A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds for the development of the cooleemee textile heritage historic site and the southwide textile heritage INITIATIVE.
Whereas, the State of North Carolina is greatly indebted for the wealth and prosperity generated by its cotton textile industry; and
Whereas, there is no fitting monument to those men, women, and children who carded, spun, and wove the products of this industry; and
Whereas, in the Town of Cooleemee exists the State's first museum telling the story of the South's unique mill village culture; and
Whereas, over the past 16 years Cooleemee's Textile Heritage Center has won an impressive array of national and State awards for its efforts in documenting the history and heritage of cotton mill people; and
Whereas, in 1996, Cooleemee's Textile Heritage Center brought together an impressive assembly of scholars and representatives from 27 mill villages, creating a permanent regional effort to document the history and heritage of cotton mill people; and
Whereas, Cooleemee's Textile Heritage Center is now coordinating the Southwide Textile Heritage Initiative, a grassroots movement to preserve the stories, places, and historical records of the Southern cotton mill people for our future generations; and
Whereas, the Town of Cooleemee plans to expand its public history capacity by developing a mill house museum, other exhibits, and an outdoor drama and public park on the beautiful shoals of the South Yadkin River; and
Whereas, the location of the Town of Cooleemee provides easy access from the I‑40, I‑77, and I‑85 corridors, making heritage tourism partnerships feasible with State‑run historic sites such as the North Carolina Transportation Museum in the Town of Spencer; and
Whereas, the development of the Cooleemee Textile Heritage Historic Site will enhance Davie County's economy through the creation of jobs and the stimulation of small businesses; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Cooleemee Historical Association, a nonprofit corporation, in Davie County the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for the 2005‑2006 fiscal year for the development of the Cooleemee Textile Heritage Historic Site and the Southwide Textile Heritage Initiative.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2005.