America's BywaysThe National Scenic Byways Program team has been busy working on the 2004 and 2005 grants and nominations. 2004 grants totaling $23.8M for 169 projects have been awarded, and the 2005 grant application has been updated and streamlined. Over 100 grant applications are in the works on www.bywaysonline.org, so many of the byways are already making lists and checking them twice!
The 2005 Nomination process has begun. Nomination Worksheets are available on www.bywaysonline.org, and the 2005 Nominations Guide will be posted soon if you haven't already received it from your State Scenic Byways Coordinator. Representatives from the America's Byways Resource Center, FHWA and National Scenic Byways Online are working together on this project. We anticipate our "America's Byways collection of distinct and diverse roads designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation" will grow in 2005. That means expanded information on our www.byways.org traveler Web site, and more destinations, photos and stories for our media friends to write about!
With the new grant and nominations cycles upon us, don't forget to check www.bywaysonline.org frequently. We use the Web site as our primary way of doing business and an important communications link to you!
The 2005 National Scenic Byways Program grant applications are due to the
FHWA February 28, 2005 so that means that they must be submitted to your
State Scenic Byways Coordinator even sooner. Some are due in mid December
2004, so talk to your coordinator today!
Find their e-mail and phone numbers.
Eligible projects that were not funded in 2004 can be resubmitted for consideration in 2005. FHWA will streamline the review of these projects as long as the work plan and budget are updated and there are no major changes to the proposed project's scope of work. Enter the online application at http://www.bywaysonline.org/grants/application/, select "Create Application," and then select "Resubmit an eligible, unfunded FY 2004 application." Scroll through the list of projects to find yours. (Note: The title might have changed to better reflect the byway name and the project description.) This will generate a resubmission request. You will be notified via e-mail once this has been processed.
When you open the previously submitted project you'll find that most of the application has been transferred into the new application format. You will have to update the project location, work plan, and budget. Don't forget to address any questions that were asked in the project feedback you received.
If you have any questions about the information you need to include in your resubmitted application, please contact your State Scenic Byways Coordinator or National Scenic Byways Program staff members Dennis Adams (1-800-429-9297 option 3, #1) or Bethaney Bacher (1-800-429-9297 option 3, #4).
Once a month, the five byways in Illinois hold a conference call with State Scenic Byways Coordinator Melissa Hendricks and representatives from the Illinois tourism agency at the Department of Commerce and Economic Development to share information and ideas. These calls encourage and maintain communication, and it is also a great way for the state to integrate byway messages and activities into their work.
The Scenic Byways monthly stories in the New Mexico Magazine, a collaborative project by PR&M, NMDOT Scenic Byways coordinator Laurie Evans Frantz and state Tourism, won two national awards. The "Best Feature Writing" award went to Laurie Evans Frantz, and "Best In-House Photo" went to Martin Perea.
Utah's scenic byways have attained true celebrity status - their glamour
shots adorn the state's official 12-month promotional calendar!
For 37 years, it has been one of the most popular calendars sold in local bookstores and gift shops. Each year the calendar takes on a different theme, and for 2005 the state's scenic byways were the overwhelming choice of editors at the Utah Travel Council. "Our photographers were delighted with the assignment," says Photo Editor Janice Carpenter. "The beauty and solitude of the byways are perfect photographic subjects."
Each month features a different byway, complete with full-color photo, descriptive text and map. Utah's six nationally-designated byways are included, but there were difficult choices in deciding which roads had to be left out. As the calendar's cover copy says, "Utah's Byway Program names 28 of our roads as 'officially scenic.' Perhaps a strange way to segment beauty, but nonetheless an attempt to show drivers the most beautiful and educational ways to get from here to there."
For information on Utah's Scenic Byway Program or the state's official scenic calendar, contact Margaret Godfrey, Utah Byway Coordinator, at 801-538-1479 or msgodfrey@utah.gov.
Please let Patricia McNally know if you will be at TIA's International PowWow exhibiting with your state or CVB. Anyone interested in sharing a slot in the America's Byways booth for a fee, please contact pmcnally@byways.org.
Applications are being accepted now for Federal Save America's Treasures grants. Grants are available for preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts and collections and on nationally significant historic properties. Information is available at http://www.saveamericastreasures.org/funding.htm. However, grants cannot be awarded unless funds are appropriated for the Department of the Interior.
Do you have news or ideas to share with the Byway community? Contact us!
