The public is invited to participate in the Thursday, April 18, 7:00 pm Northern Neck National Heritage Area virtual input session. The meeting has two purposes. First, to update the community on the status of the development of the Northern Neck National Heritage Area. Second, for participants to identify elements of the area’s heritage and culture which should be developed, amplified, and sustained.
This virtual event follows two in-person events in March.
The press release
Warsaw-The public is invited to participate and provide input as planning for the future of the Northern Neck National Heritage Area at a virtual public meeting on April 18, at 7pm. The link to the public meeting is available at the Northern Neck Planning District Commission’s website, northernneck.us. Two previous in-person meetings were held in March. This virtual meeting is planned to provide an additional opportunity for public engagement.
“The Northern Neck National Heritage Area was designated by Congress in December of 2022 in recognition of the Northern Neck’s nationally significant history,” said Jerry W. Davis, Executive Director of the Northern Neck Planning District Commission (NNPDC), which oversees the Northern Neck Tourism Commission. The Northern Neck Tourism Commission is the local coordinating entity for the Northern Neck National Heritage Area.
“The goal of a National Heritage Area is to create a community-driven network to support historic preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, heritage tourism, and educational projects,” Davis said. “These two meetings will begin a process to develop a management plan that will reflect the interests of our communities in guiding the National Heritage Area’s work.”
The Northern Neck National Heritage Area boundary includes King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland Counties. The National Heritage Area works in partnership with the National Park Service which will provide technical assistance and funding.
The management plan will be developed by a team led by Point Heritage Development Consulting, LLC (PointHDC), which includes some of the country’s top experts in working with National Heritage Areas. The consultant team will work with the Northern Neck Tourism Commission, NNPDC staff, and the public to develop the plan which will be approved by the National Park Service and the Secretary of the Interior. Once approved, the Northern Neck National Heritage Area will be eligible to receive federal funds to support implementation of programs and projects included in the management plan.
The public meeting will include a presentation on the process and timeline for development of the management plan, examples of success stories from other National Heritage Areas, and a discussion session with participants to share what they consider important opportunities to develop and sustain the area’s heritage and culture.
More on the Northern Neck National Heritage Area
Head over to Inform the future of the Northern Neck National Heritage Area at two public input sessions in March to learn more the local NHA and about NHAs generally.