The Northeastern Vermont Development Association received a $250,000 federal grant this month to bolster the Northeast Kingdom’s outdoor recreation economy.
The funds — awarded by the Northern Border Regional Commission — are meant to help market the three-county region as a destination for trail seekers, according to a press release from the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative, which worked to get the grant.
“Trails are often what create those connections to our downtowns and businesses, but there are many more projects in the development phase than there is funding available to build them,” Dave Snedeker, the development association’s executive director, said in the release. “This should help address that gap.”
The Kingdom — Caledonia, Essex and Orleans counties — boasts a bevy of outdoor activities, which local leaders believe are key assets in strengthening the region’s lagging economy. Trail networks in particular, such as those managed by the Kingdom Trail Association, draw many bikers and hikers to the area.
The grant project aims to improve mapping, business tie-ins with trails and multi-town connections, according to the release. Some of the grant money will also be split between five to 10 local projects to build trails or infrastructure, like kiosks and parking, in amounts between $10,000 and $40,000.
“More than 20 towns and organizations came together to develop this project,” Katherine Sims, the collaborative’s executive director, said in the release. “Cooperation was the key to our success in this highly competitive grant process.”
The grant-funded project also launches a working group dedicated to the Kingdom’s outdoor recreation economy, facilitated by the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative. The working group will solicit project applications this fall and award funds to towns and trail networks next year.
The federal grant made up part of $7.9 million given to organizations in Vermont this month by the Northern Border Regional Commission, according to an Aug. 15 press release from the state Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
Gov. Phil Scott, Sen. Patrick Leahy, Rep. Peter Welch and commission officials announced the awards at a ceremony in Springfield that week.
