(Miami, Florida) - The City of Miami is among 27 new Preserve America Communities designated by First Lady and Honorary Chair Laura Bush on Monday, October 22nd, 2007.  Preserve America recognizes communities that protect and celebrate their heritage. This designation enhances that community’s visibility, serves as national recognition and a source of pride, and makes that community eligible to apply for Preserve America grants.

Preserve America is a White House initiative in cooperation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Department of Commerce.  Designation as a Preserve America Community improves the community’s ability to protect and promote its historical resources.  A Preserve America Community vows it will protect and celebrate its heritage, use its historic assets for economic development and community revitalization, and encourage people to experience and appreciate local historic resources through education and heritage tourism programs.

Aside from enhancing Miami’s visibility and community pride, other benefits of designation include: official White House recognition and Certificate of Recognition; a Preserve America road sign; authorization to use the Preserve America logo on promotional materials, signs, flags; listing on the Preserve America website under Community Directory; mention in Preserve America press releases and materials; and eligibility for Preserve America grants—a matching grants program initiated in 2005 which helps fund educational and tourism initiatives.

City of Miami Planning Director Ana Gelabert-Sanchez congratulates the Historic Preservation Division of the Planning Department on their efforts.  “Earning this prestigious designation is an honor for the City of Miami,” states Gelabert-Sanchez, “It is an acknowledgement of our past preservation efforts and encourages future creative and innovative solutions to preserving our history.  We continually face the challenge of managing our incredible growth as an international city, while preserving our history.”

Preserve America designation will aid the Historic Preservation Division’s educational initiatives and foster new initiatives related to Miami’s heritage.  “Miami is fortunate to have historical resources worth preserving and members of our community who not only support, but also, contribute to our efforts,” states Preservation Officer Kathleen Kauffman. 

For more information about Preserve America, visit www.preserveamerica.gov and for more information about the City of Miami Planning Department’s Historic Preservation Division, please visit www.historicpreservationmiami.com.