Good evening. Leon County is celebrating nearly 30 years in partnership with the Tallahassee-Leon County Architectural Review Board. The ARB has been our key source for protecting our historic properties in this county. Since 1987 Leon County has participated jointly with the City of Tallahassee in a federal historic preservation program called the Certified Local Governments program, for which our two governments have received over $76,000 in federal CLG grant funding. It is my understanding that our program is used as a model by the Florida Dept. Of State CLG Coordinator for other Florida CLGs to follow.

We have a great deal to be proud of here in Leon County. Now, in addition to the beautiful canopy roads and other natural beauty that our county is so well-known for, thanks to the ARB hundreds of homes and structures are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and over $1.2 million in grants have been secured for historic preservation.

Leon County is very proud and supportive of the ARB, and others who are being recognized this evening for the special interest you have taken in preserving the architectural beauty in our growing community.

I wish you continued success. We want to see you continue to do what you do. It’s a task that’s overlooked by many, even as we visibly enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Thank you.