NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1975 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 970

HOUSE BILL 1193

 

 

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR LOAN TO THE CHEROKEE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, INC., FOR DEVELOPING THE MUSEUM/CULTURAL CENTER OF THE CHEROKEE INDIANS.

 

Whereas, The Cherokee Historical Association, Inc., through the development of the outdoor drama, "Unto These Hills", the creation of the Living Village of the Cherokee Indians and other similar projects has, for more than 25 years, provided a major stimulus to the tourist industry of the State of North Carolina, thus greatly benefiting the general welfare of the State and contributing greatly to the economy of all tourist-related industries, being a principal force in the generation of some 9,000,000 visitors annually to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, of which the Town of Cherokee is the eastern gateway, and of some 6,000,000 visitors annually to the Blue Ridge Parkway, of which Cherokee is the southern terminus, these visitors making the Great Smoky Mountains National Park the most heavily used park in the National Park Service system and bringing into the State millions of dollars in general expenditures and tax revenues; and

Whereas, The Cherokee Historical Association, Inc., in cooperation with the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, the United States Economic Development Administration, the State of North Carolina, and various philanthropic and eleemosynary foundations is developing a Museum and Cultural Center of the Cherokee Indians for the benefit of the citizens of the State; and

Whereas, the existing museum at Cherokee is totally inadequate to serve the needs of the thousands of North Carolina public school students who visit it annually in connection with Indian studies, this condition being a major reason for developing the new museum; and

Whereas, the 1973 General Assembly, recognizing the value to the citizens of the State in establishing a center in which the history and culture of the Cherokee Indians would be preserved for the future benefit and advantage of all citizens, appropriated the sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for the project; and

Whereas, the Cherokee Historical Association, Inc., has obtained additional monies to support the venture, including one hundred sixty-five thousand dollars ($165,000) in Association funds, ten thousand dollars ($10,000) from the Hillsdale Fund, one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) from the Z. Smith Reynolds Fund, fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) from the Percy B. Ferebee Foundation, and eight hundred ten thousand dollars ($810,000) from the United States Economic Development Administration; and

Whereas, the provision of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) is essential to the completion of the project, and revenues from the Center will be sufficient to amortize such a loan over a five-year period, and this sum will be borrowed by the Cherokee Historical Association, Inc., from funds appropriated for this purpose; Now, therefore,

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  During the 1975-76 fiscal year, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) is appropriated from the General Fund to the Contingency and Emergency Fund for loan to the Cherokee Historical Association, Inc., subject to the approval of the Governor and Council of State, to provide for construction and equipment costs for the Museum/Cultural Center of the Cherokee Indians.

Sec. 2.  The sum, if made available for such use by the Association prior to June 30, 1976, shall be loaned upon such terms of repayment, not to exceed five years, as may be agreed upon by the Governor and Council of State.

Sec. 3.  In the event that such loan is made and the Department of Cultural Resources determines that contracts for construction and equipment of the Museum and Cultural Center of the Cherokee Indians have not been let by the Association by June 30, 1977, any funds which may have been allocated for this purpose under this act shall revert to the General Fund.

Sec. 4.  All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this act are hereby repealed.

Sec. 5.  This act shall be in full force and effect from and after its ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 26th day of June, 1975.