by Kathy Foster
Dr. Sorna Khakzad was the guest speaker at Thursday’s luncheon hosted by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce at the Specialty Center at NFCH in Chipley.
Sponsored by the Washington County Historical Society
Khakzad said there is a move underway to have Washington County included as a Florida Panhandle Maritime National Heritage Area which are palces where historic, cultural, and natural resources combine to form cohesive, nationally important landscapes. She said unlike national parks, NHAs are large lived-in landscapes and entities collaborate to determine how to make heritage relevant to local interests and needs.
The first step to NHA designation is to conduct a feasibility study, which includes steps such as defining the study area, gaging public involvement, compiling an inventory of assets, along with assessing and evaulating resources in the area.
Khakzad described the Florida Panhandle Area as home to many historical firsts, as well as unique remaining natural resources in the United States, and said Florida Public Archaeology would like to appreciate these resources and give the area a NHA designation declared by the U.S. Congress.
What are the benefits of NHAs?
- Generates economic development
- Creates jpbs
- Brands the area with a national title
- Advocates collaboration between local governments and organizations
- Promotes cultural tourism
- Encourages historic preservation
- Fosters a sense of identity in communities
- Sparks pride
- Receives recurring federal funding from the National Park Service
- Provides technical assistance to the area
In other business at Thursday’s luncheon the Chipley Garden Club announced that the April Beautification Award went to First Federal Bank.
