Rule 16-3-8.2 - Description and Statement of PurposeA. The Certified Local Government Program is designed to promote the preservation of prehistoric and historic sites, structures, objects, buildings, and historic districts by establishing a partnership between the local government and the Mississippi Department of Archives and the Mississippi State Historic Preservation Office (MDAH/SHPO), which seeks to encourage and expand local involvement in preservation issues. Such partnership will help to assure that: 1. historic preservation issues are understood ad addressed at the local level and are integrated into the local planning and decision making process at the earliest possible opportunity;2. local interest and concerns are integrated into the identification, evaluation, nomination, and protection processes of the MDAH/SHPO;3. information concerning local historic preservation issues is provided to the MDAH/SHPO and to the public;4. local landmark legislation, including but not limited to a historic preservation ordinance and historic preservation commissions are established in cities where they do not yet exist and are updated, if necessary, in cities where they already exist; and5. existing Mississippi State Survey File information is made available to the local community to use in identifying and defining community and neighborhood development and conservation areas.B. By participating in the identification, evaluation, and protection of historic resources within their communities, Certified Local Government (CLGs): 1. assume a leadership role in the preservation of the communitys prehistoric and historic resources;2. have a formal role in the National Register nomination review process;3. participate in the establishment of regional and state historic preservation objectives; and4. are eligible to apply for subgrants from a designated CLG fund established annually by the MDAH/SHPO whenever such funds are available.Miss. Code §§ 39-59-1, 25-59-1 (1972, as amended).