Maine Preservation announced this afternoon that its grant from the Maine Historic Preservation Commission was cancelled today according to a press release from  Tara Kelly, Executive Director.

The focus of her message is on the crisis befalling State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs) across the country.  Congressionally appropriated funds for FY 2025, required for SHPOs to fulfill their federally delegated responsibilities, have not been released yet.  This means that SHPOs are forced to cancel grants or let go of stuff.  MHPC did the former, and in many ways we are fortunate that they have been able to buy themselves some time.

SHPOs  (including MHPC) are chrged with determining eligibility and making nominations to the National Register, consulting with Federal agencies on projects that affect historic resources, and reviewing Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit projects.  Without federal funding, this work would not just slow down – it would come to a grinding halt.

Ms. Kelly urges you to call members of our Maine delegation today.  Ask them to release FY 2025 Historic Preservtion Funds and ask them that these funds are included in the FY 2026 budget.

The phone number for Senator Susan Collins (R) Washington, DC office is:  202 – 224-2523.  If you can pierce the communications bubble around the Senator, please ask her if she thinks that the illegal arrest and detainment of the Mayor of Newark, NJ  by ICE officers today was an illegal action she supports.