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

The National Park Service (NPS) awarded a $1,000,000 Cooperative Agreement to Freedoms Way Heritage Assoc Inc. on August 14, 2025, under the Heritage Partnership Program (CFDA 15.939) to support implementation of the Freedom's Way National Heritage Area Management Plan through September 30, 2026. The award funds a comprehensive suite of interpretation, conservation, and community engagement products and services designed to advance regional heritage preservation and public stewardship. Deliverables include the development of educational programs focused on the region's history, a summer internship program in public history and digital media, and the creation of a free online repository of regional stories. The awardee will distribute subgrant funding to local organizations for interpretive initiatives and enhance cultural tourism through website development, social media content, and guided storytelling tours.

These funded activities aim to increase public awareness of the heritage area, strengthen community participation in preservation efforts, and foster partnerships among local governments and nonprofit organizations. The beneficiary populations include community members, students, local organizations, visitors, state and local governments, and the general public accessing the educational resources and cultural heritage programming developed through this cooperative agreement.

This is done bypromoting greater public and private participation in preservation, conservation, education, and outdoorrecreation programs and activities and building resource stewardship ethics in its participants. The purpose of this award is to support the management plan for a heritage area, focusing on interpretation, conservation, and community engagement. Activities include developing educational programs about the region s history, providing grants to local organizations for interpretive initiatives, and offering a summer internship in public history and digital media. The project will also create a free online repository of regional stories and improve cultural tourism through website and social media content, along with guided storytelling tours. Anticipated outcomes include increased public awareness of the heritage area, enhanced community involvement in preservation efforts, and strengthened partnerships among local governments and organizations. Beneficiaries include community members, students, local organizations, and visitors who will gain access to educational resources and programs promoting the region s cultural and historical heritage. Beneficiaries include general public, states and or their political subdivisions, non-profits, private entities, the heritage area management coordinating entity.