Long-Term Management
No Heritage Area will succeed without a strong and well-coordinated Management Entity and organizational partners guiding it . Given the many challenges inherent in establishing and maintaining a National Heritage Area , the stability or capacity of the Management Entity itself should not be in question . The Entity must have a proven track record of effectiveness in setting and achieving program goals in a collaborative environment and responsible management of large amounts of federal and other funds . The Management Entity must be a 501c3 organization or operate in partnership with one .
The makeup of a sustainable , effective , representative Management Entity is informed by the following considerations :
Appropriate role — what are the anticipated activities of the Management Entity , and how will it relate to the work of existing organizations ?
Representative governance — how will stakeholders have a voice in governing the Management Entity ?
Financial sustainability — how much funding will be required for the operation of a Management Entity , and where will it come from ?
The Management Entity should be neutral and broadly representative of the diverse community stakeholders , jurisdictions , and interests across the National Heritage Area . The Entity must be able to facilitate cooperation and collaboration between numerous stakeholders and local jurisdictions to establish cohesive goals , themes , initiatives , and programs for the National Heritage Area .
The Management Entity must communicate regularly within their team , and with community members , heritage organizations , Tribal leaders , local government officials , and statewide organizations to effectively implement programs and achieve the goals of the National Heritage Area .
Management Entity representatives must collectively have skills in a variety of disciplines , such as tourism promotion , heritage preservation , program development , resource interpretation , education , conservation & recreation management , team-building , volunteer coordination , fundraising , grant programs , and financial management .
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