The purpose of the heritage partnership program funding is to engage national heritage area recipients, partners, communities, and or visitors in shared environmental stewardship

The federal Cooperative Agreement award in the amount of $1,001,447.60 was issued by the Department of the Interior's National Park Service under the Heritage Partnership Program (CFDA 15.939) to Appalachian Forest Heritage Area, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Elkins, West Virginia. The award provides funding to engage national heritage area recipients, partners, communities, and visitors in shared environmental stewardship, promoting greater public and private participation in preservation, conservation, education, and outdoor recreation programs and activities related to the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area. The project supports the operations of the heritage area, with beneficiaries including the general public, state and local governments, non-profits, and private entities. Through this Cooperative Agreement, the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area, Inc. will deliver services focused on heritage preservation, cultural revitalization, environmental conservation, and community engagement initiatives across the Appalachian region. The award has a period of performance from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2026.

This is done by promoting greater public and private participation in preservation, conservation, education, and outdoor recreation programs and activities, and building resource stewardship ethics in its participants. This project supports the operations of the appalachian forest national heritage area. Beneficiaries include general public, states and or their political subdivisions, non-profits, private entities, the heritage area management coordinating entity.