Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area Act

This bill establishes the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, covering 29 towns across northwestern Connecticut and southwestern Massachusetts. It designates a local non-profit organization to manage the area and develop a long-term plan for conserving the region’s cultural, historical, and natural resources.

For local citizens, this designation provides access to federal technical and financial assistance to support heritage tourism, historic preservation, and environmental conservation efforts. The bill specifically prohibits the management entity from using federal funds to acquire real property, ensuring that the initiative focuses on community partnerships and the promotion of existing regional assets rather than federal land ownership.