Could the Kentucky Trail Town Program be an Answer to Economic Development in Eastern

and Central Kentucky?

By Taylor Sabo, Berea College

3rd Annual Rural Studies ConferenceFebruary 12-14, 2016

Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity Park, Pennsylvania

Goal

To remove the uncertainty of adventure tourism as an economic sector for Central and Eastern Kentucky.

Agenda

•A shameless plug for Berea College and EPG•Value of adventure tourism: Abingdon, VA•Berea, KY Trail Town

To provide an educational opportunity primarily for students from Appalachia, black and white, who have great promise and limited economic resources.

“To practice and implement Entrepreneurial Leadership in rural communities of Central Appalachia.”

What is Adventure Tourism?

Running, biking, zip-lining, hiking, and rock climbing

EPG students meet adventure tourists

Laurel County: 28 Tourism Events Held in 2015

Crossroads to Adventure”

Source: Hendrickson, Rodney. “28 Events in London-Laurel County in 2015.” Shaping Our Appalachian Region Strategy Conference. Pikeville, KY.. May 2015.

Laurel County: 28 Tourism Events Held in 2015

Abingdon/Damascus Case Study

EPG students on the Virginia Creeper Trail

Virginia Creeper Trail

Virginia Creeper Trail

Old Alvarado Station

EPG students gather at the Martha Washington Hotel, across the street from the Barter Theater, Abingdon VA

⅓ retired

3 hours

56%

$337 per day

$735 per trip

City Revenues 1978:$90,350

City Revenues 2014:$1,177,600

City of Berea Trail Town Certification, Dec., 2015

We ( ) and the CBTTC believe that aligning cultural assets and natural resources can increase:

1. The health and wellness of ALL Berea residentsThe health and wellness of ALL Berea residents

2. The preservation and expand the cultural assets that make Berea a “special place to life?”

3. The social value and economic development of this community attracting out-of-towners to enjoy our historic, cultural assets and trail system.

City of Berea Trail Town Timeline

June ‘16Dec ‘15

Trail Town Certification

Trail Town Committee Formation

State Trail TownApplication

Feb ‘15

Trail Town Program Feasibility

June ‘14

New Trail Town Events and Tours

Nov ‘16