Site Designation Information and Application

NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA PROGRAM:  A National Heritage Area is a place designated by the United States Congress where natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape.

THE SOUTH CAROLINA NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR:  The South Carolina National Heritage Corridor begins at the Blue Ridge Mountains of Oconee County in the northwest corner of the state.  It follows the western counties that boarder the Savannah River, into the Ace Basin and ends in historic Charleston.  The counties of the Corridor include:  Oconee, Pickens, Anderson, Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick, Aiken, Orangeburg, Barnwell, Bamberg, Colleton, Dorchester and Charleston.  The 240 miles & fourteen counties that comprise the Heritage Corridor are divided into four distinct regions that together provide a cross-section of the landscape, history and culture of South Carolina.

The SCNHC is one of only 37 nationally designated heritage areas in the country.  In addition to enhancing local pride, designation as a National Heritage Area comes with technical and financial assistance from the National Park Service.  Federal assistance provides valuable seed money to cover basic expenses such as staffing, and leverages other money from the state, local, and private resources to assist with local community development initiatives.

MISSION:  As a grassroots initiative encompassing 14 primarily rural counties from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor advances sustainable development of natural, cultural and historic resources for enhanced quality of life and economic revitalization of communities.

 
PROGRAM ELEMENTS:   There are five elements to our unique program:

  1. Product Development – A major focus is placed on community product development through our grants program and in-depth technical assistance.
  2. Marketing – Our communities and attractions benefit from collaborative marketing efforts that include website, brochures and print media.
  3. Education – Calhoun the Raccoon serves as the mascot for our program that engages children in learning about the history and heritage of our state and provides teachers with hands-on materials that compliment the SC Curriculum Standards.
  4. Interpretation – Through visitor’s centers, interpretive signage, travel guides, and maps, the Heritage Corridor Discovery System is a guide for visitors to explore, experience and discover the rural communities and historic backroads of SC.
  5. Visitor Services- The Corridor staff provides large-scale visitor services which includes everything from assistance with events and programming to providing planned itineraries and travel information.

  HERITAGE CORRIDOR SITE DESIGNATION:

First, Heritage Corridor Sites receive large-scale technical assistance from the staff of the Heritage Corridor.  This includes assistance with strategic planning and organizational development, developing a marketing program, and seeking potential funding sources.

Second, SCNHC locations are given priority for SCNHC grants.  That means that SCNHC sites are first in line to receive vital funds to get projects started or improve current facilities and/or interpretative programs.  In addition, sites can take advantage of the staff’s familiarity and knowledge of other organizational grants that can in many cases match or supplement the SCNHC grants.

Third, SCNHC sites enjoy promotion and cross-marketing.  The SCNHC and its partners promote SCNHC sites through web sites, corridor-wide and regional brochures, speakers’ bureaus, and media from print to TV and radio.  The cross-marketing that exists between the locations is further enhanced by the constant programming and events held by the regional discovery centers and fellow sites in close proximity.

 
APPLICATION PROCESS:

Fill out the application and submit to:  South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, Attention – Elizabeth Harm, Assistant Director, 208 Archdale Drive, Aiken, SC 29803.

The deadlines for applications are December 31st and June 30th of every year.

Once the applications are submitted, a member of the staff will arrange a site visit at your location to ensure criteria and a partnership plan will be developed so that we can determine how to best serve your needs.

Applications, the staff review, and the partnership plan will be submitted to the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor Board of Directors for designation approval during the April and November meetings each year.

SC National Heritage Corridor Site Designation Applications:
Site Designation Application (Microsoft Word)