America's Byways®
Bulletin

December 2007 / Vol. 4 No. 6

WHAT'S NEW

FY 2007 Grants Announced!

On December 6, 2007, the Federal Highway Administration announced awards under the National Scenic Byways Program for fiscal year 2007 as authorized in Section 1101(a)(12) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (SAFETEA-LU). A list of the 276 projects in 41 States that have been selected and the amounts funded for each project are available at http://www.bywaysonline.org/news/2007/549.

Commonly Made Mistakes When Applying for National Scenic Byways Program Grants

It's that time again! As you begin to think about your FY2008 grant submissions, we want to share with you some commonly made mistakes:

1. The project exhibits no clear relationship to the byway. Remember you're applying for National Scenic Byways Program (NSBP) funding, so establishing the project's relationship to the byway, its intrinsic qualities and describing how the project will enhance the byway traveler experience are all important to convey in your application. A project's proximity to the byway or its inclusion in the corridor management plan do not necessarily make it eligible for NSBP funding.

2. The funds requested are not proportionate to the benefit to byway travelers. Please keep in mind that FHWA expects an applicant advancing a project benefiting the general public to propose a larger share of non-byways funds.

3. We're increasingly seeing applications for visitor centers that do not include a clear breakdown of how the space will be used or by whom. If you are submitting an application for a visitor's center, please include the following:

• a site plan for the project
• a floor plan of the project with the proposed uses and dimensions clearly identified
• an explanation of how specific areas of the building will be used to directly serve and benefit byway visitors
• an explanation of how the proposed facility relates to other visitor facilities and interpretive sites either planned or existing on the byway
• a finance plan identifying proposed sources of funding needed to complete the project
• a budget that is proportionate to the benefit to byway travelers!

4. The submission of streetscaping and other projects that primarily benefit the local community. Please keep in mind that the following types of projects are not typically eligible for NSBP funds:

• streetscaping and local sidewalks
• routine road construction and maintenance
• routine landscaping, vegetation management and maintenance
• preserving a pool of possible properties, rather than a specific property

5. Non-compliance with the application submission process. To be considered for NSBP funding you must complete and electronically submit the SF-424 form on Grants.gov in addition to the normal bywaysonline.org application process. Hard copies of the SF-424 to FHWA Headquarters are not required.

6. Potential duplication of funding. It's important to let us know the status of a project when you submit an application for additional funds. If it is not clear how the project will create something new and different from similar projects previously funded, or enhance the work already completed, chances are the application will be determined to be ineligible.

7. Insufficient information. When completing both the work plan and matching funds sections of the application, please be sure to provide enough detail to support the activities outlined in your narrative and provide the reviewer with sufficient information to determine the eligibility of the costs outlined.

Stay tuned to http://www.bywaysonline.org for news about the FY 2008 National Scenic Byways Program grants cycle.

GREAT IDEAS

Ohio River Scenic Byway's Mural Project (IL)

On November 15, 2007, the Ohio River Scenic Byway in Illinois celebrated the dedication of six murals. Each one tells a different story. This project was funded through a 2005 National Scenic Byways Program grant. For more information on this great project, contact Melissa Hendricks, Illinois State Coordinator, at melissa.hendricks@illinois.gov.

Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway's Soap Box Derby (ND)

From Mary Lee Nielson, Marketing Coordinator for Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway:

"How much fun can you have on a byway? Ask Cassidy Fulton as she puts her head down and races to the finish line. Cassidy is one of eighty-one participants in the North Dakota Soap Box Derby held on the Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway in Valley City, ND."

Friends of A1A's Sand Dune Preservation (FL)

The Friends of A1A did their part to preserve their beloved sand dunes. Bernie Gay organized two days of support from volunteers helping to preserve the dunes at Vilano Beach. Friends of A1A encourage partnership with local Recreation & Parks to preserve their intrinsic resources. Local coverage of this effort can be found here.

Creole Nature Trail's Gingerbread House Contest (LA)

The annual Gingerbread House Contest winners were announced at the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau's Welcome Center. The contest, held in conjunction with the annual Southwest Louisiana Christmas Lighting Festival, features awards in different categories including amateur, school groups, and professional bakers.

Judging divisions included Pre-School, Children, Middle School, Teen, Amateur Adult, and Professional. The Best of Show went to Blanche and Amy Richard's large gingerbread rendition of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in downtown Lake Charles, complete with candied stained glass windows, a bell tower, and Christmas lights.

For more information, contact the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau at (337) 436-9588 or visit www.visitlakecharles.org.

ON THE WEB

TravelOregon.com Launches New Tourism and Hospitality Blog/Newsletter

Travel Oregon unveiled its newly created Tourism & Hospitality blog: http://blog.traveloregon.com/Industry/. Each month, blog entries will be compiled into a newsletter format and e-mailed to industry members. Information on byways can be seen in this month’s blog/newsletter.

Idahobyways.gov Gets Kudos from U.K. Web Visitors

Garry Young, Idaho State Byways Coordinator, received a piece of fan mail from across the Atlantic:

"The Idaho's Scenic Byways website http://www.idahobyways.gov is simply awesome. Thank you and your team so much for all your hard work. It is absolutely amazing. We are speechless at how comprehensive and informative your information is. It's a most appreciated resource. We can't thank you enough! We are from England, and we are planning a month long family vacation this December. Your website has made our planning task a million times easier. We will surely tell all our friends just how well Idaho really has got its act together online. We can't wait to see it in real life!"

To see for yourself what made this U.K. family a fan, visit http://www.idahobyways.gov.

A Friendly Reminder

It's almost the New Year! Don't forget to check your byway's contact information on bywaysonline.org and byways.org to make sure it is up-to-date! Changes can be sent to Jessica Dungan at jdungan@byways.org or Angel Crane at angel@byways.org.

NEWS BRIEFS

America's Byways Represented at World Travel Market

The America 's Byways® community was represented internationally at the World Travel Market Trade Show (WTM) held November 10-13, 2007 in London. Teresa Mitchell, New York's Seaway Trail, and Laurie Frantz, New Mexico Tourism, were promoting the byways from their booths. The global travel industry business-to-business exhibition is staged annually to meet, network, negotiate, conduct business and stay abreast with the latest developments in the travel industry. For more information on WTM, visit http://www.wtmlondon.com.

Agreement Opens the US Door for Chinese Tourists

The US Department of Commerce Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI) announced that Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will bring more customers to the U.S. tourism industry by facilitating group leisure travel from China to the United States and permitting United States destinations to market themselves in China. The agreement is expected to be implemented in the spring of 2008.

Chinese visitation is forecasted to reach 579,000 Chinese travelers to the U.S. by 2011, which will increase tourism related exports. On average, Chinese citizens spend more during their stay than visitors from other countries. In 2006, average per visitor spending by Chinese citizens traveling to the United States was more than $6,000.

To learn more about the US-China Tourism MOU, please go to: http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/pdf/MOU.pdf

If you would like to view OTTI's market profile on China, please go to: http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/cat/documents/2006_China(PRC).pdf

FROM THE ROADS

New Kiosks for Lincoln Highway (IL)

Diane Rossiter, Associate Director for the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition writes, "We have a new exhibit that was just installed on October 3, 2007 at the Phillips Park Visitor Center in Aurora, Illinois. This exhibit is a 3-sided kiosk that tells the story of Lincoln Highway and houses a computer. The computer screen is always set to our website so that visitors can browse through it. This exhibit also allows the visitor an opportunity to send 'E-Postcards' with pictures of locations along the Illinois Lincoln Highway and/or send their travel stories to us for posting on our website. The official unveiling has not been scheduled, but will take place soon."

For more information on Lincoln Highway, visit http://www.drivelincolnhighway.com.

Before and After Pictures from Lake Champlain Byway (VT)

It's great to hear from the byways about the projects they've completed, especially when it involves FHWA-NSBP grant funding. Check out these before and after pictures from Vergennes, Vermont along the Lake Champlain Byway.

Vermont State Byways Coordinator John LaBarge wrote:

"Attached you will find some before and after photos of a project along the Lake Champlain Byway that was in part funded through the National Scenic Byways Program. This project is in the heart of Vermont 's smallest city, Vergennes, Vermont. Something like this means a great deal to a small community."

America's Byways Logo Featured on New Signs: Santa Fe Trail (NM), Flint Hills Scenic Byway (KS), Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway (CO)

It is always nice to see the America's Byways Logo in action. Here are some pictures of new signs along Santa Fe Trail in New Mexico, Flint Hills Scenic Byway in Kansas, and the Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway in Colorado.

Happy Holidays from Stevens Pass Greenway (WA)

In the spirit of the holiday season, here is a picture from Leavenworth, Washington - located near Stevens Pass Greenway. On November 29th, host Sam Champion from Good Morning America came to film Leavenworth's Christmas Lighting Ceremony. In the true spirit of the town, the shop owners arrived at 2:00 am to practice "lighting their shops," the choirs and dancers arrived at 2:30, and the community and visitors came at 3:00 to practice for the live feed. At 4:00 am, over 1,000 people filled the streets for the live feed to New York City. Leavenworth was selected as one of only 5 towns to be featured in the "Light Up The Holidays Special."

Happy holidays to all from the National Scenic Byways Program!

Got news?

As always, we look forward to hearing the latest and greatest news from you! If you've got a great picture or some exciting stories and ideas from your byway, let us know by e-mailing pmcnally@byways.org or jdungan@byways.org!