2/13/2014 - Yountville, CA --The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) and Visit Napa Valley (VNV) today announced they will each provide $2.5 million in funding toward construction of the Napa Valley Vine Trail, a pedestrian and bicycle path spanning 47 miles from the Vallejo Ferry Building to Calistoga. The combined $5 million contribution provides 40 percent of the local funding needed to build the hiking and biking trail.
"The entire Vine Trail Coalition and our 30 community organization board members are so thankful for the generosity and support that NVV and VNV are providing today," said Chuck McMinn, executive director of the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition. "We now have $7.5 million of our $12 million local fundraising goal in hand. This will be used to complete the Vine Trail from South Napa to Yountville within the next two years, inviting residents and visitors to experience our county in a healthy new way."
Vine Trail Will Benefit Locals and Visitors
The goal of the Napa Valley Vine Trail is to provide a healthy, safe, scenic, free and family-friendly hiking and biking trail for Napa County locals and visitors. According to the 2013 Napa County Community Health Assessment, 40 percent of middle school students and 60 percent of adults living in Napa County are overweight or obese. The Vine Trail provides access to a proactive and preventive approach for addressing health issues facing the community.
The NVV's contribution to the Vine Trail comes from earnings on long-term investments from the trade association's annual community fundraiser, Auction Napa Valley. "Community health is the Auction's number one funding priority," commented Linda Reiff, president and CEO of the Napa Valley Vintners. "As part of our commitment to community wellbeing, we're thrilled to make a significant donation that has the potential to positively impact the lives of so many in Napa County. And, because our donation is designated for the section of the trail from Yountville to American Canyon, it will be especially beneficial for children who ride their bikes or walk to school.” To date, the NVV has given more than $120 million to local nonprofits through Auction fundraising. The Vine Trail donation will not affect the NVV’s regular annual giving to these grantees.
VNV's commitment is being made on behalf of the Napa Valley lodging community, including funds from local tourism improvement districts and area hotels. "Tourism matters to the economic sustainability of Napa County," said Clay Gregory, president and CEO of Visit Napa Valley. "Access to better, safer cycling, hiking and outdoor activity is important to our visitors, and the Vine Trail will give us a strategic advantage in building awareness of the many wellness assets in our region." Vine Trail officials project that half of its use will be by locals and half by visitors who together will generate $165 million in additional spending each year in the county.
The announcement, made at a Vine Trail celebration event this afternoon, furthers the collaboration between NVV and VNV that started when vintner members played a key role in reinventing the tourism marketing entity in 2008, and continued during the recent America’s Cup events in San Francisco.
Vine Trail Still Seeking Community Support
At today's event, Vine Trail officials also launched a new community fundraising challenge called the Founders Circle. The goal is to secure 100 community donors to contribute $10,000 or more to the Vine Trail raising an additional $1 million by the end of 2014. Founders Circle donors will receive special benefits and recognition for their support, including collectively naming the Oak Knoll section of the Vine Trail that connects Yountville to the city of Napa. Anyone considering joining the Founders Circle can learn more by emailing FoundersCircle@vinetrail.org.
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About the Napa Valley Vintners
The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association has been cultivating excellence for 70 years by inspiring its 500 members to produce consistent quality wines, provide environmental leadership and care for the extraordinary place they call home. Learn more at napavintners.com.
About Visit Napa Valley
Visit Napa Valley is Napa County's official tourism marketing organization, with the mission to promote, protect and enhance the region’s position as North America’s premier wine, food, arts and wellness destination. For more information, please go to visitnapavalley.com.
About the Napa Valley Vine Trail
The Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition is a grassroots nonprofit with a vision to build a walking/biking trail system connecting the entire Napa Valley. The Vine Trail is working to design, fund, construct, and maintain 47 healthy, safe and scenic miles of a level, paved, family-friendly, free-access trail, stretching from the Vallejo Ferry to Calistoga. Learn more at vinetrail.org.
Media Contacts
Napa Valley Vintners: Patsy McGaughy, 707.968.4207, pmcgaughy@napavintners.com
Visit Napa Valley: Margaux Lushing, 707.260.0114, margaux@visitnapavalley.com
Vine Trail: Gwen McGill, 707.337.9018, gwendeaux@gmail.com
View Napa Valley Vintners and Visit Napa Valley Funding Facts
Contact: Patsy McGaughy, Communications Director 707.968.4207 pmcgaughy@napavintners.com
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