Tourism Development



Appalachian Gateway Communities Informational Webinar

Learn more about the Appalachian Gateway Communities by attending this Informational Webinar at 3:00 PM EST on January 10, 2024. This webinar will inform attendees about the Gateways Communities program, which provides community teams with training and the opportunity to apply for seed grant funding to implement action plans.
Event
Maryland

Allegany

Western Maryland: Elevating the Outdoors

Two Appalachian Maryland counties used BIL funds to expand outdoor recreation by attracting new businesses and more visitors.
Investment in Action


Virtual Event: Obsolete & Unsafe Low-Head Dams of Appalachia

The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) are bringing together state regulators responsible for dam safety and removal, and economic development professionals for a workshop to discuss best practices from Pennsylvania’s nation-leading dam removal programs and to share ideas across participating states for how to remove…
Event
New York, West Virginia

Allegany Preston

Trail Systems: Guiding Communities to Opportunities

Every Appalachian state has ample trail opportunities, from the Tanglefoot Trail in Mississippi, to South Carolina’s Swamp Rabbit Trail and the Great Allegheny Passage in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Trails are incredible gateways for attracting outside visitors and increasing quality of life for community members. ARC partners have long worked to establish trail systems that…
Investment in Action
West Virginia

Boone

The Natural Capital Investment Fund: A Path To Success

In 2016, the Natural Capital Investment Fund (NCIFund) partnered with the Hatfield McCoy Trail Authority and Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College (Southern) to drive recreational tourism development in the coalfields of southern West Virginia. Through ARC POWER funding, the partners launched a revolving loan…
Investment in Action
Entire Region

Extending Our Welcome: Trends and Strategies for Tourism in Appalachia

Extending our Welcome uses qualitative and quantitative research to assess the history of tourism in Appalachia and make recommendations for communities looking to employ it as an economic strategy. The report also provides 12 community and establishment profiles from eight Appalachian states as a source of best practices. Though…
Report