Tourism Planning & Development for the Appalachian Regional Commission

Hargrove International, has worked with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) on various projects for the 13-state region since 2004. Our most relevant project includes researching a variety of Civil War stories from the ARC states spanning from New York to Mississippi as the foundation to write the region’s mapguide to commemorate the Civil War 150. Designed to encourage visitors to explore Appalachia to better understand the war and its impact on the region, the Mapguide was inserted into the April 2012 American Heritage magazine, distributed at state welcome centers, and promoted via the ARC website, www.visitappalachia.com. Other ARC projects include authoring and editing two mapguides (one on scenic drives) for ARC in partnership with National Geographic. Hargrove International has also conducted tourism development as part of the distressed counties assistance grants for the states of Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. The company also reviews grant applications (for its Power Initiative), wrote a “Asset-based Economic Development” case study document, and in 2004, facilitated the ARC’s Roadmap for Tourism and Craft as a strategic framework to guide activities for the organization’s 13-state Tourism Council.