Towns neighboring national forests in Southwest Virginia may soon experience a economic boost as a result of some federal stimulus funding that will be used to make enhances and repairs to trails and bridges in the area, according to the Roanoke Times. The federal funding represents more than three times the annual budget for maintaining these trails and bridges, which will allow the Forest Service to make the trails more accessible to residents and tourists. Homeowners in the area can look forward to enjoying the trail and bridge improvements themselves, and also reap the benefits of increased tourism.

"Hiking trails in Southwest Virginia will benefit from almost $3.3 million in maintenance and reconstruction money thanks to the federal stimulus package, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The grants represent more than three times the annual budget for maintaining the region's trails and bridges, said Ted Coffman, recreation staff officer for the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.

'Our normal trail budget for this forest is around $1 million per year,' he said. 'We manage over 2,000 miles of trails and we have about 375 miles of the Appalachian Trail.'

In a list of projects released Tuesday, the Forest Service said it would send $1.9 million of that money for general trail maintenance and bridge repair in the national forests' 36 counties. Trails will be cleared and get new culverts, and trail heads will get new gravel. The Forest Service, working with local volunteer groups, will also barricade shortcuts blazed by users and demolish condemned structures along the trails."

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