Michigan’s National Heritage Areas Face Uncertain Future Amid Federal Grant Freeze
National Heritage Areas (NHAs) in Michigan, including the expansive MotorCities National Heritage Area, are confronting a precarious situation as the current administration enforces a halt on federal grants. This region, covering over 10,000 square miles, is crucially linked to the world’s most extensive collection of automotive sites and museums, with a mission to narrate the story of Michigan’s pivotal role in automotive history.
Currently, there are 62 NHAs throughout the United States, collectively approved to receive $29 million in federal funding for this year. Despite some grants being unfrozen by judicial rulings, the MotorCities NHA remains without the federal funds previously promised by former administrations.
Shawn Pomaville-Size, Executive Director of MotorCities NHA, expressed uncertainty regarding the duration and outcome of the federal review process. “People have to put the brakes on and figure out how to cope. And it’s extraordinarily challenging both economically and emotionally,” she stated.
The absence of funding threatens the future of MotorCities NHA, potentially leading to a shutdown by August if the situation does not improve. The shutdown could result in Michigan losing a $490 million economic tourism impact, $40 million in tax revenue, and 5,000 jobs associated with MotorCities NHA.
Moreover, the funding freeze has forced MotorCities NHA to halt its own grant distribution. Without federal support, they have been unable to provide $75,000 in grants committed to emerging community museums and heritage sites across Michigan.
As a component of the National Park Service (NPS) system, MotorCities NHA faces additional challenges due to job instability within its NPS partners. Although MotorCities staff are not federal employees and weren’t affected by the recent mass firings or partial restoration of NPS jobs, future layoffs and budget cuts could disrupt their collaboration with NPS staff and hinder their educational mission.
“[Our] money flows through the National Park Service,” Pomaville-Size noted. “So if there are further NPS layoffs, which they are predicting, it could end up impacting us because we do have staff that we work with at NPS.”
In response to these challenges, MotorCities National Heritage Area is actively seeking alternative funding sources to avert a potential shutdown in August.
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