Good news, Great River Road friends!

There’s a lot to celebrate along the Great River Road this month!

First, some fantastic news: FHWA announced the latest National Scenic Byways Program grant awards, and the Great River Road received a grant for our 10-state project!

The grant will support the development of a new 10-state Great River Road website and app, a major step forward in connecting travelers with the Great River Road as one continuous, iconic national experience.

A special thank you to the Tennessee Department of Transportation for serving as the applicant on behalf of all 10 Great River Road states and helping make this opportunity possible. And thank you to everyone across the MRPC who supported the application by reviewing drafts, providing input, submitting letters of support and helping shape the project, which was initially submitted in December 2024. This was truly a collaborative 10-state effort, and it’s exciting to see that work rewarded.

Congratulations as well to the Wisconsin Great River Road, which received a grant for digital media marketing. You can see the full list of awards here: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/scenic_byways/grants/2024_awards/

And the timing couldn’t be better as we prepare to gather in West Memphis for the National Scenic Byways Conference on October 6–8. We now have 29 states registered, bringing together Great River Road representatives and byway leaders from across the country.

If you’ve been thinking about attending, this is your last chance to join us. I still have a few hotel rooms available, so please contact me as soon as possible if you’d like to be part of the celebration, conversations, and excitement.

Finally, Happy Drive the Great River Road Month! And don’t forget that September 22 is National Scenic Byway Day. This year’s celebration is especially meaningful as 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Numbered Highway System, another great reason to celebrate the roads, communities, and experiences that connect us.

There is a lot of momentum around scenic byways right now, and it’s exciting to see the Great River Road right in the middle of it.

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