What’s happening: Wexford County is a premier destination for fans of off-road vehicles (ORVs) and the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau (CAVB) wants everyone to know it. Now, thanks to a significant grant from the USDA and additional funding from the CAVB itself, the visitors bureau is prepared to do just that. The CAVB has announced the launch of its Cadillac Area ORV Initiative, a $100,000 push to let riders know that Wexford County is worth the trip for year-round ORV recreation and fun.
What it is: The Cadillac Area ORV Initiative is a four-phase project that has already started and is estimated to wrap come summer 2023. Key elements include a comprehensive mapping of the county’s 120 miles of ORV trails, which covers 10 ORV trail systems and connects to hundreds of miles of neighboring trail networks, including the 1,200-mile Michigan Cross-Country Cycle Trail. Also planned are trail use education and safety programs; onsite wayfinding, signage, and informational kiosks; cooperative marketing plans with regional partners; and trail maintenance and stewardship programs with local nonprofits like nonprofits Tread Lightly! and Leave No Trace.
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HERE to learn more about the new initiative.
How they’re doing it: The CAVB has secured a $48,000 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development grant award toward their initiative, with the organization itself committing an additional $52,000 to bring the total project funding to $100,000.
Why it’s important: “Cadillac is a well-known destination in the winter for snowmobiling and downhill skiing and in the summer for recreation around our lakes, rivers and forests,” says Kathy Morin, executive director of the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau. “However, our ORV trails not only are used year-round, they fill an important recreation need in the spring and fall that don’t rely on perfect weather conditions. This federal grant allows us to get the word out about our premier ORV trails while helping drive tourism in the shoulder seasons.”
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