The Tennessee RiverLine, a sweeping project that has aimed to knit together communities along the 652-mile Tennessee River through outdoor recreation, has secured a hefty boost with a $500,000 planning grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). The grant, as part of an overall $1 million investment with matched local funds, is set to expand the project's outreach and impact, particularly in 15 Appalachian communities in Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. The initiative is deeply woven into the ARC's Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE).
This cash infusion is expected to not only embellish the so-called RiverTowns Program, which focuses on making outdoor experiences like paddling and hiking a pathway to personal and community well-being, but also to fully, albeit subtly, forge ahead in making the Tennessee River a hub for economic robustness and communal health. "This investment helps us accelerate our vision, expand partnerships and prepare to deliver measurable impact for the region and beyond," Brad Collett, the executive director of the Tennessee RiverLine, told UTIA News.
The strategic plan for 2025–2027 outlined by the Tennessee RiverLine includes a quartet of main aims: optimizing operations and impact of the RiverTowns Program, planning for eco- and heritage-tourism amenities, gearing up priority recreation projects for actualization, and gathering stakeholders for a shared learning journey. These objectives are to be met through the corridors of partnership with various local leaders, tourism boards, economic agencies, and non-profits, all of whom share in the Tennessee RiverLine's vision.
An economic study conducted in 2022 projected that an uptick in outdoor recreation along the RiverLine could potentially lead to a $104 million increase in spending, with an associated impact on employment and personal income. With new grant funding, updated economic analyses are in the pipeline to further refine and possibly expand these predictions. "We’re proud to partner with ARC and project collaborators to continue building a model for asset-based regional vitality that communities across Appalachia and beyond can learn from," Collett added, signaling a robust commitment to regional development.
The Tennessee RiverLine emerges from the collaborative spirit of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and local institutions, including UT Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley Authority, among others. Its sprawling vision encompasses a massive 1.2-million-acre river park, poised to bridge not only the literal banks of the Tennessee River but also the lives of those who call its corridor home. The underlying goal remains to offer real solutions that resonate well beyond the river’s banks and well into the fabric of communities in Appalachia.
