Proposed Trump cut would 'eliminate' Poudre nonprofit

Kathleen Benedict sees one bright spot in the proposed loss of federal funds for the local nonprofit she leads.

"At least we got some press out of it," the Poudre Heritage Alliance executive director said with a chuckle. "When you get pointed out by the president as something that should go away, people suddenly realize that you exist in the first place."

Benedict isn't exaggerating: President Donald Trump's 2018 budget blueprint specifically singles out National Heritage Areas on the first page of the proposed Department of Interior Budget, calling the programs "more appropriately funded locally."

Benedict said the proposed 100 percent federal funding cut would effectively eliminate Poudre Heritage Alliance, which oversees the Cache La Poudre National Heritage Area.

Federal funding accounted for 89 percent of the alliance's 2016 funding of $373,000. 

The Poudre Heritage Alliance works with area counties, municipalities and private sector groups to promote the history and cultural significance of the heritage area. The heritage area covers a 45-mile stretch of the Poudre River from west of Fort Collins to the South Platte River near Greeley.

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The group's work has economic implications. Since 2009, $2 million in Poudre Heritage Alliance funding has helped generate another $6 million in funding for local projects, Benedict said.

Recently, the alliance facilitated the first Heritage Culturalist volunteer training program, partnered to develop the Byways Loop Tour that connected the Heritage Area and three Scenic Byways and worked with the State Historic Fund and Poudre Landmarks Foundation to create plans for turning the 1882 Water Works into a Water Interpretation Center.

Trump's proposed defunding won't necessarily happen. Congress, not the president, will determine the final federal budget for 2018. 

Benedict said the group is asking local residents to contact their congressional representatives about Poudre Heritage Alliance funding.

Past presidents have sought to cut funding for National Heritage Areas, but Congress has generally voted to continue funding the programs in full, Benedict said.

The proposed National Heritage Areas funding cut is part of Trump's proposal to cut $54 billion in 2018 non-defense spending. Eliminating federal funding for the nation's 49 National Heritage Areas would save $18.8 million of the total proposed federal budget of $4.1 trillion.

Trump's budget preserves $809,000 in National Park Service funding for technical and administrative assistance to heritage areas.

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