Lake Champlain Basin Program to Fund Projects that Preserve and Interpret Cultural Heritage
Grand Isle, VT – The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) seeks pre-proposals for projects and programs to protect, restore, interpret, and showcase the historical resources and cultural heritage of the Champlain Valley.
These projects will highlight the interpretive themes addressing the goals and objectives of the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership (CVNHP) Management Plan in 2023.
“These new projects will lead to the new museum displays, education programs, internships, and festivals that share the stories of our region and inspire appreciation and stewardship of our historic resources,” said Eric Howe, Director of the CVNHP and LCBP.
The CVNHP will focus on its Corridor of Commerce interpretive theme in 2023, marking the 200th anniversary of the construction of the Champlain Canal and the interconnected waterways of the Lake Champlain, Richelieu River, and upper Hudson River valleys.
“The strategic location of these valleys shaped the history of North America. In a wilderness of mountains and forests, people could conduct commerce or wage war only by using the natural water highways here. The Champlain Canal was an unbelievably important infrastructure project. It connected Lake Champlain to New York City via the Hudson River, which spurred the economy here. Today, those waterways are used by boaters, anglers and nature lovers,” said Dr. John Krueger, chair of the LCBP Heritage Area Program Advisory Committee.
The CVNHP will offer grants in two categories:
Special Programs: These large grants of up to $50,000 will encourage multi-jurisdictional or regional projects that interpret, highlight, and support the observation of the interconnected waterways of the CVNHP in recognition of the Corridor of Commerce interpretive theme.
Core Programs: Smaller grants of up to $8,000 also will support the interpretive theme, provide internships, support museum collection improvements, and focus on local history.
The competitive grant process will conclude in April 2022, with awarded projects to begin work in October 2022.
The deadline for submission of pre-proposals is October 4, 2021.
The pre-proposal guidelines, list of eligible organizations, and submission requirements are available on the CVNHP website athttps://champlainvalleynhp.org/resources/grants/.
It is anticipated that these projects will be supported with funds awarded to NEIWPCC on behalf of the CVNHP by the U.S. National Park Service and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.
The CVNHP was established by the U.S. Congress in 2006 to recognize the importance of the historical, cultural, and recreational resources of the region and to assist efforts to preserve, protect, and interpret those resources. The National Heritage Area also works to enhance the quality of the tourism economy and to encourage working partnerships among state, provincial, and local governments and non-profit organizations in New York, Québec, and Vermont.
For more information about the CVNHP Request for Preproposals, please contact CVNHP Coordinator Jim Brangan at jbrangan@lcbp.org.
Posted: August 3rd, 2021 under General News.