The first-ever national museum dedicated to American law enforcement continues to move forward, with the project recently achieving three significant milestones.

Craig W. Floyd, Chairman and CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), announced the District of Columbia has approved the issuance of $80 million of tax-exempt industrial revenue bonds for construction of the National Law Enforcement Museum; Clark Construction, of Bethesda, Md., has been chosen to provide pre-construction and construction services for the facility; and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts has given preliminary design approval for the Museum, to be located in Washington, DC's Judiciary Square.

"We are very pleased that by achieving these important milestones, this long-overdue tribute to the men and women of law enforcement is moving that much closer to becoming a reality," says Floyd.

The DC Council approved the revenue bonds on July 10. The NLEOMF is now seeking bond purchase proposals from a short list of qualified financial institutions. "The Council's action underscores the confidence local officials continue to show in the merits of the Museum and its prospects for enriching the cultural and educational fabric of the city," says Floyd. The Museum is expected to attract more than 500,000 visitors a year and generate at least $550,000 in new tax revenue annually.

With groundbreaking scheduled for the summer of 2008, the National Law Enforcement Museum will be the largest and most comprehensive museum of its kind when it opens in 2011. The 90,000-square-foot, underground facility will be a high-tech, interactive experience designed to provide visitors with a realistic view of modern policing.

In February, the NLEOMF unveiled plans for the Museum and launched the public phase of its fundraising campaign, called A Matter of Honor. Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush are the national honorary co-chairs of the campaign, which seeks to raise $80 million to build the Museum. Approximately $31 million has been raised to date.

For more information visit www.nleomf.com.