NATIONAL HERITAGE AREAS LEVERAGE SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT

As of November 2003, Congress has designated 24 National Heritage Areas, which are defined as places where "natural, cultural, historic and recreational resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape arising from patterns of human activity shaped by geography." These heritage areas represent a significant component in the cultural heritage tourism infrastructure. Each area creates a thematic story out of its natural, cultural and historic resources, which are managed and interpreted by the National Park Service through strategic public-private partnerships. Anecdotal evidence has always indicated these heritage areas are effective in leveraging additional resources and investment. A 2003 survey by the National Park Service Heritage Areas Program shows that heritage areas have leveraged an impressive 8.7-to-1 match. The study's findings also reveal an impressive diversity of sources, which includes federal Transportation Enhancement funding, state and local government dollars and the private sector (foundations, corporate and individuals) support.

Source: National Park Service Heritage Areas Program, 2003

Transportation Enhancement funds in particular have been a very flexible source of funding for cultural and heritage tourism projects. Enhancement funds not only provide support for the restoration of historic properties and scenic byways, but also for interpretive materials in the development of historic driving tours such Virginia's Civil War Trails. For more information on Transportation Enhancements and how they been used by the arts and heritage organizations see Building on the Past: Traveling to the Future, published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Updated November 2003