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Our Mission

"To build strong local preservation programs through education, advocacy, and training."

The NAPC is the only organization devoted solely to representing the nation's preservation design review commissions. NAPC provides technical support and manages an information network to help local commissions accomplish their preservation objectives. The Alliance also serves as an advocate at federal, state and local levels of government to promote policies and programs that support preservation commission efforts.

Education:
Our mission's education component has evolved to meet local commissions' needs in a variety of ways.

Resource Library: The NAPC office responds daily to requests from our membership for information; the organization maintains a voluminous library of resources and precedents we share to solve vexing problems with viable solutions. We also have a network of experts that can be consulted for unusual problems.

Conference Offerings: National Commission Forum - biennial conference sponsored and organized by the NAPC. The Inaugural Forum was in Denver 1998, second in Pittsburgh in 2000, San Antonio in 2002, and Indianapolis in 2004. Forum provides a unique interactive format where participants not only discuss the issues but develop the solutions as well.

National Preservation Conference - annually the NAPC provides assistance to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the solicitation and selection of sessions for the Local Preservation Commission educational track. We also provide the Preservation Short Course and Mock Commission Hearing on a repeating basis.

Publications: The Alliance Review, the NAPC's newsletter published six times per year, is the primary vehicle of communication with our membership. It includes not only basic organizational information, but each issue features numerous articles on topics of current interest to local commissions.

Advocacy:
Since 1983, NAPC has provided a voice for local preservation commissions. Our advocacy efforts support local commissions and help them succeed.

Nationally: NAPC works with our national partners to provide information to decision-makers on current legislative issues.

Locally: NAPC provides community leaders with letters of support that cite solutions, successes, and precedents to aid them in presenting a stronger case on local preservation issues. If you are in a jam or facing controversy, let us know!

Service to our membership is the core of our mission, so please - make yourselves known to us so together we can, through strength of numbers in a true alliance, "build strong local preservation programs."

Training:
NAPC has provided training for thousands of commission members, staff, and elected officials. Our trainers are selected from NAPC's extensive network of experts throughout the country.

Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program: CAMP is the focus of the NAPC's training efforts. CAMP is based upon the NAPC's core curriculum of four fundamental elements: The legal framework of public preservation, identifying and protecting historic resources, commission role and responsibilities, and public support and outreach. CAMPs are tailored to meet local, regional, or statewide needs. Modeled after summer camp experiences, this entertainingly effective training program features terrific counselors who help the "campers" improve their preservation skills while everyone has fun.

Speaker Services: Drawing on our national network of experts and resources, NAPC frequently provides keynote speakers and trainers for conferences and workshops. We can help find the best person to address your particular topic or issue.