U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) announced this week that development is proceeding with the Mountain Music Heritage Project dedicated to the musical heritage of Appalachia. Dr. Ken Sullivan, Executive Director of the West Virginia Humanities Council, was in the Congressman's office in Washington last Thursday to discuss progress on the project, the Mountain Music Hall of Fame.

"We are at the ground floor of this project, but I am very excited about the positives it will have on southern West Virginia," said Rahall. "There is a lot of musical history in our mountains and this project will help research and compile our history so it can be presented to West Virginians and tourists alike."

Rahall secured $97,000 for the project through a development grant in a 2005 appropriation. The grant will be used to secure office space and hire a full-time planning research staff to begin work later this year. The Project Manager will begin work by conducting research into all aspects of mountain music heritage: past and present performers, interviews, recordings, identifying photos, videos and recordings, identifying authorities on the music of southern West Virginia and obtaining other information. This information will be used to produce an overview of musical and cultural heritage in Central Appalachia.

"We would not have been able to get this far without the ongoing support of Congressman Rahall," said Dr. Sullivan. "Congressman Rahall has made this dream come closer and closer to a reality and I thank him for his continued efforts to bring the musical history of our area to the public."

Sullivan says plans are underway to establish a Mountain Music Project office in cooperation with RESA 1 in Beckley. Following the completion of Phase I, the Mountain Music Hall of Fame staff will begin the process of conducting a feasibility study on creating a heritage center focused on the musical history and traditions of southern West Virginia.

"Not only will the heritage center serve as a site for music lovers to learn more about the musical history of our region, it will also become another attraction focusing on Appalachian heritage," said Rahall. "More tourists are coming to West Virginia to ski, raft, and explore the outdoors. These same tourists are finding interest in West Virginia's cultural history and the Mountain Music Hall of Fame project will be a great addition to the tourism base of West Virginia."