Posted: | January 27, 2016 02:09 PM |
---|---|
From: | Representative R. Lee James |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Legislation to Release Funding for the Heritage Area Program |
In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to release funding for the Heritage Area Program which was cut by Governor Wolf as part of his line-item veto of House Bill 1460 (Act 10A of 2015). Established in 1989, the Heritage Areas Program is a multi-faceted regional strategy to conserve and enhance resources and promote a region’s heritage for economic development. It is also a key component for the state’s second leading industry – tourism. Pennsylvania’s Heritage Areas Program provides an economic strategy that helps communities to plan, develop, manage and market significant natural, recreational and historical resources to attract tourism and stimulate jobs and investment opportunities. Pennsylvania benefits from 12 state-designated Heritage Areas located in 57 counties throughout the Commonwealth, five of which share national designation as Heritage Areas. The program, as managed by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, is guided by five interrelated goals: economic development, partnerships, cultural conservation, recreation and open space, and education and interpretation. Their grassroots structures have empowered each of the Heritage Areas to be an innovator in regional community conservation and revitalization, heritage tourism, greenway preservation and historical storytelling. The focus of the program is to provide a catalyst for diverse groups within a region to join together to develop a unified strategy. For over twenty years, this program has encouraged the building of partnerships across public, private and non-profit lines to create projects and programs to achieve its goals and objectives. Strong planning guidelines also assess the values of the region to be promoted and engage its residents. As a result, community vitality is strengthened, residents and visitors are educated, and heritage tourists are attracted. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to restore funding to this important economic engine in our state. |
||
View Attachment |
Introduced as HB1836