Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Awarded $5M Grant
The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation secured a $5 million grant to enhance tourism in the High Country region. The funds are intended to improve visitor experiences and preserve the parkway's natural and cultural heritage.
- The grant is for $5.13 million and was awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) through its Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE). - These funds will be used to implement the "Blue Ridge Rising" community action plan, a collaborative effort across 22 counties in Virginia and North Carolina to boost local economies through tourism. - The project is expected to impact 30 organizations, 250 businesses, and 350 workers, in addition to improving over 40,000 linear feet of trails connected to the parkway. - This initiative marks the first time in the parkway's history that the 29 counties it runs through have formally united to implement regional tourism and outdoor recreation strategies. - The Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited unit in the National Park System, with 16.7 million visitors in 2023 who spent nearly $1.4 billion in nearby communities, supporting over 19,000 jobs. - The CEO of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Carolyn Ward, noted that the grant is especially needed following recent challenges like Hurricane Helene, wildfires, and ice storms. - The project will be a partnership between the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and Friends of Southwest Virginia to advance regional business growth, improve broadband infrastructure, and build the tourism workforce. - The "Blue Ridge Rising" plan, which guides the use of the grant funds, was developed with input from hundreds of community leaders and received the Public Lands Alliance's 2025 Outstanding Public Engagement Award.
