Resources to “Save Historic Canton”

By Donna Yowell

As part of the City of Canton’s new campaign to “Save Historic Canton” this article will share some valuable resources and information on why property owners need to save these structures and some of the benefit for rehabilitation. 

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History is a good place to start. They oversee the Mississippi Landmark program, the federal and state Rehabilitation Tax Credit programs, the Certified Local Government program, the National Register of Historic Places nominations, the State Historical Marker program, and the Abandoned Cemeteries program. Preserving historic buildings is vital to understanding our nation’s history. Reusing existing buildings for historic preservation is essentially a recycling program of “historic” proportions. This not only makes good economic sense, but preserves the stories of our people through places. Explore the ways you can protect the state’s treasures. 

Mississippi has more than 1,300 listings in the National Register, including houses, archaeological sites, battlefields, bridges, buildings, cemeteries, forts, and historic districts. Private property owners can apply for designation on the nation’s official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. Canton has 972 historic properties listed on the inventory data with MDAH, more per capita than any other city in Mississippi. 

Benefits of National Register Listing: 

• Tax incentives

 • Grant assistance 

• Protection from demolition or development 

• Enriching our understanding of local, state, and national history 

• Recognizing significant events and developments, notable people, and types of buildings and architectural styles 

In order for a building to qualify for the National Register, it must meet certain criteria. These are rather complex, but essentially boil down to two factors, significance and integrity. 

Substantial federal and state tax incentives are available for the rehabilitation of qualifying buildings in Mississippi. Federal and state tax incentives programs encourage private sector investment in the rehabilitation and re-use of historic buildings, which creates jobs and revitalizes communities. Projects may be eligible for both state and federal tax credits. 

The federal government offers a 20% credit for the rehabilitation of historic structures used for incomeproducing purposes. The State of Mississippi offers a 25% credit for the rehabilitation of historic structures used for income-producing purposes or as owner-occupied dwellings. Properties qualifying for the 20% federal preservation tax credit may also qualify for the state tax credit. The City of Canton has discussed the possibility of enacting a local tax credit for property owners of approved historic buildings. 

For more information contact- Donna Yowell at (601) 672-0755 or [email protected].