City Prepares to Apply for National Award
The City of Boyne City is getting plans together in order to apply for the designation of a Preserve America Community. Hoping to meet a deadline within the next couple of months, the City Commission and City Manager are making preparations and ensuring that our community meets the requirements.
Preserve America was established in 2003 to assist small communities in using their historic assets and uniqueness to promote tourism and help revitalize their local economy as well as promoting historical awarness through community education.
Preserve America designation would allow Boyne City to apply for government grants that specifically involve community history and promoting that history to tourism. These grants would be “matching grants” meaning that they would match certain grants already being awarded, and awarded in the future.
To become a Preserve America Community, cities are required to:
- Support a historic or cultural preservation project that promotes heritage tourism or fosters economic vitality while involving local business.
- Adopt a resolution committing to preserving its historic assets
- Meet five criteria in three categories: discovering heritage through historic places, protecting historic resources, and promoting historic assets
Communities with the “Preserve America” designation would be listed in a national directory, receive promotional materials such as a Preserve America Community road sign, along with national and regional press releases. Boyne City would also be authorized to use the “Preserve America” logo on their own promotional materials, as well as signs, flags, etc.
“I see this as a win for the community with no real setback” said City Manager Michael Cain as he updated the City Commission on the progress. During the August 25th City Commission meeting, the Commission voted to authorize the Mayor or City Manager to sign and submit the required documents for Boyne City’s Preserve America designation.
Mayor Eleanor Stackus also expressed her support at the meeting, stating: “I appreciate Commissionor Cummings bringing this to our attention, and I am one hundred percent for it.”
More information on Preserve America can be found on the initiative’s website: http://www.preserveamerica.gov Citizens interested in more information are encouraged to contact any of the city commissioners as well as the City Manager.
