Ten Georgia Communities to Receive Federal Historic Preservation Grants

ATLANTA (March 19, 2009)- Ten Georgia communities will be receiving a federally funded grant to conduct historic preservation projects to begin in May 2009 and be completed by August 2010. A total of $75,395 in grants from the FFY2009 Historic Preservation Fund was awarded this year. This year's projects include four historic resource surveys, a National Register nomination, a design guidelines publication, two promotional brochures, web site development for a cemetery, and rehabilitation drawings for a courthouse. The grant recipients are as follows:

- City of Albany $2,760 for a historic sites walking/driving brochure.
- City of Augusta-Richmond County--$8,400 to produce Phase 2 of a historic resource survey of the Harrisburg-West End Historic District.
- City of Dahlonega--$6,600 to conduct a survey and produce a local historic district designation.
- City of Decatur-- $6,000 to produce a National Register nomination for the downtown area.
- City of Gainesville--$18,900 to conduct Phase 4 of the citywide historic resources survey.
- City of Hawkinsville-- $6,000 to produce design guidelines for the city's commercial district.
- City of Hinesville--$3,000 to conduct a survey of the city's historic resources.
- City of Montezuma--$6,400 to produce a historic sites walking/driving tour brochure.
- City of Valdosta--$3,000 to produce an interactive web site for Sunset Hill Cemetery.
- City of Vienna-- $14,335 to produce construction/rehabilitation drawings for the historic Dooly County Courthouse.

These grants are provided through the Historic Preservation Fund from the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service and are administered by the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Each year, Georgia's 77 Certified Local Governments (CLGs) are eligible to apply for these matching 60% federal/40% local grants.

According to HPD Division Director Ray Luce, "These grants help local governments and their preservation commissions carry out a variety of preservation projects that help retain and use significant historic properties, thus assuring that these resources are protected for future generations."

Funding may be used for a variety of preservation activities, including archaeological and historic resource surveys, National Register nominations, educational and promotional activities and publications, heritage tourism studies, and preservation plans.

The Historic Preservation Division (HPD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources serves as Georgia's state historic preservation office. Their mission is to promote the preservation and use of historic places for a better Georgia. HPD's programs include archaeology protection and education, environmental review, grants, historic resource surveys, tax incentives, the National Register of Historic Places, community planning and technical assistance. For more information, call 404-656-2840 or visit their Web site at www.gashpo.org.

For information on HPD's historic preservation grant programs, contact Carole Moore at 404-463-8434 or via email at carole.moore@dnr.state.ga.us.