WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Jack Reed, the Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, today announced $578,929 in revenues generated from federal oil leases on the Outer Continental Shelf will be used to boost Rhode Island’s historic preservation efforts.  The federal funding, administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, will help the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission (RIHPHC) develop and carry out programs to preserve, document, and celebrate Rhode Island’s cultural heritage.

“It is vitally important that we save Rhode Island’s past before it is lost to the history books,” said Reed.  “This is a smart way to reinvest a small portion of the funds generated from offshore drilling to protect our natural and historic resources.  These grants help create jobs and enhance tourism by leveraging public-private partnerships to make improvements to historic sites and structures.”

Rhode Island’s grant from the Historic Preservation Fund is among $46.9 million being provided this year to all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

RIHPHC may use the grants to fund preservation projects, National Register nominations, preservation education, architectural planning, historic structure reports, community preservation plans, and bricks-and-mortar repair to buildings.

Ten percent of the funds must be distributed to local governments for preservation projects.  RIHPHC makes the selection of those projects.  Rhode Island has received about $1.75 million from the federal Historic Preservation Fund over the last three years.