Funding Amount

$197,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Highlands Creative Economy Initiative

Status: Active program supported by foundation grants

Funding Source: Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation ($197,000 awarded in 2023)

Geographic Scope: All 18 counties within the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area

Partners:

  • Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area (AFNHA)

  • Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College (Eastern)
  • Purpose: Enhance cultural heritage, natural, and human assets to grow tourism and benefit rural communities through regional collaboration

    Program Components:

  • Monthly networking meetings for tourism-related organizations

  • Training events and workshops

  • Annual Tourism Summit

  • Focus on identifying and developing best practices for regional attractions

  • Promotion of AFNHA as a wider tourist destination
  • Meeting Schedule: 4th Thursday of every month at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom

    Audience: County tourism leaders, local businesses, and tourism organizations

    Background: Initially supported by a major Benedum Foundation grant in 2021, this program expanded the Potomac Highlands Creative Economy group to include all 18 AFNHA counties to grow partnerships and networking opportunities

    Contact:

  • Address: PO Box 1206, Elkins, WV 26241

  • Phone: (304) 636-6182

  • Email: afnha@afnha.org
  • Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    travel-tourismcommunity-developmentarts

    Categories

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