NS Kicks-Off Appalachian Ohio’s Destination Assessment and Strategic Plan

We are pleased to announce that Neighborhood Strategies has been selected to lead Appalachian Ohio’s destination assessment and strategic planning process, in collaboration with Corridor Solutions, Heritage Tourism Studio, and Jennifer Aultman, who is representing the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. Funded through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s READY Grants to Grow Initiative, this effort will strengthen Appalachian Ohio’s role as a unifying leader in the region’s tourism and visitor economy.

This team brings together local insight, statewide leadership experience, and national best practices in heritage tourism and destination strategy. Together, the team will guide a comprehensive planning process that aligns organizational direction, strengthens partnerships, and builds operational capacity to support tourism as a long-term economic driver for the region.

The project will build on recent investments in downtown revitalization, outdoor recreation, placemaking, and cultural infrastructure across Appalachian Ohio’s 32-county region. By strengthening regional coordination, the effort will maximize the economic and community impact of the visitor economy.

We look forward to working with Appalachian Ohio and its partners to develop a strategy rooted in both a shared regional vision and on-the-ground realities, supporting long-term, sustainable growth.