For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
January 15, 2004
Laura Bush Announces Preserve America Grants Budget
Mrs. Laura Bush announced today that the President's budget for
2005 includes a proposal for $10 million in grants to assist
communities in preserving their cultural and natural resources. These
grants will assist states, Indian tribes, and communities in developing
sustainable uses of their historic and cultural sites and the economic
and educational opportunities related to heritage tourism.
Mrs. Bush also honored eight communities with Preserve America designation for their commitment to protect the historic heritage. The first eight Preserve America communities to
receive this designation are: Augusta, Georgia; Castroville, Texas;
Delaware, Ohio; Dorchester County, Maryland; Key West, Florida; Putnam
County, New York; Steamboat Springs, Colorado; and Versailles,
Kentucky.
In addition, Mrs. Bush announced two new education efforts to
enhance the teaching of history in America's classrooms:
Preserve America has worked with the History Channel's Save
Our
History initiative to support the creation of a history education
manual. This manual provides teachers with lesson plans and volunteer
ideas to get students involved in preserving historical sites in their
communities.
Preserve America and The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American
History will honor outstanding teachers of American history across
the country with a new "Preserve America History Teacher of the Year"
award. Finalists will be selected annually from each state, the
District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. State winners will receive
$1000 and a core archive of history materials for their school library.
A "National Preserve America History Teacher of the Year" will be
selected from the group of state finalists. The winner, together with
the nominating supervisor, will be flown to Washington, D. C. for
recognition in a ceremony.
More information on Preserve America can be found at
www.preserveamerica.gov.
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