C. Anderson Consulting - a community resource firm emphasizing partnership development, sustainable heritage conservation, and funding solutions. The principal is Charlotte Anderson.

Trusted Biz Solutions - a market research and business analyst consultancy concentrating on business development and identifying historic communities' potential. The principal is Todd Tracy.

Benjamin Historic Certifications - a consulting firm specializing in historic preservation. With a focus on documenting and preserving the special character of both historic buildings and landscapes, architectural historian Susan Benjamin and her associates work on projects that ensure economic viability and the adaptability of historic buildings to modern living.

The Lakota Group - provides services involving Planning, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation and Community Relations. The firm, located in Chicago, was established in 1993 to serve a wide range of public and private sector clients in urban, suburban, and rural settings. The firm’s approach is reflected in its name, Lakota, which is a Native American word meaning allies. Lakota’s professionals share a strong respect for land and built environment, a sense of community, and a desire to bring people together to work as allies for positive change.


Historic preservation and economic development organizations:

Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) - state agency that operates over 60 state-owned historic sites and administers all state and federal historic preservation and incentive programs in Illinois. The Preservation Services Division of IHPA is the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for Illinois.

Landmarks Illinois (formerly LPCI) - Illinois’ statewide non-profit preservation advocacy group.

National Main Street Center – a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation that advocates a comprehensive approach for rural and urban communities to revitalize their traditional commercial areas through historic preservation and grassroots-based economic development.

National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) - a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America’s communities.


Initiatives, programs, publications, etc.:

Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit - encourages private sector rehabilitation of historic buildings and is one of the nation's most successful and cost-effective community revitalization programs. The program is administered by National Park Service and the Internal Revenue Service in partnership with State Historic Preservation Offices (IHPA in Illinois).

got mesker? - IHPA's initiative about ornamental sheet-metal products manufactured at the turn of the 20th century by the Mesker companies.

National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) - official list of the Nation's historic places. Properties listed on the NRHP are eligible for the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit.

Preservation Briefs - publications by the National Park Service that provide guidance on preserving, rehabilitating and restoring historic buildings.

The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties - nationally adopted series of concepts about maintaining, repairing and replacing historic materials, as well as designing new additions or making alterations. Standards for Rehabilitation are the most commonly used and must be followed when property owners are seeking certification for State or Federal tax benefits.