December 26, 2024
(518) 486-1868 | news@parks.ny.gov
New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry Surpasses 200 Businesses
Registry Showcases New York Businesses in
Operation for at Least 50 Years
The
New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry, managed by the New York State Office of
Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
(OPRHP), hit a milestone in 2024: over 200 businesses are now listed in the registry. The NYS Historic Business Preservation Registry
recognizes New York-based businesses
over 50 years old that have made
contributions to their
communities. These businesses have
helped to craft the very culture of New York State and support
local communities and their people. First
proposed by Assemblymember Daniel O'Donnell and State Senator Jose
M. Serrano in 2020 and launched in
2022, the online registry now highlights over
230
historic businesses across New York State
and continues to grow.
"Our staff at the
Division for Historic Preservation are committed to working with state elected
officials to promote our historic businesses and the communities
they serve," New
York State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons said. "This recognition helps
highlight their achievements
and their role in supporting their
local communities. From family-owned restaurants serving generations of customers to New
York State industries producing American-made products, we are honored
to promote and recognize the business owners and families that have made
New York what it is today through
their ongoing work and persistence."
The registry is an
honorary program coordinated through the Office of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation (OPRHP). It was expanded in 2023 by Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblymember Carrie
Woerner, allowing state elected
officials, including the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, to nominate up to 10
businesses for inclusion in the registry per term. The program is
non-competitive, and if the nomination criteria are met, businesses will be
added to the registry. Nominations
to the registry must be sponsored by an elected state official. The Division
for Historic Preservation provides each business with a certificate and decal
and maintains an online interactive map with information
about the location and history of each business.
Updated with new
nominations quarterly, the
registry includes listings from across the state.
Senator Jose M. Serrano said, "The
New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry is a wonderful
opportunity to recognize and support the longstanding businesses that are the
backbones of our communities. I am so happy to know that this registry now
includes over 200 local businesses throughout New York. My sincere thanks to
the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for
managing this registry so businesses can receive the recognition they deserve."
Senator Michelle Hinchey said,
"It's a milestone year for the New York State Historic Business Preservation
Registry! Celebrating over 200 featured businesses across our state is a
tremendous achievement, honoring those who have anchored their communities for
generations. I'm proud to have sponsored legislation to expand the registry,
ensuring we can recognize more of the local businesses and business owners who
have spent decades strengthening our economies and shaping the very identity of
New York State and the communities they serve."
Assemblymember Carrie
Woerner said, "I am thrilled to learn the NYS Historic
Business Preservation Registry now lists over 200 businesses showcasing
a wide range of businesses that have made a long-term commitment to our state's
economy. We are so fortunate to have hundreds of businesses, from arts to
agriculture, from retail to restaurants, and from product manufacturing to
service organizations, over 50 years old, to recognize. I'm
also excited about the recent signing of my ‘I Love New York Historical Small Business'
bill (A10036) which will direct Empire State Development to help market the
historic businesses listed on the registry in its ‘I
Love NY' campaign. I'm grateful that these businesses which are the
bedrock of communities across the state will enjoy some increased publicity as
a result."
The New York State Office of Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic
sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which saw a
record 84 million visits in 2023. For more information on any of these
recreation areas, visit
parks.ny.gov, download the free
NY State Parks Explorer
app or call
518.474.0456. Connect with us on
Facebook,
Instagram,
X (formerly Twitter), the
OPRHP Blog
or via the
OPRHP Newsroom.