Northern Neck National Heritage Area Public Event – October 29, 2024
The Northern Neck National Heritage Area (NNNHA) seeks public input on the development of the Management Plan. On October 29th, the NNNHA is hosting a Regional Exchange from 1pm to 5pm at the Lancaster Community Library in the upstairs meeting room at 16 Town Centre Drive in Kilmarnock.
The Regional Exchange is designed to engage attendees to participate in facilitated discussions on topics that will shape the NNNHA Management Plan. Information gathered in breakout sessions will be refined into strategies to be considered for inclusion in the plan. The following topics will be discussed:
- Telling the Story: Interpretation and Education
- Enhancing Our Economy: Heritage Tourism and Economic Development
- Preserving What Matters: Historic Preservation
- Our Amazing Outdoors: Natural Resource Conservation and Recreation
- Cultural Conversation: Living Traditions
- Promoting the Past: Marketing Northern Neck Heritage
“The Northern Neck National Heritage Area was designated by Congress in December of 2022 in recognition of the Northern Neck’s distinctive landscape and 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. “The Regional Exchange continues the 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 is being 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 is working 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.
For more information on historic sites, activities, events, and recreation in the region, visit northernneck.org.
Contact: Jerry W. Davis, AICP
Organization: Northern Neck Planning District Commission
Email: jdavis@nnpdc17.state.va.us
Phone: (804) 333-1900 ext. 22
2023 Officers Elected for Northern Neck Planning District Commission
Warsaw—The Northern Neck Planning District Commission (NNPDC) honored outgoing Chairman Jason Bellows at its Quarterly Dinner Meeting in April. Bellows served as Chairman of the NNPDC since January 2019 and agreed to extend his term as Chairman when the meeting schedule was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Effective April 17, 2023, the NNPDC’s new officers for a two-year term are: James Long, Chairman; Darryl Fisher, Vice Chairman; Lee Sanders, Treasurer; and Jason Bellows, Immediate Past Chairman.
The NNPDC’s leadership rotates among the four member-counties of the NNPDC: Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond and Westmoreland.
The NNPDC consists of sixteen members, chosen by each County’s Board of Supervisors, comprising elected officials and citizen members. The NNPDC provides technical assistance and oversees regional programs including business district revitalization, environmental projects, economic development, tourism promotion, transportation planning, ridesharing, housing assistance, and other planning and administrative functions that support local government. The NNPDC’s office is in Warsaw at The Regional Center. Details on projects and programs are available on the website, northernneck.us.
Incoming Chairman James Long (left) presents Jason Bellows, Chairman of the NNPDC, 2019-2023, with a plaque expressing the NNPDC’s appreciation for his leadership at the NNPDC Quarterly Meeting in Burgess on April 17, 2023.
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