A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS to complete renovations aT OLD SALEM.
Whereas, the State of North Carolina has a rich and diverse religious and cultural heritage which is exemplified by Old Salem; and
Whereas, the Moravians who founded Salem in 1766, carried with them a religious heritage as ancient as any in the Protestant tradition, as well as a knowledge of agriculture, architecture, skilled crafts, and industry; and
Whereas, the history of the African‑American community at Old Salem can be traced to St. Philips Church, which was built during the 1860's and served as the location where the Emancipation Proclamation was read to African‑Americans by an officer of the Union Army; and
Whereas, more than 55,000 North Carolina school students and 400,000 other visitors from North Carolina and other states visit Old Salem each year; and
Whereas, the trustees of Old Salem, Incorporated, have recently undertaken extensive renovations and improvements at Old Salem such as the restoration and development of the St. Philips Church and the construction of the North Carolina Heritage Education Center; and
Whereas, the further development of Old Salem as a vehicle through which to interpret North Carolina's religious and cultural heritage to its people will help instill in its people the values which have been the source of its success and will have the additional benefit of drawing additional travel and tourist revenues and jobs to our State; and
Whereas, though Old Salem, Incorporated, raised over $26,000,000 in a capital campaign fund‑raising effort for renovations at Old Salem and for construction of the visitor center, Old Salem, Incorporated, is in need of $1,000,000 to complete the visitor center and to remove the Stratford Metals Building at Old Salem; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to Old Salem, Incorporated, a nonprofit corporation, the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) for the 2004‑2005 fiscal year.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2004.