The city of Grambling has already begun taking steps to gain designation as a Certified Local Government (CLG) in the state of Louisiana.
The designation will allow the city to establish historic preservation programs designed to foster community pride, to survey and inventory local historic properties, and to assist property owners in preserving the city’s heritage.
“Our goal is to create a historic preservation district that will allow us to restore and preserve the irreplaceable historic character and important places in our city,” said Phyllis Miller, chair of the Grambling Historic Preservation Commission.
As a CLG, Grambling will not only save irreplaceable buildings, but it will also be eligible to receive grant funding and annual grant matches and technical assistance. What CLG is – Jointly administered by the National Park Service and the State Historic Preservation Offices, each local community works through a certification process to become recognized as a Certified Local Government. Once certified, CLGs become an active partner in the Federal Historic Preservation Program.
Additionally, Louisiana is one of many states to offer added state tax credits and other incentives.
“The city of Grambling, like every other community, holds valuable pieces of the past,” Miller said. “And these historic elements are responsible for keeping a community’s collective heritage a part of its present.
“The process of historic preservation helps to ensure that the times remain strong and that those resources remain intact for the enjoyment of posterity,” Miller said.
The public is invited to attend the commission’s regularly scheduled meetings, during which they may propose buildings to be added to the preservation listing or ask questions about those buildings that have already been proposed.
For meeting information, contact the Grambling City Hall at 318.247.6120.
Voters to decide sales tax increase
Grambling voters will decide whether to raise sales taxes by one-quarter of one percent (.25%) during the Saturday, November 21 election.
The proposed tax increase will create an annual inflow of approximately $40,000 that will be used for acquiring, constructing, improving, operating and or maintaining buildings, infrastructure, and economic development facilities; acquiring land, equipment, furnishing; supplies to encourage economic development; assisting and facilitating development of retail centers, health and service centers, industrial centers, educational and job training centers, along with other facilities that will create jobs for Grambling citizens.
“The passing of this proposal will allow the citizens of Grambling to join in the ongoing efforts to better our city by bringing in more businesses and jobs to the city,” said Mayor Edward Jones.
“Our citizens will enter and participate in cooperative endeavors with the Grambling Legends Square Taxing District and the Grambling Economic Development Corporation in moving our city forward,” said Jones.
If approved, the new tax becomes effective Friday, January 1, 2016.
For questions and concerns about the tax proposal Grambling citizens may contact the mayor’s office.