Getting an Appalachian Trail license plate onto Tennessee cars has been an ongoing effort (we wrote about it 2008), but this year the Appalachian Trail Conservancy appears to be well on its way to getting the job done.
The state requires 1,000 applications (by a June deadline) before it'll produce the specialty plates, which will cost drivers $35 each. Right now, the ATC has collected over 700 applications. As incentive, a grant from the Eastman Chemical Company Foundation reduces the cost for 500 applicants to $15. The ATC is also kicking in a one-year membership to the non-profit (a $35 value).
So if you love hiking the AT (or love having that logo on your car), now's the time to pony up--each plate generates over $15 for the Conservancy, which manages trail programs. Go to appalachiantrail.org/tnlicenseplate for more info.
Full press release after the jump.
Appalachian Trail Conservancy Tennessee A.T. License Plates Provide Funding for Conservation Efforts
(KINGSPORT, Tenn., February 2, 2010) - The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is offering Appalachian Trail specialty license plates to Tennessee residents. The specialty plates will benefit the state's natural treasure in several ways. Funds from sales of the specialty plates will broaden awareness for this resource by widely promoting the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) on vehicles from Memphis to Bristol. In addition, each plate will generate $15.56 annually for the Conservancy, supporting management of such programs as land conservation, volunteer-based trail and facilities maintenance, natural-resources management, and programs that introduce children and teachers to the A. T. in Tennessee.
Once 1,000 applications are received and the state begins producing tags, Appalachian Trail Conservancy's share of the renewal fees will serve as a permanent funding source for the organization's work to protect and maintain the 280 miles of the Appalachian Trail in the state.
A grant from the Eastman Chemical Company Foundation is allowing the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) to offer reduced prices for 500 people that apply for an Appalachian Trail license plate in Tennessee.
As a result of the grant, the A.T. license plates are now available for $15 instead of the usual $35 annual fee. Renewals will be at the standard $35 annual fee.
ATC is offering its own incentive as well, thanking people who sign up for the license plate with a one-time annual membership to the national nonprofit. Existing ATC members may give someone else the membership as a gift.
The Tennessee State Recreation Plan calls the A.T. "Tennessee's First Recreation Trail," and the A.T. frequently receives accolades, such as "#2 of Top 10 USA Outdoor Adventures" (ABC's "Good Morning, America" and National Geographic) and "Favorite Long Distance Trail" (by the readers of Backpacker magazine).
For more information and an application to take advantage of this offer, call ATC at (828) 254-3708 or go on line to www.appalachiantrail.org/tnlicenseplate.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to the preservation and management of the natural, scenic, historic, and cultural resources associated with the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in order to provide primitive outdoor-recreation and educational opportunities for Trail visitors.
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