Dear friends of AFNHA,
We are writing to you today with gratitude for your unwavering support and cooperation with the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area (AFNHA). Your dedication is the bedrock of our organization. Together, we have built a living testament to the spirit of Appalachia, touching countless lives.
The proposed federal budget for FY 2026 threatens to zero out funding for the National Heritage Area Program, a move that would devastate the cultural preservation, educational programming, and vital community engagement initiatives. Imagine the silence where once there were vibrant Discovery Center exhibits, and the absence of our dedicated AmeriCorps members. These--and other AFNHA programs--are the heartbeats of our communities, the legacies we are striving to protect for future generations.
Beyond the profound cultural and social impact, these proposed cuts pose an existential threat to the economic vitality we have worked so hard to cultivate. National Heritage Areas are proven economic engines, returning an average of $5.50 for every $1 of federal investment. We've seen how a comparable NHA in West Virginia generates $207 million in annual economic impact, supporting over 2,700 jobs, and contributing millions in tax revenue. Eliminating our funding would not only halt our ability to leverage substantial non-federal funds and provide crucial subgrants to local organizations, but it would also jeopardize jobs, diminish tourism revenue, and cripple the local businesses we support.
This is why your immediate action in sending this letter of support is so vital. It is a powerful statement that we stand united to protect the livelihoods, heritage, and future of National Heritage Areas, including AFNHA. Your voice can ensure that our shared vision for a thriving, culturally rich Appalachia continues to flourish.
Below is a sample letter for your federal legislators, along with their contact information. Or click here for an editable word doc that you may download. We encourage you though, to write your own with your unique perspective and reflections regarding the way AFNHA has touched your life or organization. Please let us know at larry@afnha.org when you respond, preferably by attaching a copy of your letter.
Thank you for helping to keep history growing at AFNHA!
Contact Information for West Virginia and Maryland U.S. Representatives and Senators:
West Virginia
The Hon. Shelley Moore Capito
170 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6472 www.capito.senate.gov
The Hon. Jim Justice
SD-G12 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3954 www.justice.senate.gov
Congresswoman Carol Miller
1605 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-3452 https://miller.house.gov
Congressman Riley Moore
1337 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-2711 https://rileymoore.house.gov/
Maryland
The Hon. Chris Van Hollen
730 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-4654 www.vanhollen.senate.gov
The Hon. Angela D. Alsobrooks
B40E Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-4524 senator.alsobrooks.senate.gov
Congresswoman April McClain Delaney, Esq.
1130 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-2721 https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/
SAMPLE LETTER:
The Honorable [ ]
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator or Representative [ ],
I am writing regarding the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 federal budget cuts impacting the National Park System (NPS), specifically the National Heritage Area (NHA) Program. We urgently request your unwavering support in maintaining level funding for all National Heritage Areas during the ongoing budget process. NHAs are vital economic engines and community catalysts, fostering sustainable development through local partnerships and resource leverage. These proposed adjustments threaten to undermine critical contributions, jeopardizing years of progress in regional prosperity and cultural stewardship.
The National Heritage Area Program offers a highly cost-effective approach for the National Park Service to preserve and share America's stories. Operating through decentralized, grassroots coordination with local partners, NHAs leverage federal investment for regional economic development without federal land ownership or new regulations. NHAs consistently generate an average of $5.50 for every $1 of federal investment. Any funding reduction would forgo a much larger pool of leveraged capital and associated economic activity, leading to a net loss of investment and growth. This flexible, adaptive approach, tailored to local needs, is threatened by proposed budget reductions, potentially stifling vital local initiatives.
Our local National Heritage Area, the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area (AFNHA) profoundly impacts regional economies and community well-being. Like other NHAs, AFNHA significantly contributes to job creation, local government revenue, and community sustainability.3 For instance, the National Coal Heritage Area (NCHA), a comparable NHA, annually generates $207 million in economic impact, supporting 2,744 jobs, and contributing $16.8 million in tax revenue, primarily driven by tourism. AFNHA actively expands tourism through initiatives like the Highlands Creative Economy, which received a new $197,000 private local grant from the Benedum Foundation in 2024 to promote the region as a tourist destination. AFNHA also directly supports local businesses, integrating them into the heritage tourism economy.
In the 2023-2024 service year, AFNHA supported 34 AmeriCorps members across 20 partner organizations, whose projects were visited by 39,860 individuals, delivered educational programs to over 5,000 individuals, improved 1,052 acres of public land, and managed 1,501 hours of volunteer service. These initiatives strengthen local identity, foster a sense of place, and build robust community capacity, serving as a crucial anchor for resilience in often economically challenged Appalachian regions. Cutting funding would undermine this vital human infrastructure.
The administration's budget proposal includes severe reductions directly threatening the National Park System and National Heritage Areas. It outlines a $900.5 million, or 31%, cut to the Operation of the National Park System (ONPS), potentially leading to over 4,500 staff losses. It proposes zeroing out the National Heritage Area Program, slashing historic preservation grants, reducing National Recreation and Preservation by 86.6%. For AFNHA and its counterparts, eliminating the program would be catastrophic. The requested $33.5 million in annual funding for FY 25-26 (approximately $500,000 per NHA) is the foundational federal appropriation fund. Without it, AFNHA's capacity to leverage substantial non-federal funds would be severely undermined, crippling its ability to distribute vital subgrants and execute heritage projects. The ripple effects would include significant job losses, diminished tourism revenue, and curtailed educational and cultural programming, reversing years of progress. Many NHAs are in rural, economically challenged regions where these programs are vital economic stimulants. Losing this funding would exacerbate disparities and damage trust, undermining the NHA program's success.
In light of these profound benefits, we respectfully urge our elected representatives to champion level funding for the National Heritage Area Program in the FY 25-26 federal budget. This means supporting the requested $33.5 million appropriation for Fiscal Year 2026. Investing in National Heritage Areas is not just an expenditure; it is a proven, highly effective catalyst for economic development, job creation, cultural preservation, and enhanced community well-being across the nation. Continued support will enable NHAs to persist in their vital work, delivering significant returns for constituents and safeguarding our shared heritage for generations to come.
As a supporter of NHAs, and especially the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area, I am grateful for your time and consideration of this critical matter.
Sincerely,
[Name]
