HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 82

(By Delegates Gearheart, Shott, Ellington and Paynter)

[Introduced February 20, 2018; Referred to the Committee on Roads and Transportation then Rules]

Designating Mercer County, McDowell County, Mingo County, Logan County, Wyoming County, Lincoln County, Boone County and Wayne County as an ATV Recreation Area.

Whereas, Mercer County and McDowell County are the southern gateway to the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Trail Authority in West Virginia because of the Interstate 77, and Mingo County, Logan County, Wyoming County, Lincoln County, Boone County and Wayne Counties are the western gateway to the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Trail because of the Kentucky border; and

Whereas, The Mercer County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Hatfield-McCoy Convention and Visitors Bureau have entered into a partnership with the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Trail Authority to utilize an Appalachian Regional Commission federal POWER grant which will enhance marketing efforts for ATV tourism in the region; and

Whereas, Nearly 40,000 trail passes for the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Trail Authority were sold in 2016 to visitors from across the United States and Canada.  The Hatfield-McCoy Regional Trail Authority is a leading location for outdoor, off-road adventure in the Eastern United States and has built high name recognition among outdoor enthusiasts.  A recreation area designation will help market the area as a premier destination for outdoor riders from all over the county and help with marketing efforts by the state and local convention bureaus; and

Whereas, Hotel Occupancy Taxes are up 5.6 percent in 2016-2017 in Mercer County due to the opening of new lodging facilities and the higher occupancy rates at existing facilities.  The Mercer County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Hatfield-McCoy Convention and Visitors Bureau has built partnerships with entities such as county commissions, local Chambers of Commerce, and area municipalities in an effort to recognize ATV tourism as the leading tourism activity in the region, and seek to assist entrepreneurs establish businesses in these area, and diversify the local economy providing new business ventures for residents in the hospitality and tourism industry; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That Mercer County, McDowell County, Wyoming County, be designated as an ATV Recreational Area; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of Highways and the Executive Director of the West Virginia Tourism Office cause appropriate signage to be installed and maintained to properly designate the recreational area; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways and the Executive Director of the West Virginia Tourism Office.