MVHCC uses a unique three part strategy that combines community revitalization and heritage tourism to produce a viable economic development tool. This causes us to group our programs under three broad categories:
Regional Development
- Regional Conferences
- Community Grant Assistance
- Facade Renovations
- Scenic Byways
Regional Interpretation
- Community Interpretive Signage
- Regional Interpretive Signage
- Scenic Byway Signage
- American History Education Alliance
Regional Tourism
- MVHCC Web site
- Ethnic Heritage Events
- Tourism Brochures and Publications
The Mohawk Valley Heritage Corridor Commission, 501(c),(3), is a public benefit corporation created by the New York State Legislature in 1997 to improve historic preservation, recreation, education, and the economic future of the Mohawk Valley region through the power of heritage management.
Guided by a locally conceived 10-year strategic management plan, the Commission is:
- Building regional identity
- Strengthening historic sites and stories
- Developing the region as a leisure destination for area residents, vacationers, and heritage tourists worldwide
The Commission promotes regional cooperation and fosters public and private partnerships among civic groups, government, and business leaders. It advances community development, historic preservation, interpretive literature and signage, scenic byways, and regionwide events.
Commission programs are realistic, well grounded, and informed by the successes of similar efforts elsewhere in the nation. To attract new investment, all programs focus on the combination of community development and tourism--drawing on the heritage of the region, especially its early history and the physical legacy of the Erie Canal-Mohawk River waterway. These programs also are introducing new national and international audiences to stories about remarkable New York State people, places, and events that have changed the world.
This approach requires broad cooperation among government, business, civic, and other partners in a variety of local and regional initiatives. The Commission and staff act as facilitators, partnership brokers, information providers, and keepers of the regionwide vision. They foster regional cooperation and promote public and private partnerships to advance community development, historic preservation, interpretive literature and signage, scenic byways, and regionwide events.
Created with broad citizen participation, the Strategic Management Plan links regional and community development with heritage and cultural tourism. It was approved by all eight counties within the Heritage Corridor in June 1997 and was accepted by Commissioner Bernadette Castro, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The plan:
· Identifies a realistic set of actions that will achieve the vision
· Responds to the needs of local communities - Is cost effective
Telling the Story
The Interpretive Plan
The Heritage Corridor's Interpretive Plan contains a strategy for interpreting the valley's history for the benefit of visitors as well as local citizens. The Plan's goal is to make the heritage accessible, compelling and coherent. The strategy rests on making modest, thoughtful investments in storytelling on behalf of the whole Valley while building on the excellent interpretation being presented at the dozens of partner sites throughout the Valley.
Some of the interpretive tools outlined in the Plan include:
· Signs and interpretive kiosk: an integrated system of signage to tell local chapters of the larger story. These will be produced in partnership with the Canal Corporation, local communities and interpretive venues.
· Gateway exhibits developed with partners to convey the whole story of the Valley in four strategic locations.
· Recommendations for twenty other existing venues to further integrate their exhibits and programs into a region-wide Corridor scheme.
· Regional guides, maps, thematic booklets, audio tapes, and other interpretive materials to be developed for visitors.
· Scenic byways, heritage touring routes, and biking routes to be developed throughout the region.
In addition to these measures, the Commission and its staff will act as a catalyst and builder of partnerships across the region.
Eighteen Commissioners represent the Governor, the State Legislature, and the broad range of diverse interests in Heritage Corridor counties. Ex-officio members include the mayors and supervisors of every city, town, and village within the Corridor and representatives of several State and County agencies.
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