Opportunities

5.3 FUNDING

OPPORTUNITIES

The Marion Peavine Rail Trail recommendations focus on improvements to an existing rail trail and development of an extension to the trail along the abandoned railroad corridor. The trail represents a feasible recreation, health, and tourism project for the City of Marion.

Many federal, state, and foundation grants and funding sources have a recreation or health focus (See Exhibit 16: Grant Funding Opportunities, page right). The City should develop a grant procurement strategy that leverages grants “against each other” to minimize the amount of matching funding contributed from local dollars. The City may appropriate funding from the City budget and request funding from McDowell County Tourism Development Authority occupancy tax revenues to supplement project funding.