Pennsylvania Heritage Parks Program Grant Application Announcement [35 Pa.B. 662] The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announces that applications are now being accepted for grants to be funded from the 2005-2006 Fiscal Year (FY) Pennsylvania Heritage Parks Program (Program). Funding is subject to an appropriation being made available to the DCNR for the Program in the upcoming 2005-2006 FY budget. The deadline for submission of applications is Friday, May 20, 2005. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. in the Harrisburg Central Office of DCNR's Bureau of Recreation and Conservation (Bureau). Applications received after this deadline will not be considered for funding. Faxed submissions are not acceptable.
It is the intent of the Program to create a system of State designated Heritage Areas that preserve and interpret the significant contributions that various regions of this Commonwealth have made to the rich heritage of Pennsylvania and the United States. The historic, cultural, natural, scenic and recreational resources within a Heritage Park area are inventoried, preserved, enhanced and promoted as a strategy to enhance regional economic development through the attraction of tourists, creation of new jobs, stimulation of small business growth, and the promotion of public and private investment opportunities. There are currently 12 designated State Heritage Areas including the Allegheny Ridge Heritage Area, the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, the Lancaster-York Heritage Region, the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor, the Lumber Heritage Region, the National Road Heritage Corridor, the Oil Heritage Region, Pennsylvania Route 6 Heritage Corridor, the Rivers of Steel Heritage Area and the Schuylkill River Heritage Corridor. More information about the designated areas can be found at www.dcnr.state.pa.us
Designated State Heritage Areas are eligible to apply for grants to undertake heritage park management activities, special purpose studies and implementation projects. Other regions wishing to participate in the Program may apply for feasibility study grants if they meet the following criteria and are prequalified by the DCNR:
1. Must have a strong industrial or other area-wide themes which significantly relate to this Commonwealth's rich heritage and serves core areas not currently covered by existing Heritage Areas.
2. Must be multicounty in size.
3. Must have natural, cultural, historic, recreational and scenic resources of State or National significance.
4. Have a broad-based public and private partnership and regional coalition supporting the project.
5. Must demonstrate a local commitment and leadership capacity to undertake the initiative.
Program Manual/Application Forms
The Program manual provides more specific information on funding levels, program requirements and the application process for this round of funding. The Program manual and application forms are available from the DCNR. Since each project type has a specific set of application forms and instructions, persons should specify the type of project when requesting application forms. The Program manual, application forms and additional information about the program can be obtained from Tim Keptner, Chief, Regional Services Division, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, Pennsylvania Heritage Parks Program, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 6th Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P. O. Box 8475, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8475, (717) 783-0988.
Persons with a disability who wish to submit an application for Program funding and require assistance with the application should contact Darrel J. Siesholtz at (717) 783-2661 to discuss how the DCNR may best accommodate their needs. TTY or TDD users should call (800) 654-5984.
MICHAEL F. DIBERARDINIS,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 05-197. Filed for public inspection January 28, 2005, 9:00 a.m.]
