Creating Scenic Byway Sustainability

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Creating Scenic Byway Sustainability

• The New York States Seaway Trail
  Model

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NYS Seaway Trail

• 454 miles long - parallel St Lawrence River, Lake
  Ontario, Niagara River, Lake Erie
• Designated a National Scenic Byway - 1996
• Connects to Seaway Trail Pennsylvania
• Administered by not-for-profit Incorporation
  since 1978

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Seaway Trail, Inc.

• Trailblazer signs began in 1978
• Staff range 3-8 people
• State funding 192-500,000
• 501-c-6 organized in 1986 (Incorporation)
• 50l-c-3 organized in l996 (Foundation)

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Factors Influencing Potential

• Location length
• Resource themes
• Membership
• Corporate Sponsors
• Media Opportunities
• Partnership Development

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Incorporation Organization
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Incorporation 501-c-6 Sources

• Business Memberships
• Advertising sales
• Guidebook sales
• Gift Shop sales
• Corporate Foundation Grants
• Federal State grants

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Incorporation 501-c-3 Sources

• Special Events-golf tournament
• Friends Group - Leave a Legacy
• Corporate Memberships Gifts
• Interpretive Center Admissions
• Elderhostel

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Seaway Trail Elderhostel Themes
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Communication Timing is Everything

• Newsletter
• Press releases
• Presentations to service groups
• Sales/Opinion Calls
• Regular Meetings
• Dedications
• Recognition

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Build Partnership

• Colleges Universities
• Planning Organizations
• Tourism Organizations
• Special Interest Groups

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Seaway Trail Discovery Center
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Orientation Room

• Year round admissions include commissionable,
  group, military, senior citizen, child fly
  drive
• Visitors sit in a car to learn about byway
• sell space to community participants

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Recreation Nature

• Highlights recreational activities on Seaway
  Trail and gives national byways opportunities
• Natural area is a dune walkover showcasing sand
  dunes, wetlands woodland areas
• increases visitation, membership synergism

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Architecture Culture

• Architectural styles - Bank sponsor Mortgages
  line of home equity
• Cultural exhibits encourage visits to museums
  Historic sites - measurable visits, admissions

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Agriculture

• The rural road side stand flavor is shown in a
  Martha Stewart style - buy products, membership
• The cow tells visitors about dairy farming - a
  good sponsor opportunity

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Maritime History

• A video of lighthouses will be shown sold,
  encouraging visits to trail lighthouses
• War of 1812 is the historic theme - follow signs
  marking locations of battles along 454 mile route
• event development Lighthouse, War of 1812

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Discovery Center - Gift Shop

• Consumers shop when they travel
• Seaway Trail,Inc. Product Line
• Carry items from members
• Standard markup is double cost