Interior Teams up with Concrete Preservation Institute Foundation to Preserve Historic Sites

Date: October 4, 2019
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov

WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Concrete Preservation Institute Foundation (CPI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a framework to utilize CPI’s existing training programs in repair, maintenance and stewardship at historic sites across the Department’s bureaus. 

CPI is a nonprofit public benefit foundation structured and operated exclusively to provide training and education in historic preservation, stewardship, repair, and research of concrete and other cultural resources. It serves as a certified U.S. Military Career Skills Program in the training, education and career placement of U.S. veterans and active duty personnel.

Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Rob Wallace and CPI Founding Director & President/CEO Dr. Tanya Wattenburg Komas signed the MOU in Washington, D.C. today to identify historically and culturally significant sites within the DOI where CPI can have the greatest impact on preservation while providing training opportunities for military service members. The agreement builds off the success of current programs at Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii and Alcatraz Island, part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, in San Francisco. 

"The Department of the Interior and its bureaus preserve thousands of historic sites across the county," Wallace said. "Partnerships with organizations like the Concrete Preservation Institute Foundation provide us the needed technical expertise to fulfill our mission of preserving these sites for future generations."

“It is an honor to work with the Departments of the Interior and Defense through CPI’s active duty military training program that improves national parks and other public lands while preparing service members for family-sustaining careers upon civilian transition,” Komas said. “This MOU allows the program to expand, bringing needed resources and our industry partners who engage to help support the program and hire CPI’s participants for careers at all levels building and repairing infrastructure across the US.”

CPI partners with the DOI and the Department of Defense, and with industry companies across the country, to offer career preparation, nationwide placement and hands-on training for transitioning active duty service members at all levels from all service branches while completing construction, repair, maintenance and safety/access projects in national parks and public sites.