Economic Development Administration Grant Awarded To Build RV Campground

The RV Industry Association's government affairs team has been actively working with the Economic Development Administration to fund campground development and opportunities for outdoor recreation. A recently announced project, which will create an RV campground near the wildlife conservation center in Muskingum County, OH, is expected to create more job opportunities and generate private investment. The government affairs team looks forward to working more with the Economic Development Administration as it continues to advocate for the RV industry. 

The U.S. Secretary of Commerce announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million grant to The Wilds, Cumberland, Ohio, to build a 60-acre RV campground at the wildlife conservation center in Muskingum County, Ohio. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan.

This grant will help attract tourists to 10,000-acre park, which is located on reclaimed coal mine land along the Appalachian Byway. The EDA investment will be matched with $700,000 in local funds and is expected to create 100 jobs, retain 25 jobs and generate $500,000 in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“President Biden’s American Rescue Plan delivers federal resources to communities to ensure our nation not only recovers from the pandemic, but builds a better America,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment in The Wilds will boost tourism and outdoor recreation at the animal safari park, as well as other local tourist destinations in eastern Ohio, and help bring back jobs to the region.”

Read the full article from WHIZ News here.