Certified Local Government (CLG) GrantS Program

The Certified Local Government (CLG) Matching Grants program in Illinois is administered by the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). This grant is supported by federal funds from the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Fund and is designed to aid Certified Local Governments in developing and enhancing local historic preservation programs. Illinois currently has 81 participating CLGs, and under federal mandate, at least 10% of Illinois’ annual federal allocation from the Historic Preservation Fund must be subgranted to CLGs. The program is structured to support efforts that identify, evaluate, and protect historic and archaeological resources, while promoting effective local stewardship. The grant is awarded competitively with a total funding pool of approximately $150,000. Grantees must contribute a 30% local match—either cash or in-kind—and the grant reimburses up to 70% of eligible expenses. All grant expenditures must follow federal and state regulations and conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation. Expenses eligible for reimbursement include direct project costs such as consultant fees, staff time, and materials. Non-reimbursable expenses, which count toward the required match, include donated goods and services, volunteer time, and general overhead. Only Certified Local Governments in Illinois are eligible to apply. These entities must be in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State and not appear on the federal Excluded Parties List. All applicants must be registered with the Illinois GATA system and must complete the online application through Amplifund. Applications require detailed project information including a working title, scope of work, project timeline, budget, and resumes of the project manager and consultants. Projects must begin promptly after the grant agreement is signed and must be completed within the designated project period. Eligible project types include Survey Projects, National Register nomination or revision efforts, planning documents, feasibility studies, structural assessments, public education efforts, and reprints or digital versions of approved educational content. Ineligible projects include those involving repair or acquisition of historic properties, work involving religious structures, and historical signage. For National Register nominations, applicants are required to obtain a determination of eligibility letter before applying. Applications are scored on criteria related to project scope, administration, and budget, with a maximum score of 90 points. After receiving a grant, awardees must comply with quarterly progress reports and a detailed completion report that includes financial documentation, a narrative summary, and digital project outputs. Reimbursement is provided only after project completion and SHPO approval of all documentation. No partial reimbursements are issued, and applicants must be financially capable of supporting the project upfront. Applicants may contact Jon Pressley at jon.l.pressley@illinois.gov or (217) 299-4878 for application content questions. Questions about the registration process may be directed to DNR.Grants@illinois.gov or the DNR Grants Main Line at (217) 782-7481. All required forms and instructions are available on the CLG Grant webpage. Submissions are managed electronically via Amplifund, and the process includes strict documentation and reporting requirements to ensure accountability and compliance.

Contact SHPO staff to discuss projects before applying; confirm consultants meet professional standards; familiarize with reporting and reimbursement rules to ensure compliance.