HUD presents preserve America Check
Contributed by HUD

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Atlanta Regional Director Bob Young presents Preserve America a check for $150,000.

Rodger Stroup, director of the S.C. Department of Archives and History; Elizabeth Johnson, deputy State Historic Preservation Officer; and Michael Bedenbaugh, executive eirector of the Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation and other local leaders joined U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Atlanta Regional Director Bob Young to present a cermonial Preserve America check for $150,000.

In an effort to promote the Preserve America initiative and preserve historic communities, HUD has partnered with the Advisory Council, other federal agencies, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the President's Council on Environmental Quality, and the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

First Lady Laura Bush is the honorary chair of Preserve America. To date, 521 communities have been designated as Preserve America communities.

"Preserve America Communities, neighborhoods, and grant recipients know the importance of historic preservation to the economic, educational, esthetic, and cultural life of America, as well as to their residents, their visitors, and especially to their children," said HUD Atlanta Regional Director Bob Young.

"The citizens of South Carolina, do a great job of preserving and promoting their heritage. The funds awarded today will go a long way to preserving and promoting South Carolina's heritage."

The funds awarded today will be used to provide matching grants to projects in smaller cities and towns in South Carolina that are planning to implement economic development that incorporates their history and historic resources.

The South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office will partner with other state organizations to encourage, identify and select projects, and organize site visits to provide assistance and advice to grantees.

Preserve America is a White House initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve 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.

"In addition to governments, the private sector businesses, philanthropic groups, historical organizations, educational institutions, and private citizens have a crucial role to play. Public- private partnerships already support excellent preservation work throughout our country, and they'll be vital to preserving our national treasures in the years ahead," said Laura Bush.

For further information on the Preserve America initiative visit www.preserveamerica. gov.