Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce New Bill to Keep National Park Service Historic Preservation Training Center in Frederick

U.S. Senators  Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (D-Md.) today announced plans to introduce S.2367, the Frederick Jobs and Historic Preservation Training Center Land Authority Act, which would allow the National Park Service Historic Preservation Training Center in Frederick to acquire new land in order to establish a new training center and workshop. This land will allow the agency to expand its local operations and better achieve its mission nationwide.

“One of the most important aspects of the National Park Service’s mission is the preservation and stewardship of our historic and cultural treasures, which represent the threads that stitch together our unique national story. If we are to continue effectively teaching future generations about our past, we must provide effective space for the execution of preservation projects, along with training and workforce development efforts,” said the lawmakers. “With the current training center bursting at its seams and local leaders’ approval of this move, this legislation will help build a new future for those who seek to ensure the appropriate protection of our past.”          

The Historic Preservation Training Center, located in Frederick, is a 44-year old program of the National Park Service that has outgrown its current facility. Its leaders have worked with the Frederick City Mayor and Board of Alderman to negotiate a purchase of land with the National Park Service, or its charitable partner Preservation Maryland, which would transfer approximately nine acres of the park to establish a new training center. The Frederick Jobs and Historic Preservation Training Center Land Authority Act would authorize a one-time, $1 million appropriation to acquire the land identified by the Park Service and the City of Frederick to facilitate the new center, providing the mandatory congressional authorization needed in order to acquire any new property.

The Historic Preservation Training Center utilizes historic preservation projects as the main vehicle for teaching preservation philosophy and building crafts, technology and project management skills. It is a fee-for-service program of the National Park Service, and its expansion will have no fiscal impact on the federal budget. Positions are funded through contractual work with park units and agencies through existing appropriations. The training center is dedicated to the safe preservation and maintenance of national parks or partner facilities by demonstrating outstanding leadership, delivering quality preservation services and developing educational courses.

"Preservation Maryland is proud to work alongside Senator Cardin, Senator Van Hollen, and Congressman Trone as an advocate for The Frederick Jobs and Historic Preservation Training Center Land Authority Act,” said Nicholas Redding, President & CEO of Preservation Maryland. “Preservation Maryland powers the workforce development program The Campaign for Historic Trades, an innovative initiative to broaden and expand training in the high-demand field of historic trades. A core part of that program is stewarding individuals through the National Park Service's Historic Preservation Training Center, an immeasurably valuable resource in Frederick. This bill would allow for the needed expansion of historic trades training, as the current demand for qualified individuals far outweighs those that have been trained. Without skilled hands to perform the work, the preservation of irreplaceable? land and objects simply cannot happen."