Creating A Powerful Scenic Highway Coalition

1. Creating A Powerful Scenic Highway Coalition Jim Egan, Executive Director Indian River Lagoon Scenic Highway Coalition

2. In 1999 community members met to form a scenic highway advocacy group for the Indian River Lagoon Scenic Highway. One year later the Scenic Highway was designated. Lessons Learned: Coordinating two Counties and fifteen cities is not easy, but it still does not give you a strong coalition. Meeting the requirements of the Florida Scenic Highway Program and later the National Scenic Byway Program is not easy, but it still does not necessarily give you a strong coalition, though it does help.

3. So you got the signs, what is next? Sadly many coalitions lose steam once the immediate goal of designation is achieved.

4. So What Gives You A Strong Coalition? Whether in business, government, or the local community, if there are no projects, no action, the interest soon fades.

5. Corridor Management Plans - more than just a chore! Corridor Management Plans should specifically highlight exciting projects that would enhance or preserve Intrinsic Resources and enhance the experience of the traveler to the Scenic Highway. Instead of collecting dust, the Plan becomes a blueprint for future projects and helps leverage the funding necessary make those projects happen.

6. Historic Melbourne Beach Pier, one of several million dollar historic restorations on the Scenic H.W. done through grants Tourist interests are not the only partners out there, historical societies make great partners. Historical restoration and historical education grants gain points for greater exposure and better public access if they are on a scenic highway.

7. Native plantings at the entrance into Palm Bay, part of a $375,000 DOT-funded beautification project. Local Chapters of the Florida Native Plant Society are great partners in native beautification efforts and FLDOT is a great source of funds. Beautification Grants submitted by the coalition ranked very high because they were seen as being a regional effort as opposed to just a local effort by a single city.

8. Land acquisition grants gain points for sites along scenic highways. A Corridor Management Plan that covers efforts to preserve natural resources or remove invasive species demonstrate the need and prior commitment when seeking grant funding. Corridor Management Entities provide support letters and partnerships that demonstrate broad support and can be sponsors of Management Plans specific to intrinsic resources.

9. A Welcome Center provides a focal point for corridor events and education activities, ours also houses the Marine Resources Council, a conservation group that is active in natural resources restoration along the corridor and pays for the day to day operations of the center. The Lagoon House - Welcome Center for the Indian River Lagoon Scenic Highway

10. In the end, education is essential - The more groups you can educate about the practical benefits of Scenic Highway designation, the broader your coalition and the greater the opportunities for people to get involved

11. Possible Funding Sources • National Scenic Byway Program • FL DEP Recreational Trails Program • FL DEP Invasive Plant Management • Community-Based habitat restoration Fish America Foundation / NOAA • Florida Communities Trust • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Native Plant Conservation • FL DEP: Florida Coastal Management Program

12. Florida DEP Recreational Trails Program • Proposals due March 15th 2008 • Eligibility: Local Governments, state or federal agencies, organizations approved by the state • Funding: $ 200,000 Per project non-motorized, $200,000 for mixed use projects $510,000 for motorized projects • 50% match required • Projects funded: Recreational Trail creation or maintenance • Contact: alexandra.weiss@dep.state.fl.us

13. Florida DEP Invasive Management Program • Proposals due early 2008 • Eligibility: Local Governments • Funding: Typically less than $100,000 per project • Projects funded: Invasive Removal • Contact: keith.fisher@dep.state.fl.us

14. Florida Communities Trust • Proposals due May 2008 • Eligibility: Local Governments and Non-Profits • Funding: $6.6 million per applicant • Requires 25% match for local government • Projects funded: Recreational or Environmentally sensitive land acquisition • Contact: http://www.floridacommunitydevelopment.org/fct/

15. Community-Based habitat restoration projects FishAmerica Foundation & NOAA Restoration Center • Proposals due early February 2008 • Eligibility: Non-Profits, Local and State Governments • 50% match required • Funding: Between $5,000 and $50,000 • Projects funded: Fish Habitat Restoration, Shoreline Restoration, Mangrove Planting. • Contact: fishamerica@asafishing.org, 703-519-9691

16. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Native Plant Conservation Agency • pre-Proposals due February 15th 2008 • Eligibility: Non-Profits, Local, State, or Federal agencies • Funding: Between $10,000 and $50,000 • 50% match required • Projects funded: Restoration or Protection of Native Plant Communities • Contact: Ellen.Gabel@nfwf.org

17. FL DEP Florida Coastal Management Program • Proposals due Nov. 2008 • Eligibility: Non-Profits, Local, State, or Federal agencies • 50% Match required • Funding: Between $15,000 and $50,000 • Projects funded: designating and protecting cultural, historic and ecological sites, Shoreline Restoration, Land Acquisition, Coordination Activities, Increasing Public assess to water • Contact: Dornecia.Allen@dep.state.fl.us

18. National Scenic Byway Program • Requires: 20% match • Must be consistent with • Corridor Management Plan • 18 million in funds expected to be available • Priority projects that fill a critical need • Construction projects “ready to go” • For more info: www.bywaysonline.org/resources

19. National Scenic Byway Projects Funded • Byway Economic Impacts and seed grants • Identifying and planning tourist amenities • Workshops, interpretive and marketing plans • Implement projects associated with Scenic Byway • Update a corridor management plan • Safety improvements for access to interpretive site • Facilities identified in the corridor management plan • Enhancing or preserving intrinsic resources identified in the corridor management plan