Skip to main content

Official Website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means its official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 
    Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office

    Community Initiative Awards

    The Community Initiative Award from the State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) recognizes organizations, municipalities, agencies, individuals, and others whose work embodies the theme of Pennsylvania’s statewide historic preservation plan, #PreservationHappensHere.

     

    Started in 2016 for the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act, the Community Initiative Award (CIA) is now an annual program and is one of the ways in which PA SHPO implements the current statewide historic preservation plan. 

    Community Initiative Awards Community Initiative Awards

    Accessing PA-SHARE

    PA-SHARE is online platform that makes it easy for you to submit your plans online. You can register for this platform and submit projects for PA SHPO review, under Section 106 and the State History Code.

    Submit a Preservation Success Story through PA-SHARE

    What is #PreservAtionHappensHere?

    #PreservAtionHappensHere is the idea that great preservation activities are happening every day across Pennsylvania. These activities may not necessarily be thought of as typical historic preservation; nevertheless, they deserve to be recognized, shared, and celebrated.

    How to Enter

    There is no formal application or nomination procedure to be considered for a PA SHPO Community Initiative Award – simply do one of the following at any time throughout the year:

    To submit a Success Story through PA-SHARE: 

      • A PA-SHARE account is not required to submit a story.  
      • Sign in to PA-SHARE with your account or as a Guest User.
      • Go the the Submit page and open the Success Story wizard.
      • Fill in the short form and provide at least one photograph.
      • Click "Submit to SHPO".
      • Step-by-step instructions are available: Submitting a Success Story in PA-SHARE.

    Please contact the PA-SHARE Help Desk pashare@pa.gov for assistance.

    Selection Process

    Candidates are identified in a few different ways over the course of the calendar year: 

      • monitoring social media coverage and traditional press reporting,
      • reporting on active projects that utilize federal or state programs,
      • tracking use of the #PreservationHappensHere hashtag and,
      • reviewing Preservation Success Stories submitted through PA-SHARE.

    Each January, PA SHPO reviews all of the candidates from the previous year and winners are typically notified in early spring. Please note that awards may not be awarded each year.  

    Please note that the Community Initiative Award does not require that a property is opened to the public for visitation, does not require the owner to comply with any state or federal regulations, and does not automatically grant the property any historic status. 

    Previous Awardees

    2023

    Learn more about the 2023 awardees in this post

    2022

    Learn more about the 2022 awardees in this post.

    2021

    Learn more about the 2021 awardees in this post.

    2020

    • Old Erie on Foot (Erie, Erie County)
    • Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka (Millvale, Allegheny County)
    • Mainstreet Waynesboro, Inc. (Waynesboro, Franklin County)

    Learn more about the 2020 awardees in this post

    2019

    • Mahoning Drive-In Theatre (Mahoning, Carbon County)
    • Fighter's Heaven (Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County)
    • Lazaretto (Tinicum, Delaware County)
    • McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation/Roxian Theater (McKees Rocks, Allegheny County)

    Learn more about the 2019 awardees in this post.

    2018

    Learn more about the 2018 awardees in this post.Opens In A New Window

    2016

    • Bradford Revitalization Team (Bradford, McKean County)
    • East Liberty Development Inc. (Pittsburgh, Allegheny County)
    • Hidden City Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Philadelphia County)

    Learn more about the 2016 awardees in this post.

     

    For More Information

    Read more about the Community Initiative Award on the pahistoricpreservation.com  blog.

    If you would like additional information about the Community Initiative Award or past winners, please contact PA SHPO's Education & Special Initiatives Coordinator, Shelby Splain, at ssplain@pa.gov or (717) 787-0772.