US-23 Heritage Route Wins Big!

I am very happy to report that the US 23 Heritage Route has been awarded a grant from the National Scenic Byways program for $147,186!  The purpose of the grant is to develop an interpretive program including the following:

1. Complete the inventory of assets

2. Interpretive information development including identifying sites/stories, developing criteria for selection, gathering information and graphics, and website enhancement to present the interpretive information on the web.

3. Creation of a regional tourism map of the route showing interpretive info (includes printing)

4. Creation of a large tourism map for each county showing more detailed interpretive info (includes printing)

5. Creation of 4 large “themed maps” for the route showing themed interpretive info such as an “historic map”, a “ecotourism” map, etc. (includes printing)

6. Creation of a guidebook for the entire route (includes printing)

7. Creation of downloadable tours for the website.

US 23 was one of only 2 routes in Michigan to receive grant funding – the other being the Tahquamenon Scenic Heritage Route ($56,000 for a plan). The announcement is located at: http://www.bywaysonline.org/news/2011/2965