Dingell Bill Seeks To Preserve MotorCities National Heritage Area

WASHINGTON DC —Rep: Debbie Dingell (D-12th-Dearborn) introduced legislation in the House Tuesday to ensure a portion of southeast and central Michigan remains designated as the MotorCities National Heritage Area, allowing the area to continue to receive federal funding for attractions and programs that help tell the story of the auto industry, Dingell's office said.

According to a release, the Preserving the MotorCities Heritage Act would extend the authorization of the MotorCities National Heritage Area Partnership through 2036. Otherwise, the MotorCities National Heritage Area is one of 30 National Heritage Areas nationwide -there currently are 49 total - with an authorization that will sunset on Sept. 30 or Oct 12.

The MotorCities National Heritage Area was created by Congress in 1998 and includes 16 counties, cities like Detroit, Flint and Dearborn, and represents 10,000 square miles.

"The stories told by the MotorCities National Heritage Area cannot be told anywhere else. They are the stories of how auto tinkerers became titans, how the area helped establish and expand the United States as an industrial power and how the automotive industry helped create the middle class," Dingell said.

"We must renew and extend its authorization to ensure this important Michigan heritage area can continue to receive federal funds. Preservation of this history helps to develop economic, cultural and recreational opportunities in the region through an array of grants and programs intended to inspire passion for and awareness of the automobile, the workers who built them and the history of the industry."

National Heritage Areas (NHA) according to the program's website, are places that tell nationally important stories that celebrate the country's diverse heritage. Through public-private partnerships, NHA entities support historic preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, heritage tourism and educational projects

The program is administered by National Parks Service (NPS) coordinators in Washington D.C.

According to the release, the MotorCities National Heritage Area supports over 5,000 jobs and generates nearly $500 million in economic impact. For every federal dollar invested in the area, an additional $5.50 is leveraged in local and private funding partnerships.

"I applaud this effort by Congresswoman Dingell to ensure the legacy of our auto history continues the beneficial affiliation with the National Park Service" said Shawn Pomaville-Size, executive director at the MotorCities National Heritage Area.

"National heritage areas are a proven model of the cost-effectiveness of a partnership approach. Together with local communities in Michigan, this affiliation will allow us to continue to improve our economic and cultural outlook by preserving our singular auto legacy."