FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Sept. 12, 2007

CONTACT:  Jay D. Vogt, (605) 773-3458, Jay.Vogt@state.sd.us

ACHP Announces Expanded Eligibility for 2008 Preserve America Presidential Awards

PIERRE, S.D. -- The South Dakota State Historical Society in the Cultural Heritage Center announces that the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is accepting nominations through Nov. 1 for the expanded 2008 Preserve America Presidential Awards.

The awards are now open to all exemplary historic preservation and heritage tourism efforts meeting award program criteria.

Formerly, preservation projects had to be primarily privately funded to qualify for the awards program. Beginning with this 2008 call for nominations, publicly funded preservation projects may also be considered. This means that preservation efforts meeting Preserve America Presidential Award criteria that are funded by private, federal, state, city, county, or tribal means, or any combination of funding sources, now are eligible.

Nominations for outstanding and innovative heritage tourism projects and programs based upon sustainable use of cultural and natural historic resources also are sought, in addition to preservation efforts.

Four Preserve America Presidential Awards will be presented during Preservation Month in May 2008. Nomination forms and criteria, as well as information on past winners and the overall Preserve America initiative, are available at www.PreserveAmerica.gov.