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     Today the City of Nacogdoches Main Street Program was awarded a $1406.00 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation from the Fondren Endowed Fund. The seed grant funds will be used to offset keynote speaker fees for the 2011 Texas Downtown Association Annual Conference, to be held in Nacogdoches November 1-4, 2011 downtown at historic Hotel Fredonia. “Without organizations like the City of Nacogdoches Main Street Program, communities and towns all across America would have a diminished sense of place,” said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “The National Trust for Historic Preservation is honored to provide a grant to the City of Nacogdoches Main Street, which will use the funds to help downtowners from across the state preserve an important piece of our shared heritage.”

     The City of Nacogdoches Main Street Program is excited to welcome Donovan Rypkema as the keynote speaker to this year’s conference. Donovan Rypkema, Principal of PlaceEconomics, was educated at Columbia University, where he received a Master’s of Science degree in Historic Preservation. He has lectured widely on economic and preservation issues relating to rehabilitation, community development and commercial revitalization. He is author of several publications, including Community Initiated Development, The Economics of Rehabilitation, the Downtown Real Estate Development Series and others. His articles have appeared in numerous periodicals and journals. His book, The Economics of Historic Preservation: A Community Leader’s Guide, (The National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1994) is now in its second printing and is widely used by preservationists nationwide. His keynote address will be “Recent lessons on the economics of historic preservation from home & abroad.” During the bid process for the 2011 Conference in 2009, Nacogdoches Main Street Manager Sarah O’Brien contacted and selected Rypkema and included him in the bid proposal. “We couldn’t be more excited about having him here in Texas’ Oldest Town, and are thrilled that the National Trust is able to help us offset his speaker and keynote expenses,” said O’Brien. Rypkema’s keynote address will reach around 200 downtown professional from across the State. “Not only will this grant help Nacogdoches, but it has a much greater impact than just Texas’ Oldest Town, since Rypkema will be presenting at a statewide conference here.”

     The National Trust for Historic Preservation dispenses small grants for local projects through the National Trust Preservation Funds grant program. The grants range from $500 to $5,000 and have provided over $5.5 million dollars of funding since 2002. They are awarded to non profit groups, educational institutions and public agencies, and must be matched, at least dollar for dollar, with public or private funds. Preservation Funds grants are being used nationally for such wide-ranging activities as consultant services for rehabilitating buildings, technical assistance for tourism that promotes historic resources and education. For more information on National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preservation Fund grants, visit: www.PreservationNation.org/resources/find-funding/grants

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation

     The National Trust for Historic Preservation www.preservationnation.org is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history-and the important moments of everyday life- took place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitilzae neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, nine regional and field offices, 29 historic sites and partner organizations in all 50 states, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations, and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America’s Stores.

     For more information on the City of Nacogdoches Main Street Program, or the 2011 Texas Downtown Association Annual Conference, please contact the City of Nacogdoches Main Street Office at 936-559-2573 or obriens@ci.nacogdoches.tx.us .