The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) is calling on business owners, artists, and residents across seven counties to help define the cultural and economic roadmap for the region.
On June 3, the foundation will host “Community Conversation: National Heritage Area in New Jersey” at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC). The gathering aims to build momentum for a federal National Heritage Area (NHA) designation—a move that could funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal grants and millions in economic impact into North Jersey.
The proposed North Jersey National Heritage Area (NJNHA) covers a massive footprint, including Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Union, Morris, Passaic, and Sussex counties. The initiative seeks to unite these diverse areas under four core themes:
- Innovation and Industry: Celebrating the region’s history as an engine of American ingenuity.
- Suburbia and Planned Communities: Highlighting North Jersey’s role in shaping the modern American lifestyle.
- Transportation and Infrastructure: Recognizing the bridges, tunnels, and rails that serve as the corridor of the East Coast.
- Immigration and Migration: Honoring the diverse cultures that have moved through and settled in the region for centuries.
Administered by the National Park Service, an NHA designation is a powerful economic tool. Unlike a national park, a heritage area remains primarily in private or local hands but receives federal support to promote heritage tourism and preserve historic sites.
The NNJCF projects that the designation would boost community development in low- and moderate-income areas, create jobs for artists and cultural entrepreneurs, and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in broader regional economic impact.
“This is a transformative development initiative,” the NNJCF stated, noting that the federal status would provide a recurring stream of funding to local governments and historic organizations.
The June 3 event will be facilitated by Leonardo Vazquez, executive director of the NNJCF and a national leader in creative placemaking. Joining him are top-tier heritage specialists, including August Carlino, CEO of the Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation—widely considered one of the most successful NHAs in the country—and Dr. Nancy Morgan, a cultural anthropologist with extensive experience in heritage planning.
The conversation will focus on identifying “distinctive” local landmarks and recommending culturally significant places to be included in the official federal pitch to Congress.
The initiative has already secured a powerful roster of supporters. High-profile political figures including Former Governor Thomas H. Kean, U.S. Representative Thomas Kean Jr., and State Senator Britnee Timberlake have voiced support.
They are joined by a broad coalition of cultural and academic institutions, including Fairleigh Dickinson University, Ramapo College, the New Jersey Preservation Alliance, and the West Orange Arts Council.
The Community Conversation is free and open to the public.
- When: June 3, 2026, from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
- Where: South Orange Performing Arts Center (1 SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ) or via Zoom.
- Registration: Participants are encouraged to register at https://tinyurl.com/NJNHAJune.
For more information on the initiative or to learn how to contribute, visit www.nnjcf.org/njnha.
