Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has cosponsored a bipartisan bill, led by Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20), to reauthorize the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor to receive full federal funding.
Currently, 32 of the 55 National Heritage Areas across the nation are slated to lose their authorizations later this year, a lapse that would cut off critical funding needed to maintain these heritage sites that are more than markers of local history and culture—they are also often major economic drivers. Heritage areas are distinct in part because they are maintained by public-private partnerships with an estimated $5.50 in private funding matching every $1 in federal money.
“The North Country is home to many assets that are important to our state and country’s history, and we must preserve them for generations to come,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “I have supported funding for the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor throughout my time in Congress because it is more than a historic site – it is a tourist destination and an economic driver for our region.”
