The Connecticut Heritage Coalition, led by the Connecticut Humanities Council, the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, the Connecticut League of History Organizations, the Connecticut Museum Association and Connecticut Preservation Action urge your quick and active assistance this week.

This week the Cultural Heritage Development Fund will be under scrutiny at the Legislature. The Fund is HIGHLY vulnerable to being CUT THIS FISCAL YEAR in order to provide revenue to other parts of the budget. This means virtually NO FUNDS designated for Connecticut's heritage and preservation community.

We ask that you and your board contact KEY LEADERS IN THE LEGISLATURE (see list below) and press the case for protecting this invaluable revenue-generating fund. Below are facts for you to use in your e-mail or phone call:

The Cultural Heritage Development Fund, funded since 1995 at $1 million ANNUALLY by "intercept" revenue from the Hotel and Lodging Tax, is the only funding for program and technical assistance grants to historical and preservation organizations across Connecticut.

Every grant supports programs that attract tourists to heritage sites and generate taxes and revenue for Connecticut businesses.

Every grant requires at least a one-to-one match from private sources, engaging Connecticut corporations and foundations to invest in heritage programs.

Every grant adds to the state's tax revenues, directly and indirectly, through increased spending by visitors.

KEY FACTS:

The Cultural Heritage Development Fund has distributed:

• $5.8 million in state funds to heritage organizations in towns throughout the state;

The Cultural Heritage Development Fund has stimulated

• $18.5 million in private investment in these projects, boosting Connecticut's appeal for tourism;

The Cultural Heritage Development Fund has RETURNED TO THE STATE

• $50 million in tax revenues.

(Details on figures can be found at www.ctculture.org/chdf.)

The State has a very useful website (www.cga.state.ct.us) which makes it very easy to get in touch with legislators.

Key Legislators to Contact:

Sen. Kevin Sullivan Kevin.B.Sullivan@po.state.ct.us 1-800-842-1420
Sen.. Louis Deluca Louis.Deluca@po.state.ct.us 1-860-842-1421
Sen. Martin Looney Looney@senatedems.state.ct.us 1-800-842-1420
Sen. Toni Harp Harp@senatedems.state.ct.us 1-800-842-1420
Sen. Don Williams Williams@senatedems.state.us 1-800-842-1420
Sen. Catherine Cook Catherine.W.Cook@po.state.ct.us 1-800-842-1421
Sen. Don DeFronzo DeFronzo@senatedems.state.ct.us 1-800-842-1420
Sen. Joan Hartley Hartley@senatedems.state.ct.us 1-800-842-1420
Rep. Moira Lyons Moira.Lyons@po.state.ct.us 1-800-842-1902
Rep. Jim Amann Jim.Amann@po.state.ct.us 1-800-842-1902
Rep. Robert Ward Robert.Ward@housegop.state.ct.us 1-800-842-1423
Rep. Patricia Widlitz Patricia.Widlitz@po.state.ct.us. 1-800-842-8267
Rep. William Dyson William.Dyson@po.state.ct.us 1-800-842-8267
Rep. Andrea Stillman Andrea.Stillman@po.state.ct.us 1-800-842-1902
Rep. Nancy Kerensky Nancy.Kerensky@po.state.ct.us 1-800-842-8267
Rep. Melody Currey Melody.Currey@po.state.ct.us 1-800-842-1902

If one or more of the above key legislative leaders is also your own legislator, please mention any local project that has received grant funds from the Cultural Heritage Development Fund.

Please let either the Connecticut Trust (hhiggins@cttrust.org) or the Connecticut Humanities Council (laurie@ctculture.org) know whom you contacted and what the response was.

Thank you for all the help you give to this important issue this week. For up to the minute information follow www.ctculture.org/chdf.

Bruce Fraser
Executive Director
Connecticut Humanities Council
955 South Main Street
Middletown, CT 06457
www.CtCulture.org, www.CtHeritage.org