In the first week of May, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee gave broad bipartisan support to Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and Representative Jared Golden’s (D-Maine) legislation to designate Downeast Maine as a National Heritage Area!
The legislation, which is cosponsored by Senator Susan Collins and Representative Chellie Pingree, would designate all of Hancock and Washington counties as areas of national importance. This designation would qualify the region for additional federal investment and help drive economic activity to many parts in rural Maine
The bill specifically recognizes the contributions of Downeast Maine’s agriculture industry – including wild blueberry growers – as well as the impacts of heritage fishing and forestry.
Designating Hancock and Washington counties as a National Heritage Area will not only open the door for critical federal funding, but also spur increased tourism, and drive important economic activity to our Downeast communities.
What exactly is a National Heritage Area?
National Heritage Areas are designations from Congress where historic, cultural, and natural resources combine to form cohesive, nationally important landscapes.
Unlike national parks, National Heritage Areas are large lived-in landscapes where communities collaborate with the National Park Service to determine how to make heritage relevant to local interests and economies.
These areas qualify for additional federal funding, and work through public-private partnerships to support historic preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, heritage tourism, new and traditional industries, and educational projects. By Leveraging funds and long-term support for projects, these partnerships foster pride of place and an enduring stewardship. There are currently 55 National Heritage Areas across the country.
Quick NHA Facts:
- National Heritage Areas foster collaborative, community-driven heritage conservation and economic development.
- NHAs are managed at the local level by a nonprofit organization and oversight team that likely includes your neighbors, friends, colleagues, and community leaders.
- They DO NOT regulate land, industry, or any other resources or activities and do not override local jurisdiction.
- NHAs do not create new expenses for a community to bear.
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