HGTV's Restore America Community Revitalization Grants Awarded to 11 Projects Across the Nation

WASHINGTON, April 24 /PRNewswire/ -- National Trust for Historic Preservation President Richard Moe and HGTV President Judy Girard announced today that the fourth year of the successful multi-million Dollar HGTV's Restore America initiative will continue to focus on the role that preservation plays in the revitalization of communities and will support community re-investment projects in eleven cities across the nation through on-air and online content and grants.

"The historic and cultural resources of a community tell the story of its past and make each community unique," said Moe. "Sites that are often overlooked -- like homes, schools, and neighborhood shops -- provide a tangible link to the people and events that have shaped our country. Through HGTV's Restore America partnership, we hope to work with cities and towns across the nation to preserve the physical reminders of our past that are essential for instilling a sense of civic pride and community spirit."

HGTV has donated $1 million for the 2006-2007 campaign of HGTV's Restore America to fund community revitalization grants. More than 100 grant applications were received from nonprofit organizations and public agencies across the country to complete residential projects. The 11 projects selected range from single-family homes adapted from a row of dilapidated structures built at the turn of the 20th century in Cleveland, Ohio, to the rebuilding of homes in the Holy Cross District of New Orleans's Lower Ninth Ward that collapsed during Hurricane Katrina. The recipients have been awarded grants ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 for the community revitalization projects, which can be viewed at http://www.nationaltrust.org/restore_america/2006.

"Since 2003, this campaign has provided $4 million to fund 47 restoration projects across the country and has elevated the importance of preservation through on-air and online efforts," said Girard. "The work of the National Trust is a natural fit with our goal at HGTV to reflect the rich and varied fabric of American life through our programming. We look forward to continuing to build on the foundation that has been laid and to see this important initiative become part of how America views our homes, neighborhoods, and towns."

HGTV's Restore America grants, which may be used for professional service fees or building materials, are intended to further the restoration or rehabilitation of a historic structure for residential use, such as schools or hospitals adapted for low-income housing, historic hotels transformed into condominiums, or abandoned factories turned into artists' lofts.

In addition to receiving funds, beginning in October 2006, these new projects will be featured in public service announcements on HGTV's networks and on their Web site, HGTV.com, exposing them to more than 89 million households. HGTV began shooting video at each site in April 2006.

The 11 Grant Winning Sites Are:

Chicago, IL: Historic Pullman Landmark ($50,000) - Neighborhood Housing Services Redevelopment Corporation will use the $50,000 grant to convert 10461-10463 South Corliss (1880s), located in the National Historic Landmark Pullman Historic District, into six affordable housing condominium units. The house is part of the model factory town built in the 1880s by George Pullman, in collaboration with architect Solon Beman, and created to offer a range of attractive, high-quality housing for Pullman's workers, as well as schools, churches, medical facilities, retail and recreational areas. Neighborhood Housing Services anticipates that this project will serve as a catalyst to spark new interest and investment in the North Pullman community.

Cleveland, OH: Heritage Lane Historic Homes ($75,000) - The Famicos Foundation was awarded a $75,000 grant to rehabilitate three homes built between 1910 and 1915 in Cleveland's National Glenville neighborhood as part of a larger project to renovate 13 homes in the city's National Register Historic District. The Heritage Lane Historic Homes project is a comprehensive redevelopment project located on East 105th Street connecting the Glenville and University Circle neighborhoods. The homes were originally built in the 1910s for middle class residents that were flocking to Cleveland, drawn by its industry and immigrant communities, and the neighborhood later became a pivotal place in Cleveland's Civil Rights Movement.

Miles City, MT: Old Holy Rosary Hospital ($50,000) - The Housing Authority of the City of Miles City will use a $50,000 grant to aid in converting the Old Holy Rosary Hospital Original Hospital Building (1910, 1930) into 21 apartment units which will be made available to low income families. Miles City once served as a stopping point for the Great Northern Railroad, and the hospital was built to serve railroaders, cattle barons, city founders and settlers. The newly created apartments will be in walking distance of schools, shops and downtown services, and will help probing life and function back to the traditional downtown center.

Provo, UT: Maeser School ($50,000) - The Provo Nonprofit Housing Development Corporation was awarded a $50,000 grant to restore the Maeser Elementary School (1898, 1912) for use as 31 apartments for low-income seniors. The Maeser School, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, closed in May 2002 and at the time was the oldest public school still in use in Utah.

Philadelphia, PA: Winston Commons ($50,000) - Mt. Airy USA was awarded a $50,000 grant to restore four buildings on Germantown Avenue that will create Winston Commons, a commercial development with six upper-floor residential units. The four buildings, erected in 1898, are contributing properties to the Colonial Germantown National Historic District.

Norwich, CT: The Wauregan ($50,000) - The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation will use a $50,000 grant to restore the Wauregan Hotel (1853- 1855), a State Landmark located in Norwich, into 70 units of affordable housing and four retail storefronts. The Wauregan, which once hosted Presidents Lincoln and Grant, had severely deteriorated and stood vacant for 14 years before construction began on the project in 2004. Once open, the building will also host events in its restored ballroom.

Buffalo, NY: Buffalo Artists Lofts ($50,000) - The Minneapolis-based Artspace Projects, Inc. was awarded a $50,000 to restore the Buffalo Electric Vehicle Company building (1911), an old automobile factory in Buffalo, into 60 affordable "live/work" units for artists. The building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was used to manufacture cars and trucks through the 1930s, and was used for a variety of purposes, ranging from a car dealership to a vocational training center. Artspace received an HGTV's Restore America grant in 2005 for the Elder Street Artist Lofts in Houston, Texas.

New Orleans, LA: Holy Cross Recovery Project ($100,000) - The Preservation Alliance of New Orleans dba Preservation Resource Center received a $100,000 grant aid in the rebuilding of the Holy Cross District in New Orleans's Lower Ninth Ward. Grant funds will be used renovate one house that sustained hurricane damage and reconstruct one house that collapsed during Hurricane Katrina.

Knoxville, TN: Barber Houses ($50,000) - Knox Heritage has been awarded a $50,000 grant to restore two homes on Washington Avenue in Knoxville's Historic Parkridge Neighborhood. The houses, built in 1887 and 1913, were both designed by George Barber who led one of the top mail-order architectural firms in the country. Barber homes were built throughout the county, and the two homes on Washington Avenue represent Barber's early and late work.

Little Rock, AR: Hot Springs High School ($50,000) - The ARC Arkansas received a $50,000 grant to restore the Hot Springs High School and Auditorium (1914) in Hot Springs, Arkansas into 32 loft-style apartments. President Bill Clinton graduated from the former school, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Seventy percent of the apartment units will be set aside for low income individuals.

Austin, TX: Juniper-Olive District Historic Homes ($50,000) - The Austin Revitalization Authority was granted $50,000 to rehabilitate five homes in the Juniper-Olive District (1885-1935) as affordable housing units. The Juniper- Olive District is located in Austin's East End, was once home to a vibrant African American community and is an important piece of Austin's history.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting the irreplaceable. Recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the Trust provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize communities. Its Washington, D.C. headquarters staff, six regional offices and 28 historic sites work with the Trust's members and thousands of local community groups in all 50 states. For more information visit nationaltrust.org.

HGTV is distributed to more than 89 million U.S. households, making it one of the fastest growing networks in cable television history. Additionally, with more than 3.5 million unique visitors on average each month, HGTV.com is America's leading online home and garden destination. Internationally, HGTV owns 33 percent of HGTV Canada and provides much of the Canadian network's daily programming. HGTV branded programming can be seen in 26 other countries and selected HGTV programming is available to service men and women through American Forces Radio & Television Service (AFRTS) to over 1,000 outlets in more than 175 countries and on board Navy ships. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta and Nashville, HGTV is wholly owned by The E.W. Scripps Company , which also operates Food Network, DIY - Do It Yourself Network, Fine Living and Great American Country.