Bill Pencek, deputy assistant secretary for Tourism, Film and the Arts, presented the award to Shuan Butcher, director of the Frederick Arts Council, and Kara Norman, director of the Downtown Frederick Partnership. Pencek also read a proclamation from Gov. Martin O’Malley in honor of the occasion.

Gov. O’Malley, in a statement, said that the Frederick A&E District, “has harnessed the power of the arts to attract businesses and jobs, encourage economic development and foster civic pride."

Designated as an A&E district in 2003, downtown Frederick “is home to a nationally-juried arts festival, two major film festivals, internationally-recognized public art, visual and performing arts centers, and a number of vibrant arts organizations,” Butcher said.

Heritage Areas Program forges 10-year strategic plan
After two years of research, the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA) has developed a strategic plan of operation for the next decade (2010 to 2120), said Matthew J. Power, MHAA chairman. The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Heritage Tourism Program, along with a team of state and local officials, led the effort. A National Park Service Preserve America grant provided partial funding of the plan.

The 10-year blueprint for the Heritage Areas Program describes three major actions:

• Identification of three categories of activity that will be used to measure success: developing heritage-tourism products; building partnerships; and sustaining regional identities.
• Identification of strategies for: management; stewardship; marketing and product development; communication; and a 10-year implementation schedule.
• Outline of how to evaluate management effectiveness and program outcomes.

Maryland Heritage Areas are locally designated and state-certified regions where public and private partners agree to preserve history, culture and natural resources in order to promote heritage tourism. Since its inception in 1996, the program has awarded more than $18 million in financial assistance and leveraged approximately $70 million in non-state funds for heritage-tourism projects.

Sports Marketing Office assists with Charles County race
Southern Maryland’s Charles County will host a half-marathon race for the first time on Sunday, April 18. The Saint Charles Half Marathon, which goes through the county’s St. Charles community, is part of the 18-city USRA Half Marathon Series for 2010. Charles County also has an agreement to stage the race for the next two years.

Terry Hasseltine, director of Maryland’s Office of Sports Marketing, served as matchmaker for the event. He met with USRA, the event rights-holder, at one of the national sports marketing forums he attends, and then discussed the feasibility of hosting this event with Charles County officials.

Approximately 400 runners have registered for the race. Organizers expect the field to expand to between 500 and 750 runners by race time. A “Fun Run” along the recently-opened 13-mile Charles County Rail Trail is planned for Saturday, April 17 as part of the event, along with, a 5K race and finish-line festivities on Sunday, the day of the half marathon. USRA plans to establish a points system for the series, encouraging runners to race in multiple locations.

New law designed to spur overseas travel to U.S.
President Obama signed into law a national travel promotion program on March 4 that is intended to address the decline in overseas visitors coming to the U.S.

“By signing the Travel Promotion Act, President Obama has acted to support the power of travel to serve as an economic stimulant, job generator and diplomatic tool,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “This program will create tens of thousands of American jobs and help reverse negative perceptions about travel to the United States.”

Oxford Economics estimates that a successful national promotion will yield $4 billion in new spending annually, create 40,000 new jobs and generate $321 million in new tax revenue each year.

In 2008, according to a Capital Region USA (CRUSA) report, 253,000 overseas travelers visited Maryland – 14,000 more than the previous year. Those visitors spent $228.8 million in the state, an 8 percent increase over 2007.

1812 stakeholders to gather on Upper Eastern Shore
The Eastern Shore 1812 Consortium, Kent County Office of Tourism Development and Queen Anne’s County Tourism Office are hosting a conference, Thursday, April 1, for Upper Eastern Shore stakeholders in the state’s upcoming War of 1812 bicentennial. Similar conferences – all presented by the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission – have been held in Southern Maryland, Prince George’s County and the Head of the Bay (Havre de Grace area).

Each conference is designed to promote partnerships among regional stakeholders and to familiarize the stakeholders with Maryland’s role in the War of 1812. The conferences alert participants to the local sites, stories and organizations that depict this era in Maryland history. Following the Upper Eastern Shore Star-Spangled 200 Conference, two more – North Point (Baltimore County) and Baltimore City – are planned for this year.

The Upper Eastern Shore event includes visits to the Kitty Knight House, Caulk’s Field, Mitchell House, Bowlingly and Slippery Hill. Call or e-mail Kate Marks, 410-767-6974, for information and registration. Or, check the Star-Spangled 200 web site.

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