Governor Bredesen Announces Enhancement Grant for Scott County

Enhancement Grant for Virtual Mapping/Kiosk Project at Welcome Center:
 Left to right, Rep. Leslie Winningham, Charles Kite, TDOT Commissioner Gerald F. Nicely,
 Don Stansberry II, Brian Ambroziak, Charles Newport, Almeda Peavyhouse,
 James Taylor, Gov. Phil Bredesen, Don Stansberry III, and Todd Swain.

Nashville, Tenn. — Governor Phil Bredesen announced today that the state will provide Scott County with an enhancement grant in the amount of $250,000 to assist with the Virtual Mapping/Kiosk Project.

The project will provide a state of the art virtual mapping tool called CartaVista, that will be available for use at a new kiosk at the Scott County Welcome Center, and that will also eventually be available for schools and home computer users as well.

“The project will digitize the entire Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and surrounding areas to allow visitors and educators to take a virtual ’Fly Through’ tour of any location on the map,” said Governor Bredesen. “This technology could prove to be trendsetting for tourist destinations in Tennessee and I’m proud we can make investments like this to enhance local communities for the benefit of citizens and visitors alike”

“This is a truly exciting commitment for the state to make, from a number of standpoints including technology, transportation, and tourism,” added Representative Les Winningham. “I’m happy I was able to assist in making this project a reality.”

“This is exciting technology for our state and as more people begin to use the program, it will draw more and more visitors to Scott County,” stated Senator Tommy Kilby.

The grant is made possible through a federally funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

“Including this year’s enhancement grants, TDOT has helped fund approximately $189 million worth of transportation related projects such as the restoration of historic facilities, bike and pedestrian trails, landscaping and other non-traditional transportation projects,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “These grants were made possible in the 1990s when Congress established a grant system funding activities designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of the nation’s transportation system.”

The virtual program will also allow users to see interstate and local roads in three-dimension, as well as gather information about archaeology, botany and water quality. Hikers within the Big South Fork Park will be able to tour hiking trails and create custom maps before they arrive.