American Express and The National Trust for Historic Preservation Announce Program to Give Away $1 Million in Grants to Twin Cities Historic Places

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, August 31, 2011 (Press-News.org) Hon. R.T. Rybak, Mayor of Minneapolis, and Hon. Chris Coleman, Mayor of St. Paul, to co-chair Advisory Committee Comprised of Area Community Leaders

American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced today that the Twin Cities area has been chosen for the community-based Partners in Preservation program, which provides preservation grants for local historic places. American Express is committing $1 million in preservation grants to the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area and will be encouraging local residents to participate by voting for their favorite historic place from a diverse group of 25 sites on Facebook.com/PartnersinPreservation beginning on Sept. 20.

"The Twin Cities have a rich cultural and architectural history and we are thrilled to bring Partners in Preservation to the area this year," said Timothy J. McClimon, President of the American Express Foundation."Preserving our nation's historic sites is critical to both protect the past and ensure economic viability for the future. We encourage everyone in the Twin Cities community, and around the world, to vote on Facebook for their favorite Twin Cities historic places."

The Twin Cities are the sixth location to participate in the Partners in Preservation program and receive funding from American Express. The program previously made grants for preservation projects in San Francisco, Chicagoland, New Orleans, Greater Boston and Seattle-Puget Sound.

"Through the Partners in Preservation program, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express work hand in hand to bring attention and funding to important historic places around the country," said Stephanie Meeks, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "This year we have the honor of shining a spotlight on the Twin Cities' many treasures. By rallying public support and giving away $1 million to these one-of-a-kind places, we hope to illustrate how important historic preservation is to our beloved cities and communities."

On Sept. 20, the program kicks off when American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation will announce the 25 sites eligible for voting From Sept. 20-Oct. 12, the public will be invited to vote for their favorite historic places by visiting http://www.Facebook.com/PartnersinPreservation. At the end of the voting period, the winner of the popular vote is guaranteed funding. The remainder of the $1 million in grants will be given to a number of the other sites after review by American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and an advisory committee. The committee, co-chaired by R.T. Rybak and Chris Coleman, mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, respectively, is composed of Twin Cities civic and preservation leaders including:

Amy Alegi,Vice President of Destination Branding and Strategy, Meet Minneapolis
John Anfinson, Chief, Resource Management, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Nina Archabal, Director Emerita, Minnesota Historical Society and former State Historic Preservation Officer
Greg Donofrio, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, University of Minnesota
John Edman, Director, Explore Minnesota Tourism
Rolf Engh, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Valspar Corporation
Deb Hopp, Publisher, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine
Adam Johnson, Vice President of Marketing, Visit Saint Paul
Doug Killian, Director Of Tourism & Guest Services, Mall of America
Bill Lentsch, Senior Vice President of Minnesota Operations, Delta Air Lines
Chuck Liddy, Architect, Miller Dunwiddie Architecture
James Lileks, Columnist and blogger, Star Tribune
Linda Mack, Architecture Writer and Preservationist
Bonnie McDonald, Executive Director, Preservation Alliance of Minnesota
Peter McLaughlin, County Commissioner, Hennepin County
William Morrissey, President, Morrissey Hospitality
Phil Roberts, Partner, Parasole Restaurant Holdings
Charlene Roise, NTHP Advisor Emeritus and President, Hess, Roise, Historical Consultants
Nancy Shouweiler, County Commissioner, Dakota County
Leonard Wabasha, Director of Cultural Resources, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
(List is subject to change)

For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/PartnersinPreservation, http://www.PartnersInPreservation.com or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/PartnersinPres.

Voting starts 10:01AM CT 9/20/11, ends 11:59PM CT 10/12/11. Must be at least 18 to vote. Limit one (1) vote per person/email address per calendar day. See Voting Terms, which govern, for complete details.

About Partners in Preservation
Launched in 2006, Partners in Preservation is a program in which American Express, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has awarded $5.5 million over a five-year period toward preserving 56 historic places throughout the United States. American Express renewed its commitment to Partners in Preservation in 2010 by pledging $10 million toward the program over the next five years.
Through this partnership, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation seek to increase the public's awareness of the importance of historic preservation in the United States and to preserve America's historic and cultural places. The program also seeks to inspire long-term support from local citizens for the historic sites at the heart of their communities.

About American Express
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Historic preservation has long been the hallmark of American Express's involvement in the community, reflecting the company's recognition of the importance of cultural sites and monuments as symbols of national and local identity, and the role that their preservation can play in attracting visitors and revitalizing neighborhoods. Learn more at http://www.americanexpress.com and connect with us on http://www.facebook.com/americanexpress, http://www.twitter.com/americanexpress and http://www.youtube.com/americanexpress

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 revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, eight regional and field offices -- including the Western Office in San Francisco--, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia, 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 stories.