As more federal funding becomes available for local communities, Whitfield County prepares for the future by building capacity.
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $434,131 grant to Walker County to help fund a direct connection for pedestrians and cyclists between the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and downtown Chickamauga, known as the Chickamauga Battlefield Connector Trail.
The natural treasures of the tri-state invites talent from across the globe to stay and play
$30,000 has been awarded to Bradley County, Tennessee, as well as Walker and Whitfield counties in Georgia from Connect Humanity, a nonprofit impact fund, to participate in the Appalachian Digital Accelerator, an initiative that supports communities as they create custom connectivity plan.
The funding is a direct outcome of Emma Wheelers Homes’s participation in the Resilient Communities pilot program, designed by Thrive Regional Partnership and Open Space Institute to engage residents in building nature-based solutions that address environmental challenges and enhance quality of life, especially in underserved areas.
Russell Cave, carved by underground erosion through a layer of limestone, is considered the oldest rock shelter regularly inhabited in the eastern U.S., and has provided evidence of human use over thousands of years, beginning with Paleolithic spear points used for hunting mastodons, sloths, and bison.
One of the South Cumberland region’s lesser-known outdoor recreation opportunities is Franklin State Forest, which straddles the border of Marion and Franklin Counties about 45 miles west of Chattanooga. Originally named Franklin-Marion State Forest, today it’s commonly referred to simply as Franklin Forest, and following a couple of additions in recent years, now covers around 8,800 acres.
