Heritage Tourism Experts and Projects Honored at the Fourth Annual "DO 6" Awards Program

 

The PA Route 6 Alliance recognized several outstanding efforts and individuals that have given new meaning to the slogan "DO 6" at their annual meeting and awards program on Thursday, May 8 at the Coudersport Golf Club. Individuals and organizations from across Route 6 were honored.

"Each person or project was chosen for their dedication to heritage tourism development," said PA Route 6 Alliance Executive Director Terri Dennison. "These individuals, organizations, businesses and corporations exemplify the mission of the PA Route 6 Alliance to protect and preserve the scenic, cultural, historical and recreational resources in the northern tier." 

 

 

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MAY 30TH

 

Why should Route 6 in Pennsylvania become a Byway? What does it mean for local businesses and communities?

Our hope is that by becoming a Pennsylvania Byway and eventually a National Scenic Byway, our local towns and small businesses will see economic prosperity through increased spending, influx of non-local dollars and opportunities for employment.

In 2008, PA Route 6 was part of an economic impact study for National and State Heritage Areas. The study showed that 350,000 people travel Route 6 each year, spending about 90.3 million dollars and supporting a little over 2,000 jobs.

In comparison, some of our competitors who have achieved Byway status see more impressive numbers:

-Blue Ridge Parkway, a byway running through 29 counties in Virginia and North Carolina sees $1.5 billion in sales, supporting 9,300 jobs with labor earnings of $271.7 milli on

- Journey through Hallowed Ground, a byway running through 15 counties in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia, sees $1.06 billion in sales, supporting 6,500 jobs with labor earnings of $165.1 million.

(source: America's Byway Resource Center, 2012)

You can read more about the economic impact to local communities in an article from Public Roads Magazine, January/February 2013 at http://www.paroute6.com/byway_designation.

A strong economy is just one of the benefits of being a Byway, the designation can also be a tool for local communities to control the look and feel of their hometowns - more on this next month. 

AMERICAN ROADS MAGAZINE RESULTS

Every year, PA Route 6 advertises in at least 3 of the 4 issues of American Road. The readers of this magazine are road-trip enthusiasts and take more driving vacation than the average American. In 2013, our advertising program with them resulted in 13,831 click through from their website to our partners, 6,776 downloads of the Route 6 itineraries, and 4,231 write-in requests for the Route 6 brochure. It is estimated that this advertising campaign generated revenue of $81,528.25 across the highway.