Preserve America Grant for Frontline Hospitality Training

For Immediate Release  
September 29, 2008
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Waterford, Virginia—Today, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, in partnership with the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, was awarded a 2008 Preserve American Grant during Preserve America’s national press announcement. Co-Chairs Lynn Scarlett, Deputy Secretary of the Interior, and John Nau, III, Chairman, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, announced that the Journey Through hallowed Ground Partnership, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, has been selected for a grant to develop and launch an extensive program to train those who interact with visitors to the region in preparation for the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War. The goal of this program is to begin training in the spring of 2009, at the start of the Sesquicentennial, and continue training through the commemoration, which ends in 2015.

The Grant will provide $236,165 in federal funding to be used to develop and launch the program. For every dollar of federal funds awarded, the JTHG Partnership will match funds dollar for dollar with non-federal funds. To date, JTHG Partners including The Loudoun Convention and Visitors Association, The Tourism Council of Frederick, The Virginia Tourism Corporation and the Gettysburg Convention and Visitors Bureau have already pledged funding to support this important program. The training program will encourage economic development in this four-state, 175-mile region from Gettysburg, PA, to Monticello, VA, by promoting the scenic, recreational and cultural characteristics of the Preserve America communities and historic downtowns. This program will include communities along the Journey such as Gettysburg, PA; Harpers Ferry, WV; Frederick, Thurmont, Mt. Airy and Brunswick, MD; Leesburg, Middleburg, Purcellville, Warrenton, Culpeper, Madison, Orange, Gordonsville, Charlottesville, VA.

The JTHG Partnership will help maintain continuity and consistency of the project during the Sesquicentennial commemoration by bringing together those interacting with visitors to achieve a common goal of enhancing the visitor experience. This program will help to tell the unparalleled story of the region to each visitor with the intention that the visitors to stay longer, return again and encourage others to visit the region based on their experience.

“We are very grateful to Preserve American for the opportunity to develop and launch a critical training program to prepare the JTHG region for the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War,” said Cate Magennis Wyatt, President of the JTHG Partnership. “Heritage Tourism supports the majority of our partnering communities and organizations; yet, professional training for those who most directly interact with visitors is often underfunded. We pursued this initiative out of respect for the professionals who can turn a standard visitor exchange into an extraordinary experience. This, in turn will be a critical element in whether or not visitors return or if they recommend the Journey to others.”

“We are proud that Frederick, Maryland is a Preserve America Community and recognize that the Frontline Hospitality/Professional Development training program will not only benefit Frederick Maryland and Frederick County, but will benefit the entire 175 miles of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area,” said John Fieseler, Executive Director, Tourism Council of Frederick County.

“In this fast paced technologically-savvy society, we must go beyond the preservation of historically significant regions," said Alisa Bailey, President and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation. "We must develop an experience--one that educates, inspires and is authentic. At the cusp of marketing the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, this Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership project ensures a compelling experience for each individual who travel the Journey Through Hallowed Ground."

In May 2008, President Bush signed legislation creating the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area. The National Heritage Area designation expands opportunities for economic development, particularly within the heritage tourism industry, as well as supports educational programs for students of every age. To this end, the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership works collaboratively with its local, region and national Partners to provide opportunities for interpretive historic, heritage education and recreational programs that celebrate and commemorate the unparalleled American heritage found along this region.

The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the unparalleled history in the region, which generally follows the Old Carolina Road (Rt. 15/231) from Gettysburg, through Maryland, to Monticello in Albemarle County, VA. For more information, please visit: www.HallowedGround.org.

Preserve America Grant program, a White House initiative that began in 2006, supports planning, development, and implementation of innovative activities and programs in heritage tourism. Successful applicants emphasize creative projects that promote and preserve the community's historic and cultural resources, involve public-private partnerships and serve as models to communities nationwide for heritage tourism, education, and economic development. For more information, visit www.preserveamerica.gov.