Author: Holly Sawyer

Our “Placemaker Series”

The Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) happened because of people.  People that had a vision and wanted to ride it.  People that went about the job of building it.  People that promoted it and those that are maximizing the GAP’s economic potential. The story of the GAP’s success is captured by what these “Placemakers” now have to say or have written.  … Continue reading

A congratulatory note from The President & CEO

The Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy (formally the Allegheny Trail Alliance) and Fourth Economy (an economic development consulting firm) deserve a standing ovation for their just released Economic Impact Report on the Great Allegheny Passage. If you are interested in outdoor recreation, environmentally sustainable development and Trail Towns, I suggest you dig into their Impact Report.  I have seen thousands of … Continue reading

2021 GAP Annual Economic Impact Report

The Progress Fund is pleased to share the most recent study on economic impact along the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP). According to Bryan Perry of Fourth Economy, “Tourism along the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage drove over $121 million in economic impact in 2019, according to a year-long analysis by Pittsburgh-based consulting firm Fourth Economy released on November 30, 2021. Fourth Economy conducted 64 interviews … Continue reading

Passing the baton

PART SIX: Our entrepreneurial summer series has taken us to B&Bs, distilleries, trails, docks, restaurants, climbing gyms and ice cream shops. If you’re pumped to take on your own business, then we’re thrilled. If, on the other hand, we’ve got you pondering retirement, we get that, too. Either way, our sixth and final episode has exactly what you’re looking for. Read … Continue reading