Home News President Bush Requests $12.5 Million in Preserve America Grants

The Bush Administration's fiscal year 2006 budget includes a request for $12.5 million in grants for which Preserve America Communities, Certified Local Governments, and others will be eligible to apply.

These matching grants of $10,000 to $100,000 would be distributed on a competitive basis to projects that preserve and use important historic resources for promotion of heritage tourism and other economic revitalization projects.

The proposed Preserve America grants would provide upfront planning and assistance to communities looking for ways to preserve their local heritage in self-sustaining ways.

If Congress enacts the President's grant request, the Preserve America grant program will begin this fall.

Preserve America is a White House effort to encourage and support community efforts for the preservation and enjoyment of America's 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 communities.

Communities designated through the Preserve America initiative receive national recognition for their efforts. Benefits include listing in a Government Web-based directory to showcase preservation and heritage tourism efforts, and use of the Preserve America logo. Communities also receive Preserve America signs through the assistance of the U.S. Forest Service.

The next quarterly deadline to apply for Preserve America Community designation is June 1, 2005. For more information on this program, the designation events, a list of Preserve America Communities, and an application form, visit www.PreserveAmerica.gov/communities.html.

The ACHP and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Housing and Urban Development, and the Interior partner to administer the Preserve America initiative on behalf of the Office of the First Lady.

An independent Federal agency, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) promotes historic preservation nationally by providing a forum for influencing Federal activities, programs, and policies that impact historic properties, advising the President and Congress, advocating preservation policy, improving Federal preservation programs, protecting historic properties, and educating stakeholders and the public. For more information, visit the ACHP's Web site at www.achp.gov, or contact Bruce Milhans at 202-606-8513 or bmilhans@achp.gov.

Learn more about the ACHP

Posted April 8, 2005

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