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05/09/2007 - Presentation of the Preserve America Presidential Award - Programs
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* * * + AND F PLURIBUS UNUM THE THE PRESIDENT AND MRS. LAURA BUSH welcome you to THE WHITE HOUSE on the occasion of the presentation of the 2007 PRESERVE AMERICA PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS PRESERVE AMERICA Explore and Enjoy Our Heritage Wednesday, May 9, 2007 HERITAGE TOURISM USS MIDWAY MUSEUM, CALIFORNIA CRITERIA FOR AWARDS The USS Midway Museum opened in 2004, after more than a decade of preparatory effort, to preserve the USS Midway and transform it into a naval aviation history museum. With The Preserve America Presidential Awards are annual awards a volunteer and docent force exceeding 300 people, some of given to organizations, businesses, government entities, and whom are Midway veterans, the Museum offers educational individuals for: outreach to more than 25,000 elementary students annually. Already 2 million people have visited to see 40 exhibits exemplary accomplishments in the sustainable and 21 restored aircrafts, and events are hosted aboard more use and preservation of cultural or natural heritage than 200 evenings a year. Of the annual gross revenues of assets; $12 million, about $3 million is dedicated to preservation and additional restoration each year. The USS Midway Museum demonstrated commitment to the protection lists among key partners the U.S. Navy, Unified Port of San and interpretation of America's cultural or natural Diego, and the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau. heritage assets; and Many other community organizations are also involved integration of these assets into contemporary NATCHITOCHES-CANE RIVER REGION community life, combining innovative, creative, and HERITAGE TOURISM INITIATIVE, LOUISIANA responsible approaches to showcasing historic local The Natchitoches Main Street program and Cane River resources. National Heritage Area are implementing a comprehensive The 2007 Preserve America Presidential Award recipients were heritage tourism plan to provide visitors with authentic historical experiences and residents with a better quality chosen through a national competition administered by the of life. Natchitoches was the first permanent European Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in cooperation with settlement in the Louisiana Purchase territory. The Cane the Executive Office of the President and in partnership with River National Heritage Area preserves the history and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, living traditions of French, Spanish, African American, Education, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, and American Indian, and Creole cultures. The tourism effort Transportation; National Endowment for the Humanities; successfully incorporates many diverse elements and President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities; and initiatives. Since 1999, in the Natchitoches National Historic President's Council on Environmental Quality. Landmark District alone, more than $47 million in private funds and $1 million in public funds have been invested for historic preservation and infrastructure improvements, and almost 80 new businesses opened within the district during that period. Local economic development, preservation, and tourism interests are collaborating with state and federal entities in the overall effort. PRIVATE PRESERVATION THE HISTORY CHANNEL-SAVE OUR HISTORY, PROGRAM NATIONWIDE The History Channel established Save Our History (SOH) in 2003 as a national strategic philanthropy initiative to support community historic preservation efforts, promote heritage tourism, and enhance history education. Through the SOH Welcoming remarks by grant program, history organizations collaborate with public MRS. LAURA BUSH school students, teachers, and local officials to support local preservation and education. In its first three years, SOH received grant applications from every state and Washington, DC. Out of more than 1500 applications, 82 grants were Remarks by awarded ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. SOH enhances history education and historic preservation instruction THE PRESIDENT locally and nationwide by providing teachers with resources to encourage and engage students. These include an SOH educator's manual, teacher awards, student scholarships, and teacher training. The History Channel promotes heritage Recognition of the tourism through its programming and through an innovative partnership with the City of New York. PRESERVE AMERICA PRESIDENTIAL AWARDEES DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS REVITALIZATION, MISSOURI Two private companies saw an opportunity and took a risk resulting in the preservation and revitalization of an irreplaceable historic part of downtown St. Louis that had fallen into decay. Loftworks, Inc. and Pyramid Properties invested in four structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places that had long been empty, under foreclosure, and/or threatened with demolition in what was considered a failed market. According to St. Louis city planners, the common wisdom was that the downtown needed to be torn down, so that new business could come in. Instead, the success of these privately led and funded Reception immediately following the Ceremony projects spurred interest in developing historic industrial and commercial buildings in the city's core. The results are a new urban residential space, renewed civic pride, and assistance in creating tremendous economic vitality in a previously depressed downtown.