ACT NOW TO SAVE PRESERVATION FUNDING

Earlier this month President Obama released the FY 2011 budget request, which would eliminate funding for Save America’s Treasures and Preserve America, two vital programs that have had a significant impact in East Tennessee.  In addition the budget would cut funding for National Heritage Areas by 50 percent.  Bear in mind, the entire state is a National Heritage Area.  In fact, we are the only state with that distinction.

These critical historic preservation programs matter now more than ever – not only because they protect our national heritage but because they are economic development engines and create jobs in the thousands of communities they serve!  Save America’s Treasures alone has generated more than 16,000 jobs since it was created 10 years ago.

In early March, Knox Heritage issued letters to Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, Congressmen Phil Roe, John Duncan, Zach Wamp, and Lincoln Davis encouraging them to restore Historic Preservation Funds and Federal Preservation Programs to the Federal budget.  Download a copy of the letter below.

But we need your help to make sure they know these programs and funds are important to Tennessee.  Not only do these programs help restore and maintain places in our community like Blount Mansion, Oak Ridge, and Blount County they also help provide jobs and economic development across the entire country.

We need you to ACT NOW!

Help us make it clear these programs have been highly effective and should be continued!

Here’s how YOU can help:

1.       Complete this online letter to your congressman to support historic preservation funding by using this online form at the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s website.

2.       Better yet, take a few minutes to write a personal email to your representatives explaining why YOU believe preservation funding should be a priority.  Click here to find contact information for your representatives.

3.       Read more about the benefits of the benefits of Historic Preservation Funding, Save America’s Treasures, Preserve America, and National Heritage Areas here and help spread the word to your friends and family.

4.       Follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook to stay updated on this very important issue that affects all of us.