The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced it will accept applications for the Pennsylvania Heritage Areas Program through May 19.

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 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, visit the Pennsylvania Heritage Areas Program webpage.

1/20/2006