Mrs. Laura Bush Announces First Preserve America Grant Recipients, Neighborhoods
March 9, 2006
WASHINGTON,
DC— In a ceremony held on Capitol Hill on March 9, Mrs. Laura
Bush, First Lady of the United States and Honorary Chair of Preserve America, announced the first round of Preserve America Grants totaling nearly $3.5 million and acknowledged a number of new Preserve America Communities, including the first five Preserve America Community Neighborhood designations.
“Historic preservation has an important place in America. Preserve America promotes education, historic preservation and economic development while encouraging a greater appreciation of our national treasures—from monuments and buildings to landscapes and main streets. President Bush and I want every American, especially our children, to discover and learn about our nation’s heritage,” Mrs. Bush said.
Mrs. Bush congratulated the first 45 recipients of Preserve America Grants (see attached list). The first round of Preserve America grants provided $3.5 million for projects in 28 states representing all regions of the country. This new program provides funds on a matching basis to assist Preserve America communities with marketing, planning, and educational efforts associated with protection and appropriate use of community heritage. She also announced an application (view application) deadline of May 19 for the second round of grant funding totaling $1.5 million.
Today’s event recognized the first five Preserve America Community Neighborhood designations. They included The District, the Nashville, Tennessee neighborhood in which Mrs. Bush first unveiled the Neighborhoods program in July 2005. The other four neighborhoods designated are: Bell Court and Gratz Park, both in Lexington, Kentucky; Historic Portland, in Louisville, Kentucky; and Irvington, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Also recognized today were 18 recent additions to the Preserve America Community roster. Two communities, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and Wall Township, New Jersey, are from states that formerly contained no designated communities. The other 16 communities recognized were (alphabetically, by state): Dumas, Arizona; Redlands, California; Russellville, Kentucky; Salisbury, Maryland; Wabasha, Minnesota; Vicksburg, Mississippi; Independence, Missouri; Red Lodge and Terry, Montana; Hidalgo, Texas; Tooele County, Utah; Herndon, Virginia; Spotsylvania County, Virginia; Skykomish, Washington; Charles Town, West Virginia; and Mannington, West Virginia.
The
event, held in the Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building on
Capitol Hill, was hosted by the Congressional Historic Preservation
Caucus, whose co-chairs are Rep. Michael Turner of Ohio and Rep. Brad
Miller of North Carolina. Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton and
Chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and Co-Chair
of the Preserve America Steering Committee, John L. Nau, III
accompanied Mrs. Bush at the event. The Department of the Interior and
the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation are two of the Federal
agencies that partner with the White House on the Preserve America initiative.
Preserve America is a White House initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy our priceless cultural and natural heritage. The goals of the initiative include a greater shared knowledge about the nation’s past, strengthened regional identities and local pride, increased local participation in preserving the country’s cultural and natural heritage assets, and support for the economic vitality of our communities.
More information on Preserve America, including a complete list of grant recipients, criteria and application forms for various initiative programs, can be found at www.PreserveAmerica.gov.
For more information contact: Bruce Milhans, 202-606-8513/202-550-7165.
About Preserve America
Preserve America is a White House initiative created for the purpose of encouraging and supporting community efforts to preserve and enjoy the Nation’s cultural and national heritage. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and other Federal agencies partner to administer the various components of Preserve America. For more information, please visit www.PreserveAmerica.gov.
Posted March 21, 2006