THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO PRESERVE, INTERPRET, AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE RESOURCES OF THE ESSEX NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA BY PROVIDING GRANTS, PLANNING FOR CULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE INTERPRETATION, OPERATING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING SOME THROUGH THE SALEM AND SAUGUS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITES, AND PROMOTING THE ESSEX NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA IDENTITY AND THEMES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM. IT IS ENGAGED IN PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT ASSIST THE NPS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHERS IN CARRYING OUT THE PROGRAMS THAT RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF RESOURCES WITHIN THE REGION.