The Nature Conservancy (TNC) was recently awarded $400,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for its new project “The Cumberland-Pine Mountain Outdoor Recreation and Conservation Corridor of Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky.” The funding was made available through ARC’s Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) which drives large-scale economic transformation through multi-state collaboration.
The Nature Conservancy, along with nine federal, state and local partners in Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, will produce a nature-based tourism asset inventory and prioritized list of outdoor recreation infrastructure upgrades on core public lands across the tri-state Cumberland-Pine Mountain corridor that are needed to advance outdoor recreation-based economic development.
A key part of the effort will be to complement current state-level tourism goals and engage local communities in identifying the type of investments needed to improve access at individual sites as well as support a tri-state vision for enhanced outdoor recreation opportunities for local citizens and visitors.
“The Nature Conservancy is eager to improve access to public lands in Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, vital parts of the Appalachians region, with support from this award and partners,” said Heather Furman, Director of TNC’s Appalachians Program. “This investment expands opportunities for everyone to benefit from spending time outdoors while enhancing the resilience of nearby communities and natural places.”
The ARISE funding opportunity drives large-scale economic transformation through collaborative multi-state projects. Since January 2023, ARC has used funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to invest over $70.8 million in ARISE projects that will strengthen Appalachian business and industry as well as support the development of new economic opportunities across the region.