National Homeownership Month Activities in Mississippi

Mississippi Mayors participate in the Forum

Bob Young, HUD Assistant Deputy Secretary Office of Field Policy and Management presents William Newsom President, Board of Supervisors, Sharkey County Mississippi with the New Preserve America Designated Communities Certificate.

Bob Young, HUD Assistant Deputy Secretary Office of Field Policy and Management presents Honorable Phillip Curtis West, Mayor City of Natchez with the New Preserve America Designated Communities Certificate.

Honorable Frank Melton, Mayor City of Jackson speaks at the Forum.

The June 2008 National Homeownership Month was commemorated in Mississippi with the Jackson Field Office taking part in the Annual Housing and Community Development Conference. The event took place On June 10-12, 2008 at the Mississippi Telcom Center located in Jackson, MS. Traditionally, the Annual Housing and Community Development Conference aims to bring together HUD's housing partners throughout Mississippi to discuss and present housing and community development resources from entities of the local, state and Federal government.

In conjunction with this year's event, the Jackson HUD Field Office hosted the Mississippi Mayors' Forum. The main focus of the Forum was the Preserve America Initiative (http://www.preserveamerica.gov/communities.html). Speakers on the Preserve America Initiative included Bob Young, HUD Assistant Deputy Secretary; Grover E. Mouton, Director of Tulane Regional Urban Design Center; and Johnny L. DuPree, Mayor, City of Hattiesburg and President, MS Municipal League. The Forum also included a presentation by A. Bryant Applegate, Co-Director, on America's Affordable Communities Initiative.

The Preserve America - designated communities in Mississippi include Baldwyn, Biloxi, Canton, Cleveland, Columbus, Corinth Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Leland, Meridian, Oxford, Pascagoula, Port Gibson, Raymond, and Vicksburg. During the Forum, two new communities were awarded the Preserve America Designation: Sharkey County Mississippi and the City of Natchez.

HUD is one of several federal agencies, including the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, now working with the White House to implement and expand the Preserve America initiative. Mrs. Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States, is the Honorary Chair of Preserve America. The goals of the Preserve America Initiative include a greater shared knowledge about the nation's past, strengthened regional identities and local pride, increased local participation in preserving the country's cultural and natural heritage assets, and support for the economic vitality of our communities. The FY 2008 budget includes nearly $7.5 million for Preserve America Grants.