Four Corners Heritage Council
See the Cooperative Agreement forming the Council.
The Four Corners Heritage Council is a case study of an MOA which establishes a multi-state regional heritage tourism council. It is a partnership and coordinating body consisting of the states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, the Four Corners Heritage Council was established by the governors of these four states in 1991. It is made up of three representatives from each state, appointed by the governor. One representative is local, one representative Native American, and one representative at large. In addition, it includes a representative of the BLM, Forest Service, and National Park Service, and the Navajo Nation.
This partnership is able to coordinate beyond the boundaries of the states, counties, and local governments. Its mission statement is to promote partnerships in Heritage Resource Tourism, Education, Interpretation, and Preservation.
Advantages
This partnership links projects across state, county, and community boundaries. It also provides the foundations for setting up a heritage area under the Federal Heritage Area Program. Related Tool: Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Partnership Agreement
Limitations
Because the council brings together a number of entities, it is often difficult to find products or projects that meet the interests of all the various parties. At the same time, when projects are found that serve all partners by linking attractions and marketing campaigns (such as scenic highways), it is a powerful organizational structure.
Examples of products and projects
- The Four Corners Heritage Area Brochure is the best example of a product produced by the Four Corners Heritage Council. It not only links all of the historical and archeological sites, it does this through designating each of the roads in all four states as scenic byways, thus allowing the area to receive special designation under the American Highways program, and also making a federal Heritage Area designation.
- The Four Corners Heritage Council's Heritage Site Steward Conference.
See the Cooperative Agreement forming the Council.