The City of Wilmington, Historic Wilmington Foundation and Wilmington Downtown are collaborating to bring Mr. Donovan Rypkema, President of Heritage Strategies International and principal of PlaceEconomics, to Wilmington on April 15th, 2010.

Mr. Rypkema, a recognized industry leader in the economics of preserving historic structures, has provided services addressing these issues in 49 states and more than 30 countries for government and non-profit organizations. He is also the author of several publications, including Community Initiated Development, and the Economics of Rehabilitation. The Economics of Historic Preservation: A Community Leader's Guide, published in 2005, is widely used by preservationists worldwide.

Rypkema will tour downtown and meet with stakeholders and government leaders to discuss the impacts of historic preservation on economic development. A public presentation will be held on Wednesday, April 15th at 6:00 p.m. at City Council Chambers. Please plan to attend this free event to learn more about economic revitalization of downtowns, the rehabilitation of historic structures and the environmental power of historic preservation and meet this noted speaker, author and preservationist.

For more information call the Historic Wilmington Foundation, (910) 762-2511.