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

This $1,000,000 Cooperative Agreement award, provided by the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service under the Heritage Partnership Program (CFDA 15.939), supports the operations of the National Coal Heritage Area in West Virginia. The funding engages the National Coal Heritage Area Authority, partners, communities, and visitors in shared environmental stewardship activities focused on promoting preservation, conservation, education, and outdoor recreation related to the region's cultural, historical, and natural resources. Key activities include operating the Coal Heritage Interpretive Center, establishing the Coal Heritage Discovery Center, providing grants to community groups for sustainable heritage projects, and organizing the annual Appalachian Heritage Days Festival. This federal grant award, with a period of performance from September 23, 2024 to September 30, 2026, supports critical initiatives such as rehabilitating historic buildings, developing educational programs about the area's coal mining history, and promoting heritage tourism.

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 national coal heritage area. Beneficiaries include general public, states and or their political subdivisions, non-profits, private entities, the heritage area management coordinating entity.