Press Release
March 30, 2022
Dan Keefe | Brian Nearing
(518) 486-1868 | news@parks.ny.gov
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Launches New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry
Registry to Showcase New York Businesses in Operation For
At Least 50 Years
The Office
of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation today announced the launch of
the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry. First proposed by
Assembly Member Daniel O'Donnell and State Senator Jose M. Serrano, the
online registry was established to honor and promote New York businesses that
have been in operation for at least 50 years and have contributed to their
communities' history. The first round of designations includes 100 businesses
across the state.
"Many of our state's homegrown businesses have helped shape the
character and identity of the communities that they call home," OPRHP Commissioner Erik Kulleseid
said. "From small bakeries owned by generations of the same
family, and farms dating back to the 1700s, to manufacturers who ship
products around the world, these homegrown businesses serve New Yorkers well.
With the launch of the New York State Historic Business Preservation
Registry, we are excited to showcase the businesses, large and small, that
are the backbone of our state's economy."
The honorary program, which provides educational and promotional
assistance to help ensure businesses in the state remain viable, will be
coordinated through the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
(OPRHP). An interactive storyboard map, which provides information about the
location and history of each business, can be found on the agency website https://parks.ny.gov/historic-preservation/business-registry/default.aspx
State
Senator Jose M. Serrano said, "Congratulations
to the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation on the
commencement of the State Historic Business Registry. This program
acknowledges and celebrates the cultural contributions that longstanding
businesses provide to their communities, and showcases the local products
that have been enjoyed for generations."
Assembly
Member Daniel O'Donnell said, "Historic businesses are more than just
businesses, they are vital institutions that have shaped and celebrated the
history, identity, and culture of the diverse communities they serve. From
the delicatessens that have fed immigrant communities for over a hundred
years, to the bars that provided safe havens for LGBTQ New Yorkers, to the
timeless Hudson Valley inns that were visited by some of our country's
founders, New York State has many businesses that serve as invaluable symbols
of our pride and heritage. As many businesses face unprecedented challenges
that threaten their ability to survive and serve their communities, this
Registry is an exciting opportunity to recognize, support, and promote the
contributions of historic businesses to our State."
Nominations
to the registry must be sponsored by an elected state official. Each elected
official may nominate two businesses for inclusion per term. The program is
non-competitive, and as long as the nomination criteria are met, businesses
will be added to the registry. Business owners will be presented with
certificates by the sponsor of their nomination and given window decals with
the program logo. Anyone interested in having a business added to the
registry should reach out to their state representative.