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Yamaha Corporation gifted the county’s adventure tourism organization with approximately $30,400. This amount is the largest corporate grant ever to be issued in the state of Kentucky and Grace admits it is also an amount that surpasses his annual earnings.
“I hope this more clearly justifies Jon’s presence and his position here in Bell County,” stated County Judge Executive Albey Brock. “In seven months of employment, he has generated a corporate grant worth more than his salary.”
Grace and Brock are both extremely excited about the Yamaha grant and about what the grant means for the area and adventure tourism. Collectively, they said that without this funding, they would be unable to make many of the planned enhancements to the 9,000 plus acres of Wilderness Trails Offroad Park located along Mountain Drive in Bell County.
Wilderness Trail Offroad Park is a path often traveled by Grace and a group of ATV riders known as the “Bell County Holler Crawlers.” But you do not have to be a member of the Holler Crawlers to access the miles of beautiful mountain trails. The park is freely accessible to the community and is designated to promote the county’s adventure tourism. Adventure tourism is associated with several outdoor activities such as ATV riding, horseback riding, biking, hiking, etc.
“A lot of people don’t know what adventure tourism is all about. It’s pretty much anything you can do outdoors,” said Grace. “Locals can go anywhere in the park,” he continued, “the community has the same access to these trails as we [Holler Crawlers] do. We simply ask that they respect the property.”
Each dollar of the Yamaha grant money is budgeted toward a specific project; projects that will enhance the Wilderness Trails Offroad Park. Currently, there are plans to add rain sheds, grills, restroom areas, campsites and clear over crowded trails for easier access along the park properties.
“I think it’s great that Frankfort cuts the county’s budget and Jon grabs a grant like this to improve our community,” said Judge Brock. He went on to say that it is sometimes difficult explaining Grace’s contributions to this community because it is not easily labeled with a set number of jobs or a set number of dollars.
“We want to bring the community together. Bell County has a number of people who enjoy trail sports of all kinds; we feel we can improve the dynamic of our community by giving people something to unite behind,” said Grace.
Grace began his position less than one year ago, his goals are to promote adventure tourism across the county and show the community the potential of adventure tourism in Bell County. Grace encourages anyone with an idea to contact him. He can be reached via e-mail at jongrace@bcje.com or by calling (606) 302-1943.
The community is also welcome to attend the Bell County Holler Crawlers meetings. They are held the second Tuesday of each month, at 6 p.m. on the third floor of the courthouse in Pineville.
“I’d just like to express the utmost gratitude to Yamaha, the judge, magistrates and fiscal court for allowing me to do what I love for a living,” said Grace. “I’m grateful that they all believe in this park and promoting adventure tourism in Bell County.”
Sarah Miracle is a staff writer for the Daily News. She can be reached via e-mail at smiracle@middlesborodailynews.com.
Above: The Bell County Adventure Tourism Organization recently received over $30,000 in grant money from the Yamaha Corporation. The funding is meant to accommodate the development, additions and improvement of adventure tourism in Bell County. Pictured left to right are: Middlesboro Yamaha associates Scott Bailey, Bo Jenkins, Michael Hawk, Lonnie Partin, Adventure Tourism Director Jon Grace, Magistrates Junior Maiden and Coy Silcox, associate Chris Webb and Bell County Judge Executive Albey Brock at the Yamaha Shop in Middlesboro. (SARAH MIRACLE/ Middlesboro Daily News)
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