More Than 920,000 Votes Cast in
#VoteYourMainStreet Campaign Celebrating Historic Commercial
Corridors Across the U.S.
American Express (NYSE:AXP), The National Trust for Historic
Preservation and Main Street America announced today the winners of
the Partners in Preservation: Main Streets. The 11 winning historic
sites, determined by popular vote, will receive a total of $1.5
million in grants to fund their respective preservation projects.
An additional $500,000 in grants was provided to the nonprofit
partners of the 25 main street communities that participated in the
program at the outset of the campaign to help raise awareness about
their preservation needs.
This press release features multimedia. View
the full release here:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171102005907/en/
PARTNERS IN PRESERVATION AWARDS $2
MILLION IN GRANTS FOR MAIN STREET PROJECTS ACROSS THE U.S.
(Graphic: Business Wire)
The winners are:
- Parker Hall and the John Trower
Building in Philadelphia, PA
- Vintage Neon Sign Park in Casa Grande,
AZ
- Formosa Café in Los Angeles, CA
- The Lyric Theater in West Des Moines,
IA
- The Carolina Theatre in Greensboro,
NC
- E. Romero Hose and Fire Building in Las
Vegas, NM
- The Alabama Theatre in Birmingham,
AL
- The Woodward Theater in Cincinnati,
OH
- Ivers Square in Cape Girardeau, MO
- McKinney Performing Arts Center in
McKinney, TX
- Utah Pickle Company and Hide Buildings
in Salt Lake City, UT
Established in 2006 by American Express and the National Trust
for Historic Preservation, Partners in Preservation is a
community-based partnership created to raise awareness of the
importance of preserving historic places and their role in
sustaining local communities. To date, Partners in Preservation has
awarded $19 million in support of more than 200 historic sites
across the United States. This year’s campaign, Partners in
Preservation: Main Streets, emphasized Main Street communities
around the U.S. and their positive local impact. Twenty five
different main street districts participated in the campaign hosted
by media partner National Geographic, from September 25 through
October 31.
“These grants will enable main streets to preserve the historic
features that make these districts so special,” said Timothy J.
McClimon, president of the American Express Foundation. “When we
support our local historic sites and main streets through
philanthropy or through events like Small Business Saturday, we
drive development, preserve character, attract visitors and propel
commerce.”
“Partners in Preservation: Main Streets has shown how historic
sites on Main Street are beloved in communities across America,”
said Stephanie K. Meeks, president and CEO of The National Trust
for Historic Preservation. “The preservation of these diverse
places will help strengthen the identity and well-being of Main
Streets from California to North Carolina.”
Main Street continues to unite Americans. According to a recent
survey from Morning Consult commissioned by American Express1:
- More than three quarters (79 percent)
say that preserving Main Street is important and that the idea of
Main Street is what makes America beautiful.
- Four-in-five Americans (86 percent) say
that Main Street contributes to the wellbeing and enjoyment of a
community.
- Four-in-five Americans (84 percent) say
these districts are important to the neighborhood’s economic
success, with nearly two-thirds (63 percent) seeking out historic
Main Street districts when traveling for sightseeing, shopping or
dining.
The Winning Sites
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Open Doors in Germantown: The Germantown United Community
Development Corporation intends to use the $150,000 grant to
preserve and provide structural improvements to Parker Hall and the
John Trower Building, significant 20th century African-American
historic sites. The eponymous John Trower building was operated by
a well-known businessman and philanthropist who was considered the
wealthiest African-American in the U.S. Parker Hall was an
integrated social hall that served as a USO-like facility during
World War II for African American soldiers. Both buildings will
continue their current use as the Crab House restaurant, a popular
local business, and ACES, a small museum focusing on multi-ethnic
contributions to the U.S. Military in World War II.
Casa Grande, Arizona
Light Up the Night in Casa Grande: Casa Grande Main Street
intends to use the $144,000 grant to install a new Vintage Neon
Sign Park at the heart of the historic downtown, which the
organization hopes will provide a new downtown destination and spur
grassroots support for historic downtown reinvestment following a
recent decline. The property where the new park will be built is
known throughout the community as The Casa Grande Valley Newspaper
campus, which is centrally located between the commercial and arts
district of the city.
Los Angeles, California
Stage a Comeback in WeHo: The Los Angeles Conservancy intends to
use the $150,000 grant to help rehabilitate the historic Formosa
Cafe along Route 66. Now closed, the restaurant was originally
established in 1925 by a former prize fighter who renovated a
retired Pacific Electric Red Car trolley for use as a luncheon
counter. The business was later expanded in 1945. The restoration
will focus on the long-neglected 1902-06 trolley portion that still
functions as the centerpiece of the cafe. With a long association
with early Hollywood and organized crime, the walls were lined with
over 250 photos of stars who dined here. As a beloved L.A.-area
landmark and legacy business, the Formosa Cafe will have an
opportunity to continue sharing its cultural and historical
significance with the next generation.
West Des Moines, Iowa
Light the Lyric in Historic Valley Junction: For a century, the
Lyric Theater and Hotel entertained Iowans with vaudeville, silent
films, and the “big screen.” The heart of Valley Junction and the
largest, most prominent building in the neighborhood, The Lyric is
the nexus for district events and hopes to be the tipping point in
revitalization for Valley Junction. Through respectful renovation,
the $150,000 grant will enable the Historic Valley Junction
Foundation to revitalize The Lyric, a community gathering place and
iconic symbol of Main Street America, aiming to maintain the
architectural integrity of the original building and inspire the
entire Valley Junction district to invest local as the gathering
place for America’s heartland.
Greensboro, North Carolina
Save a Seat in Greensboro: Originally built in 1927, the
Carolina Theatre in Downtown Greensboro hosted Vaudeville shows and
silent films and became the hub of Greensboro nightlife on Elm
Street. The $150,000 grant will enable the Downtown Greensboro
Foundation to install new 1920s period style seats and increase ADA
accessibility to the iconic Carolina Theatre. Saving it from
demolition in the 70s, the community has continued to support the
Carolina, which is now home to over 380 live performances, tours
and cultural events throughout the year and provides arts education
for 12,000 students annually.
Las Vegas, New Mexico
Answer the Call in Las Vegas, NM: The MainStreet Las Vegas
Corporation intends to use the $150,000 grant to complete the
restoration of the E. Romero Hose & Fire Building, home of the
first volunteer fire department in the Southwest, and convert it
into a museum commemorating the fire company and exploring the
history of northern New Mexico’s acequia system. Although currently
vacant, the E. Romero Hose & Fire Building embodies key
elements of the area’s history, culture, and values; its completion
would provide the perfect stage for telling the intertwined stories
of the people who built it, and its efforts to protect the growing
community.
Birmingham, Alabama
Shine a New Light in Birmingham: In Birmingham, the Alabama
Theatre was originally constructed in 1927 and has hosted concerts
from performers like Willie Nelson, Smokey Robinson, Bob Dylan and
dignitaries such as the Dalai Lama. The $120,000 grant will enable
REV Birmingham to add an additional vertical “ALABAMA” sign to the
18th street north facade, which will help push city development
further west and complete the restoration of the theatre to its
original design. During downtown transitions, the Alabama Theater
has been an anchor for the surviving businesses and a seed for
further growth. The organization believes that this restoration
will help bridge the development gap between the Theatre District
and the Civil Rights district of the town.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Brighten a Beacon in Cincinnati: The 1913 Woodward Theater in
Over-the-Rhine recently reopened as a concert and event venue.
While it brought welcome activity to Main Street, the limited
budget was not able to fund reconstruction of the historic marquee.
The $150,000 grant will enable the Cincinnati Preservation
Association to do just that. As it once was, the theater is now a
center of entertainment and community activity. Since it reopened
in 2014, it has added vitality to Main Street, sustains many
non-profit initiatives, and demonstrated that the Woodward could
really light up the street. The project will solidify OTR as
Cincinnati’s arts and cultural epicenter; reconstructing the
marquee will complete the Woodward’s return as a hub of the
community and beacon on Main St.
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Take Center Stage in Cape Girardeau: Old Town Cape Inc. will use
the $127,650 grant to revitalize the recently named Ivers Square,
which is on the grounds of the historic Cape Girardeau Common Pleas
Courthouse, and drive traffic for future local events and tourism.
Among other projects on the grounds, the project will include
restoring the band stand, which was originally built in 1931 for
concerts and served as a stage for politicians like Franklin
Roosevelt and Harry Truman. The property is currently used for an
extremely popular 12-week concert series, as well as for events
such as weddings and picnics. With a new namesake, this historic
area deserves to be revitalized as it has deep roots in the Civil
War era. The park setting was recently named after an
African-American Civil War soldier and former slave who joined the
military on the steps of the Courthouse.
McKinney, Texas
Polish a Gem in McKinney: McKinney Main Street intends to use
the $150,000 grant to support exterior work to the McKinney
Performing Arts Center (MPAC) at the Historic Collin County
Courthouse, helping preserve the community’s most important
historic landmark and public facility. MPAC at the Historic Collin
County Courthouse currently functions as a public, multi-use and
performing arts center. MPAC’s night/weekend operations play a
significant role in downtown’s revival and the development of
Historic Downtown McKinney as an entertainment and tourism
destination. MPAC is the heart and jewel of the town square, the
city’s most important historic, cultural, and visual icon. However,
it desperately needs a ‘facelift’ to restore the glory of this
majestic building, making an impact aesthetically and an impact on
preservation.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Advance the Arts in Salt Lake City: Studio Elevn intends to use
the $50,000 grant towards bringing new life to Salt Lake City’s
Granary District. Through the restoration and redesign of the
historic Utah Pickle Company building and the adjacent Hide
building, a 1.5-acre epicenter will serve creative minds,
independent artists, and inspired locals looking for a space to
gather, work, and celebrate.
###
About Partners in Preservation
Partners in Preservation is a program in which American Express,
in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation,
awards preservation grants to historic places across the
country.
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 hopes to inspire long-term support from local citizens
for the historic places 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. Learn more at
americanexpress.com, and connect with us on
facebook.com/americanexpress, instagram.com/americanexpress,
linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress,
and youtube.com/americanexpress.
Key links to products, services and corporate responsibility
information: charge and credit cards, business credit cards, Plenti
rewards program, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards,
merchant services, Accertify, corporate card, business travel, and
corporate responsibility.
About the National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded
nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places:
www.savingplaces.org.
About Main Street America
Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and
historic commercial districts for more than 35 years. Today it is a
network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and
urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building
stronger communities through preservation-based economic
development. Main Street America is a program of the nonprofit
National Main Street Center, Inc., a subsidiary of the National
Trust for Historic Preservation.
About National Geographic Partners LLC
National Geographic Partners LLC, a joint venture between
National Geographic Society and 21st Century Fox, combines National
Geographic television channels with National Geographic’s media and
consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines;
National Geographic Studios; related digital and social media
platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities
that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales,
catalog, licensing and e-commerce businesses. A portion of the
proceeds from National Geographic Partners LLC will be used to fund
science, exploration, conservation and education through
significant ongoing contributions to the work of the National
Geographic Society. For more information, visit
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ and find us on Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
###
1 Morning Consult conducted an online survey of 2,201 adults
from September 12-15, 2017. Results from the full survey have a
margin of error of +/- 2%.
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171102005907/en/
Media:American
ExpressJocelyn F. Seidenfeld,
212-640-0555Jocelyn.f.seidenfeld@aexp.comorNational Trust for
Historic PreservationAndy Grabel,
202-588-6025Agrabel@savingplaces.orgorDay One AgencyJacob Taylor,
203-246-5059Jacob@D1A.com
American Express (NYSE:AXP)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
American Express (NYSE:AXP)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024