Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area designation will be reauthorized as part of the omnibus appropriations bill that passed through Congress this week and is set to be signed by the President. The extension through 2015 keeps the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area operating to promote recreation and tourism, as well as enables the area to access federal funding for projects in the area.
“The Hudson River Valley is truly one of America’s richest treasures, and holds enormous potential that we are still unlocking,” Senator Gillibrand said. “From the Adirondacks to the busy ports of New York City, the Hudson River Valley helps fuel our economy, inspires our artists, and provides New Yorkers with miles of adventure and endless recreation. As New York’s first Senator from upstate in nearly 40 years, I will always work to preserve the beauty and tradition of the Hudson River Valley, and the extension of this funding is an important step to continue garnering the national recognition the region deserves.”
Mark Castiglione, Acting Executive Director, Hudson River Valley Greenway and Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, said, “The National Park Service identified the Hudson River Valley as the ‘landscape that defined America’ in recognition of the region’s role in shaping our National identity. Renewed access to this critical federal funding will allow us to continue to serve as a catalyst for partnership projects that promote the region’s unparalleled natural, cultural, and historic resources. In doing so, the National Heritage Area will continue to help grow the region’s economy. We are deeply grateful to Senator Gillibrand for her leadership, and thank the entire Hudson River Valley Congressional delegation for their unwavering support for the important work of the National Heritage Area.”
Stretching from Saratoga to Westchester Counties, the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area links over 100 individual sites that promote tourism and recreation in the region, while showcasing the Hudson Valley’s unique role in American history and development.
First authorized in 1996, the National Heritage authorization expired in 2012. Senator Gillibrand secured a Senate hearing and introduced legislation for a 10-year reauthorization. The omnibus funding bill renews the designation and eligibility to apply for matching federal funding to be used to help preserve and promote historical, cultural, recreational, and natural sites in the region. The authorization is extended through 2015.