November Issue – Madison County Economic Times

National Heritage Area Status — Right for Madison County?

They come with their own unique names and histories. The Rivers of Steel, Tennessee Civil War, Silos & Smokestacks, Yuma Crossing, Hudson River Valley, and others. These are America’s Heritage Areas. There are only 24 of them in the United States. The first area was designated as such by Congress in 1984. As defined by the Department of the Interior, a Heritage Area is

“a place where natural, cultural, historic, and scenic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape arising from patterns of human activity shaped by geography. These patterns make National Heritage Areas representative of the national experience through physical features that remain and the traditions that have evolved in them. These regions are acknowledged by Congress for their capacity to describe nationally important stories about the evolution of our nation. Continued use of the National Heritage Areas by people whose traditions helped to shape the landscape enhance their significance.

The National Heritage Area is a new approach to historic preservation and conservation of America’s most valued lands. Rather than put groups of people and different philosophies at odds, it combines efforts from economic development and conservation. It allows local communities to promote themselves as historically and culturally significant not just because of their histories, but because of how they live within their unique histories. There are no restrictions, federal rules, or interference. A National Heritage Area is what it is because the people within set the rules. It is a designation issued by Congress. In most cases, this means federal funds for promotion, preservation, and other community projects important to the area. A federally recognized Heritage Area could receive up to $10 million over 10 years in federal funds.

One of the key benefits of becoming a Heritage Area is increased tourism. In 2003, 4.18 million non-resident travel groups (2.32 people/group) visited Montana. They spent an estimated $1.87 billion which in turn had a total economic impact of $2.62 billion according to the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research. In Madison County, we hosted an estimated 290,000 travel groups. Becoming a Heritage Area is beneficial because it draws in a certain type of tourist. These are the ‘cultural and heritage’ tourists who spend more money per trip (an average of $613 compared to $457) and stay longer (an average of 4.7 nights compared to 3.4) than recreational tourists. They are curious tourists who enjoy meeting locals, trying out new things, and adding to a community rather than to simply have fun and then leave.

Madison County has all the assets it needs to become a Heritage Area. We have a mining history in the Ruby Valley, blue ribbon trout streams in the Madison Valley, and we are next door to the Lewis & Clark Caverns and Yellowstone National Park just to mention a few of our assets. We have what it takes. We just need to decide if it is right for us. The MCEDC thinks it is and is ready to work for you. Please give us your thoughts on this new initiative. Learn more from the Alliance of National Heritage Areas at www.nationalheritageareas.com or the National Heritage Areas Program at www.cr.nps.gov/heritageareas/

A Case to Consider

In 1969 the Cuyahoga River near Cleveland Ohio caught on fire. The event galvanized an environmental movement that led to the Clean Water Act. Today, the river is part of the 110 mile long CanalWay Ohio National Heritage Corridor. Every year millions of tourists visit the area to see the Ohio and Erie Canal and take part in numerous special events. The Corridor receives $1,000,000 per year from the federal government and it designates $800,000 of this for match funding of local projects such as bike trails, museums, concerts, and other events. Not a bad deal for what is basically a big, long ditch that caught on fire 35 years ago.