Lawrence and Douglas County leaders later this month will consider a proposal to make Lawrence the management headquarters for the 41-county Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area.

That proposal calls for formation of a nonprofit entity – Destination Management Inc. – that would be guided by representatives of the city, county, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and the heritage area.

The Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau, under director Judy Billings, would lead the heritage area management staff as well as the visitors bureau staff under Destination Management.

The proposal was described in a news release issued Thursday by the chamber and in a letter to chamber board members from board chairwoman Joan Golden.

“The first step is to form the nonprofit corporation, which would be the neutral entity to which the National Heritage would contract to manage it,” Golden said in an interview Thursday.

The heritage area was created in October 2006 by Congress and President Bush. The designation will help market the area for tourists because of its Civil War era history. A team from National Geographic will lead the development of a management plan for the area.Golden said Billings, who has been involved with the heritage effort since it began a few years ago, is the appropriate person to manage it.

“It’s her talent that got the national heritage designation to begin with,” Golden said. “We see this as the best way to ensure that her work continues most efficiently.”

The proposal must gain approval from the Lawrence City and Douglas County commissions and the chamber board. Approval also must come from the 13-member heritage area board, which represents the 41 eastern Kansas and western Missouri counties.

Golden said she and heritage board trustee chairwoman Deanell Tacha of Lawrence have talked with city and county leaders, and found support for Lawrence taking on a larger role.

Although Tacha said she can’t predict the outcome of the heritage board’s vote on making Lawrence the management center, she said Billings’ leadership is well-respected.

“My own feeling is that they are so grateful for the leadership by Lawrence and Judy Billings that, at least in the early years, this will be a good home for it,” said Tacha, a U.S. Court of Appeals judge.

Lawrence City Manager Dave Corliss said city officials have been part of discussions focusing on how to enhance Lawrence and Douglas County’s participation in the heritage area.

“There are a number of details to be worked out, but the opportunity to partner with others along with the Convention and Visitors Bureau is exciting and we are looking forward to the upcoming opportunities,” he said.

If the idea is approved, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is now housed in the chamber building, will need another site with more room for two staffs.

It also means the chamber would have to sever its contract with the city so the city can contract with Destination Management to oversee the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The management company would be responsible for ensuring the city’s transient guest tax money continues to be used by the Convention and Visitors Bureau and not by the heritage area.

The county also would funnel its funding for local historical societies and museums through the management firm. And Freedom’s Frontier would funnel its public and private funds through the firm to the management staff.