A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to the department of commerce to fund the piedmont triad heritage officer position.
Whereas, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, heritage tourism is defined as "traveling to experience the places, artifacts and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of past and present"; and
Whereas, heritage tourism is one of the fastest growing segments in the tourism industry and includes cultural, historic, and natural resources; and
Whereas, the Piedmont Triad area has an abundance of heritage tourism destinations; and
Whereas, the State currently funds a heritage tourism officer position that serves Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin Counties; and
Whereas, funds are needed to support a new heritage tourism officer position to coordinate heritage tourism throughout the entire 12‑county Piedmont Triad region; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated to the Department of Commerce the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the 2005‑2006 fiscal year and the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to support a Piedmont Triad Heritage Officer position to cover the entire 12‑county region.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2005.