If you love the scenic views and easy driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway — not to mention all the moolah it spreads through surrounding communities — you’ll be happy to hear that nearly $1,000,000 in funding has been secured for the corridor’s future.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has received $911,117 in grant money to bolster its economic development planning in the NC + VA communities that make up the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor.

With a $517,924 grant for North Carolina and a $393,193 grant for Virginia, leaders from counties in the corridor will be tasked with strategizing ways to increase the economic impact of tourism, recreation, and however else Blue Ridge travelers like to spend their money.

Fast 💰 facts about the corridor

There are 29 counties in the corridor (17 in NC + 12 in VA), mostly rural communities who see economic benefits from Parkway travelers.
In 2020, 14 million people visited the Parkway. How did they spend their money? They spent $468 million on lodging, $227 million on restaurants, and $118 million on gas.
Since 2017, Parkway spending has reached $1 billion or more annually.

Read more about the foundation’s grant. Want to get involved yourself? Donate or volunteer, or of course, plan a trip along the Parkway’s corridor (and don’t forget to bring your wallet).