The Statewide Historic Preservation Plan, which the Schuylkill County Commissioners adopted at its meeting Wednesday, is a working document intended to achieve the following goals:

Increase preservation at the planning level; expand and strengthen state and federal partnerships; bolster the efforts of preservation advocates and partners to advance local, regional and statewide preservations; identify, recruit and engage new audiences; and administer effective statewide historic preservation programs.Endorsement of the plan is to assist in fulfilling important municipalities planning code requirements such as land use management, future development, and housing.Local boroughs and townships are asked to address their community's specific historic preservation needs such as creating a comprehensive historic resource inventory to help identify places of local significance that will be shared with the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission's Bureau for historic preservation.They are also asked to identify ways that cultural and historic resources can or do contribute to local community character, quality of life and economic growth potential.They should review municipal codes and zoning ordinances, planning procedures and other regulatory mechanisms which are essential to advancing preservation and making the highest and best use of historic resources.If the local government owns, occupies, or manages historic buildings they should take action to keep these properties occupied and in good repair. Submit a historical marker application for persons, places or events that have statewide or national significance and take action or partner with local preservation advocates to interpret history in public spaces, such as parks and trails, that would benefit from the addition of a sign, marker or media tag to educate people about community historyThere are state and federal grants available and philanthropic donations to conduct historic preservation projects through the National Park Service.