In honor of National Preservation Month Preservation Maryland and The Campaign hosted elected officials, members of the preservation community, and stakeholders today in Frederick to recognize the passage of The Frederick Jobs and Historic Preservation Training Center Land Acquisition Act.
L-R: Preservation Maryland’s President & CEO Nicholas Redding, HPTC’s Superintendent Moss Rudley, HPTC’s Deputy Superintendent Brandon Gordon, Frederick County Council President Brad Young, Congressman David Trone, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, and Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor tour HPTC.
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Congressman David Trone (D-Md.), Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor, and Frederick County Council President Brad Young joined Preservation Maryland’s President & CEO Nicholas Redding and National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center’s (HPTC) Superintendent Moss Rudley for the event, which included a guided tour of HPTC’s current facility and a formal program at Frederick’s Visitor’s Center.
L-R: Redding, Mayor O’Connor, Congressman Trone, Gordon, Senator Van Hollen.
Sponsored by Senators Cardin and Van Hollen and by Congressman Trone in the House of Representatives, the legislation gives the National Park Service congressional authority to build out a larger, fully functioning center for historic trades training; the new center will allow for the needed expansion, as the current demand for qualified individuals far outweighs those that have been trained. Preservation Maryland and NPS’ Historic Preservation Training Center, located in downtown Frederick, run the national workforce development program The Campaign for Historic Trades which works to expand and strengthen training and career opportunities in historic trades.
Attendees were able to see HPTC staff and trainees at work and learn more about the type of training and hands-on work that will expand as a result of the legislation and subsequent future increased footprint of a new training center. 
BOTH REDDING AND RUDLEY SPOKE TO THE VALUE OF HISTORIC TRADES TRAINING, THE IMPACT MARYLAND HAS ON THE NATIONAL PRESERVATION MOVEMENT, AND WHAT REDDING CALLED “TEAM MARYLAND” – THE COLLECTION OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PARTNERS THAT HELPED GET THE LEGISLATION ACROSS THE FINISH LINE – WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER. “THIS LEGISLATION ISN’T JUST ABOUT BUYING LAND – IT’S ABOUT INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND BUILDING A WORKFORCE EQUAL TO THE OPPORTUNITY BEFORE US,” ADDED REDDING.
Senator Van Hollen, Rep. Trone, County Executive Fitzwater and Mayor O’Connor also delivered remarks and presented proclamations in honor of Preservation Month before the program concluded.
