Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, in cooperation with the West Virginia Development Office, has developed this program to take advantage of the growing trend in cultural heritage tourism. This trend offers benefits and opportunities for all of West Virginia. Preservation Alliance of West Virginia serves as the statewide grassroots organization dedicated to the support and promotion of historic preservation.

The Mission

The mission of the WVCHDP is to use the state’s historic, cultural and natural resources to establish sustainable heritage tourism programs for regions and communities for the purpose of stimulating economic opportunities for communities, businesses, organizations, and individuals and preserving and conserving these resources.

To accomplish these important goals, the program offers workshops, conducts research, shares information, provides technical assistance, and seeks funding opportunities for regional or local efforts.

• A partnership with several state agencies was implemented for the development of "Frontiers to Mountaineers," a region consisting of the counties of Monongalia, Preston, Marion, Harrison and Lewis to serve as a demostration heritage tourism area.
• Approximately 29 successful workshops focusing on West Virginia Heritage Tourism have been given in the past three years. Workshops cover such topics as agri-tourism, branding for destination businesses, general heritage tourism, capturing the cultural heritage tourism dollars and engaging the visitor for communities and attractions. 
• We’ve created this Web site designed to recycle and rejuvenate old, forgotten buildings by connecting participating communities with small, tourism related businesses. The project could also create a model for brokering underutilized commercial real estate across the state.
• We have utilized a Rural Housing and Economic Development Capacity Building grant to foster economic development by strengthening businesses through rural and agri-tourism along with increasing rehabilitation of older buildings for housing and small business use in rural communities.
• We continue to help the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area seek National Heritage Area status by assisting with a management plan and feasibility study.
• We have worked with the WV Department of Agriculture to assist in the development of an inventory of agri-tourism operations within the state of West Virginia.
• We continue to assist local and regional projects to develop cultural heritage tourism programs.
• We are continuing work toward establishing the WVCHDP as a permanent and state-funded economic program in the WV Development Office.

Networking has proven to be an essential tool for developing this program. Collaboration with state, regional and local groups or individuals has resulted in successful completion of multiple projects. Without the cooperation of varying organizations and divisions of government, we know very little could be accomplished. Our steering committee of 27 individuals represents more than 20 state agencies and organizations, including Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, WV Development Office, WV Division of Tourism, Small Business Development Centers, WV Division of Culture and History, etc.

For more information, please contact:
Mitzi Miller
WV Cultural Heritage Development Program
Preservation Alliance of West Virginia
West Virginia Development Office/Main Street WV
Capitol Complex, Bldg 6/553
Charleston, WV 25305