The Sustainable Preservation Initiative creates economic opportunities by giving communities the tools to be self-reliant, leveraging their historic sites responsibly and freeing them to thrive.  Since 2010, the organization have led efforts to protect, for the long-term, threatened archaeological sites by empowering the people who matter most - those who co-exist daily with these places. SPI creates and develops local entrepreneurs, most often women, and cooperative businesses that utilize cultural heritage assets sustainably.  The training, expert guidance, and support which SPI provides ensures that businesses have the right skills to own and grow their enterprises for many years, creating foundations for community-focused economic development and resulting in the preservation of the collective legacy.