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Pennsylvania State Senate
04/19/2024 07:04 AM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20130&cosponId=13798
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: December 13, 2013 10:32 AM
From: Senator Kim L. Ward
To: All Senate members
Subject: MEMO #31 - Heritage Areas Program Act
 
I intend to introduce legislation that would create the Heritage Areas Program Act, which would create a formal process for the distribution of funding under the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (DCNR) Heritage Parks line item.

The Corbett Administration recently restored $2.25 million to the line-item in the 2013-14 FY budget. Historically, this funding has been distributed by DCNR via a grant process to parks and recreational areas in the Commonwealth, including the twelve state-designated Heritage Areas.

Established in 1989 to help regions capitalize on our unique industrial heritage, the Heritage Parks Program designated twelve geographic regions within Pennsylvania with historical, recreational and cultural value. These Heritage Areas, which are administered and maintained by small, non-profit organizations, have been shown to stimulate community revitalization and economic development through recreation, tourism and other partnerships.

The legislation will do the following:
  • Direct DCNR to distribute equal funding from the Heritage Parks line-item to the twelve Heritage Areas. The areas are directed to use that funding for operating costs, marketing, promotion and coordinating efforts with other agencies and organizations.
  • Authorize the Heritage Areas to provide grants and loans to other entities, including non-profits, governmental entities and private businesses for the purposes of promoting, operating or marketing the area.
  • Create a Heritage Partnerships Advisory Committee, comprised of representatives from DCNR, DCED, PennDOT, PA Historical and Museum Commission, Center for Rural Pennsylvania, Heritage PA and Preservation PA. The advisory committee would be tasked with providing guidance to DCNR and assist in obtaining additional federal, state or other funding.
If you have any questions regarding this proposed legislation, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Thank you for your kind consideration of this request.


Introduced as SB1256