From Henderson to Transylvania County, the nearly 20-mile Ecusta Trail project has a lot of work that needs to be done.
Thankfully the partnering counties are getting a lot of help in the form of two grants totaling over $45 million.
The $24.5 million RAISE grant, along with a $21.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Program, were awarded to the project.
This money will go towards trail construction like gravel, cement, and signage. It will not include amenities such as benches and bathrooms. Those monies will be raised through the partnering non-profits.
The money from incoming grants will not only be a help to the trail itself but the overall economy, says N.C. Board of Transportation member Chuck McGrady
"It's amazing, also just how many businesses have sprung up around the trail," McGrady said. "Like the brewery here, Trailside and down the way here a little bit is Dry Falls, and you go all the way to Brevard, and you could probably do four or five breweries or cideries along the way."
McGrady also notes the number of people that have purchased houses along the trail as another factor in the potential economic boom.
What's next for the Ecusta Trail project is using the funds from previous grants to start on the first 6-mile section in Henderson County. That should begin in the next month or two.
STORY COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOShttps://wlos.com/news/local/ecusta-trail-project-grants-how-used-economy-business-henderson-transylvania-county#
