Tennessee River Trails to Receive Funding for Planning National Scenic Byway

Jackson, TN - March 16, 2006 - Tennessee River Trails Association will receive $187, 264 from the Federal Highway Administration to design a National Scenic Byways corridor management plan, announced U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta. The association submitted this application for funding with the endorsement of the Tennessee Department of Transportation in order to finance the planning of sustainable economic growth through tourism and recreation for the nine counties that border the Tennessee River in West and Middle Tennessee.

“This grant will help Tennessee River Trails Association continue to plan and implement projects for our regional coalition. This funding means a great deal to our association,” said Tennessee River Trails Association Board Chairman Decatur County Mayor Ken Broadway.

“The Tennessee Department of Transportation is very enthusiastic about this project,” said Shawn Bible, Beautification Coordinator for the Tennessee Department of Transportation. “We will continue working very closely with the Tennessee River Trails Association to ensure its success.”

Tennessee River Trails Association is a regional economic development effort including the counties of Benton, Decatur, Hardin, Henry, Houston, Humphreys, Perry, Stewart and Wayne. The association board of directors is comprised of county mayors, executives from four Tennessee development districts, area tourism leaders and private citizens. The association has worked for two years to access this crucial funding. Once the corridor management plan is completed, the association will apply for designation as a National Scenic Byway or All-American Road by the Federal Highway Administration.

“Partnering with federal and state highway departments in this effort has the potential to bring unprecedented opportunities for growth to this wonderful area that, unfortunately, has not had the economic growth of some of the other regions in Tennessee,” said Paige Holmes, TRTA Program Administrator. “This plan will be developed and implemented with local leadership. Tennessee River Trails Association is a grassroots planning organization and will always depend on the local communities to provide direction in planning and growth.”

Tennessee River Trails Association Board of Directors:

Mayor Ken Broadway, Decatur County/ Board Chairman
Mayor David Wallace, Stewart County/ Vice Chairman
Mayor Brent Greer, Henry County/ Secretary
Mayor Willard Pope, Wayne County/ Treasurer
Evelyn C. Robertson, Jr. Executive Director of Southwest TN Development District/ President
Mayor Benny Howard, Perry County
Mayor Jimmy Thornton, Benton County
Mayor Jaycee Rawlings, Humphreys County
Mayor Kevin Davis, Hardin County
Mayor George Clark, Houston County
John Bucy, Executive Director, Northwest TN Development District
Joe Max Williams, Executive Director, South Central TN Development District
Sam Edwards, Executive Director, Greater Nashville Regional Council
Greer Broemel, Assistant Director, Greater Nashville Regional Council
Mary Beth Hopper, Executive Director, Southwest TN Tourism Association
Sheree Taylor, Executive Director, South Central TN Tourism Association
Garry Mason, Executive Director, Northwest TN Tourism Association
Jim Perry, Private Citizen Northwest TN
Jim Ayers, Private Citizen, Southwest TN
Sybil Haggard, Private Citizen, South Central TN