Historic Preservation

As established by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, each state is required to have a State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) which serves several functions as part of the national historic preservation program:

• Through the Section 106 compliance program, the Historic Preservation Division (HPD) consults on projects that involve federal funding, licensing, or permitting to ensure historic resources are considered during the project planning process.
• HPD works with partners both inside and outside state government to encourage regional and local planning, neighborhood conservation, downtown revitalization, heritage tourism and archaeological site protection through programs like the National Register of Historic Places, Certified Local Governments, and others.
• HPD administers economic development programs, like tax incentives and grants, which leverage private capital to encourage business growth, especially in smaller towns and communities.
• HPD also manages statewide programs authorized or mandated by the Georgia General Assembly. These include numerous preservation programs such as a state property tax freeze, state rehabilitation grants, and stewardship of state-owned buildings.