Committee, plan next steps for heritage area

COLBERT COUNTY - Gathering members for a steering committee and the creation of a management plan are the next steps in developing the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area.

Discussions began in 1999, and in 2001, former U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer introduced a bill seeking the creation of the area.

It became a reality after President Barack Obama signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act in March.

The management plan is basically a "huge, huge business plan" that has to be approved by the U.S. Parks Service, said Judy Sizemore, who was hired in August to serve as executive director of the heritage area.

National Heritage Areas are managed by the U.S. Parks Service.

The committee will have three years to create the plan.

Priscilla Holland, associate vice president of academic affairs at the University of North Alabama, addressed the Colbert County Commissioners on Tuesday and asked them to appoint someone to the steering committee.

"The purpose is to bring a lot of different entities together," Holland said.

She told commissioners the appointment needs to be made by the first of the year.

Commissions in Lauderdale, Franklin, Lawrence, Morgan and Limestone counties, which make up the local heritage area, have already been asked to make appointments.

"We want each county to have a voice on the steering committee to make sure we're going in the direction that best serves that county," Sizemore said.

According to the National Park Service, National Heritage Area designation has both tangible and intangible benefits and is grounded in a community's pride in its history and traditions.

"To me, this is economic development by promoting cultural tourism," Sizemore said.

A Web site is being developed for the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area that will be linked to the National Park Service Web site.

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@TimesDaily.com.