A dedication ceremony for the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area will take place in the state's oldest town at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 29. The heritage area, which takes in Alamosa, Conejos and Costilla counties, will leverage federal funding for projects related to the area's heritage and landscapes. In March, President Obama signed the proposal for the heritage area into law, making it eligible for up to $10 million over 15 years.

Rick Manzanares, who serves as director of the Fort Garland Museum and is helping to organize the dedication, said the speaker's lineup for the event had yet to be finalized. He added, however, that invitations had been extended to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, his brother, U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., and Gov. Bill Ritter, among others. The ceremony, which is open to the public, will take place at Convento Plaza, 512 Church Place and include the San Luis Mariachi and refreshments.