Alabama’s Black Belt region has earned the title of National Heritage Area.

President Joe Biden signed the recognition into law Friday after a bipartisan effort. With the new designation, the historic but impoverished region will have more opportunities for grants to help maintain and promote the area.

“For the first time, many historic areas in the Black Belt will be designated as a National Heritage Area, freeing up additional federal resources for historic preservation, tourism, and economic development,” U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, who sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives, said following the passage of the bill in the House. “Passage of this bill is the culmination of years of tireless advocacy and negotiation on behalf of the residents of the Black Belt!”

There are 55 National Heritage Areas in the United States, in addition to national parks and historic sites. The Black Belt is the first designated National Heritage Area in Alabama

What is a National Heritage Area?

National Heritage Areas are established by Congress to assist in protecting and promoting communities that are regarded as distinctive due to their culture, history, resources and environment. Historic areas can receive up to $1 million in federal funding annually to preserve, protect and promote important sites. The new National Heritage Area in Alabama will include 14 counties in the region.

“As the birthplace of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights movements, the Black Belt is where some of the most consequential chapters of American history played out,” Sewell said.

The next steps involve management of the area.

The new law sets up the University of West Alabama to oversee a strategic management plan, along with the National Park Service and the communities within the Black Belt.

“Heritage areas generate positive economic impact by building local capacity through the leveraging of shared resources. At UWA, we look forward to building on the relationships that have formed as part of these shared efforts towards designation,” said Dr. Tina Naremore Jones, assistant provost and vice president for economic and workforce wevelopment at the university, when the act passed last month.

UWA’s plan will determine how to utilize the annual funds to the best benefit of the region.