FROM THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG

CONTACT: Aimee Angel, 727-892-5470 or aimee.angel@stpete.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CITY TO RECEIVE PRESERVE AMERICA COMMUNITY AWARD

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA (June 12, 2008) - At a special presentation at the St. Petersburg Museum of History, 335 Second Ave. NE., tomorrow evening, June 13, from 6 to 8 p.m., St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker will accept an award from the federal government designating St. Petersburg as a "Preserve America Community." St. Petersburg is one of only 12 Florida cities to have achieved this designation.

First Lady Laura Bush, honorary chair of the Preserve America initiative, said when designating St. Petersburg as one of the nation's newest Preserve America Communities, "Preserve America communities demonstrate that they are committed to preserving America's heritage while ensuring a future filled with opportunities for learning and enjoyment. This community designation program, combined with the Preserve America Grant Program, Preserve America Presidential Awards, and other federal support, provides strong incentives for continued preservation of our cultural and natural heritage resources. I commend you for your commitment to preserving an important part of our nation's historic past for visitors, neighbors, and, most importantly, for children."

St. Petersburg has been involved with historic preservation since 1977, when a citywide survey of historical, archaeological and architectural resources was undertaken. Since then, the city has developed a progressive historic preservation program which includes the adoption of the Historic Preservation Ordinance and a Historic Preservation Element to the Comprehensive Plan. The city has also used matching historic preservation grants to restore the former Manhattan Casino and prepare architectural and archaeological surveys of historic neighborhoods. In addition to its five National Register Historic Districts, and two locally designated historic districts, St. Petersburg has also been an active participant in the Florida Certified Local Government program and the Florida Main Street Program, with two commercial corridors in the city involved in the program.

Communities designated through the Preserve America program receive national recognition for their efforts. Benefits include the right to use the Preserve America logo on signs and promotional materials; eligibility for Preserve America Grants; notification to state tourism offices; and listing in a Web-based directory that showcases St. Petersburg's preservation efforts and heritage tourism destinations. Preserve America Communities are also featured in National Register Travel Itineraries and in "Teaching with Historic Places" materials created by the National Park Service.

In 2008, an estimated $10 million in grant funds will be available for Preserve America Communities. Grants of $20,000 to $150,000 are awarded on a competitive, matching fund basis to help communities develop sustainable management strategies and sound business practices for the continued preservation and use of their heritage assets. The grants support research, planning, marketing, interpretation, and training efforts.

The award Friday evening will be presented by a representative of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is one of several national organizations that partners with the Preserve America Communities program. The Museum of History is opening a NOAA traveling exhibit, "Treasures of NOAA's Ark," that highlights the organization's past and present contributions to the United States.

For more information about Preserve America Communities, visit www.preserveamerica.gov.