $$$
Ohio Preservation Council
Intermuseum Conservation Association

September 18
Historic Preservation Tax Credits
Canton
Heritage Ohio

October 3
Cleveland Restoration Society Annual Benefit
Baldwin Water Works, Shaker Heights
Contact Felicia Hall for more information
Cleveland Restoration Society, 216-426-1000

October 13-17
2009 National Preservation Conference
Nashville, TN, registration open
National Trust for Historic Preservation