FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE              CONTACT: Brian Lamb

                                                                                            (813) 873-7300 x304

                                                                                            blamb@dms-us.com 

                                                                                                     or

                                                                                             Steve Holub

                                                                                             (813) 716-0041

                                                                                             steve@xposuregroup.com

District Management Services Presents Proposal to City of St. Petersburg

To Facilitate St. Petersburg PACE Forward Program

Innovative new program lets municipalities establish sustainable energy programs

TAMPA, Fla. (June 8, 2010) - District Management Services, LLC (DMS), a financial consulting and management firm based in Tampa Bay, has presented a proposal to the Governor's home town, the City of St. Petersburg, to facilitate the implementation, administration and financing for a program allowing property owners to voluntarily finance the installation of renewable energy systems and energy efficient improvements shortly after the signing of a new bill allowing the process.  

The program will make use of a new form of nationally known energy finance districts called Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE). The program allows a municipality to create a finance district that lets property owners eliminate the upfront cost of energy improvements by financing and paying for the improvements over a 15-20 year period via collection on their annual tax bill. Florida's enabling legislation allowing the PACE program to move forward also includes retrofits and improvements for storm, hurricane and wind damage mitigation. Improved properties will benefit from reduced energy bills, storm damage and an increase in value. The community at large will benefit from reduced carbon emissions and collateral damage during storm events. These new finance districts will also help create immediate jobs in manufacturing and installation, and accelerate research and development of clean energy technology.

DMS chief executive officer Brian Lamb said, "PACE's potential to create much-needed long term job opportunities in clean energy, reduce energy costs and help St. Petersburg ?go green' makes this an extraordinary and timely financing mechanism for municipalities. Since PACE is not a tax or subsidy, not linked to the financial credit of the city or property owner, and has no impact on state or local governments or a city's bond rating, we are labeling them as the new ?smart' financial districts."

DMS Proposal for St. Petersburg PACE Forward                                                     

He said the costs for DMS' turnkey solution providing financing, administration, education and marketing would not be paid by the City. "DMS compensation would come from application fees paid by those who opt-in or voluntarily participate," said Lamb. "Our proposal will eliminate the burden of administering the program for City staff without increasing expenses."

One focus during the program will be public awareness and education to create the habits to maintain the long term success of the program. Lamb said the DMS program includes creation of an interactive website and extensive use of social media to increase public awareness and education beyond what will be provided at the federal, state and local levels. Applications will be available online, and participants will be able to monitor their energy savings to streamline the program and further minimize the need for additional City resources. DMS has also proposed the development of a Pilot Program of 10 homes in the eight Council districts to encourage participation, and will solicit corporate and special interest support within the community and corporate relocations to St. Petersburg.

"DMS and its team of professionals have helped establish, finance and operate more than 150 special taxing districts throughout Florida," said Lamb, "so we are intimately familiar with how municipalities work and the involved support a program like PACE requires. We congratulate St. Petersburg on continuing to move the smart finance districts forward with this important initiative, and feel privileged to be part of this program.

St. Petersburg City Council member Karl Nurse, a strong proponent of PACE, said, "PACE financing is a rare opportunity to create jobs, reduce our risks from hurricanes, help people save money and lower our energy use, all without costs to government. St. Petersburg should jump at this win-win-win program."

About DMS

District Management Services, LLC, a Meritus Company headquartered in Tampa Bay Florida, provides municipal financial services. The firm has more than 40 professionals providing guidance to improve efficiency and preserve municipal resources. For more information about DMS, please visit www.dms-us.com/ or call 813-873-7300.