Ecusta Trail Backers Announce $7.5 Million in New Funding, Seek County Support to Ask for More

Representatives from Conserving Carolina and the city of Brevard, after sharing the good news, requested a letter of support from a divided County Commission to apply for federal funds.

Riders on South Carolina’s Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail. which is often cited as a model for the planned Ecusta Trail in Henderson and Transylvania counties

BREVARD — Backers of the multi-use Ecusta Trail had big news to share with the Transylvania County Commission Monday night: an additional $7.5 million has been allocated for the project in the revised state budget.

But they also asked commissioners to support the city of Brevard’s application for a federal infrastructure grant that could bring in even more money for the trail — funds that would be specifically allocated to building it in Transylvania 

It’s the same grant the city unsuccessfully sought in previous years, including in 2021, when the county declined to send a letter of support.

But this time around the prospects are better than ever, said Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof.

Last year’s $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure act means about 50 percent more money is now available for the grant program, she told commissioners.

The city has secured the service of grant writers paid for by Dogwood Health Trust. And unlike last year, when the city sought a grant that would cover several transportation improvements, this year’s request “will concentrate just on the trail,” she said after the meeting.

“We are simplifying and focusing our efforts to better define exactly what we want with the trail, and we are getting a detailed cost estimate . . . to do the Transylvania County portion,” she said, adding that the amount the city requests will be based on that estimate.

“This is the year when all of the pieces are coming together,” she told commissioners. “And I would love to go forward with the county’s support in a letter. No commitment, no money. I’m just asking for that letter to make our package show that this is a project that will benefit all our community.”

She didn’t ask for a vote on the letter Monday, but will reach out to the county after the application is completed and before the April 15 deadline for submission, Copelof said.

Of the three commissioners who responded at the meeting, one was all for the trail, one still opposed, and a third, Commissioner Larry Chapman, somewhere in between.

“I have no problem doing a letter of support,” said Chapman, a member of the Brevard/Transylvania County Ecusta Trail Advisory Board. But he still has questions about the ongoing costs, and his support “is just for this letter,” he said. “I’m not raising my hand to say we’re going to spend one nickel at this point.”

Commissioner Teresa McCall also raised concerns about long-term costs, as well as opposition from residents who own property near the trail.

“I will stand with the property owners and support their concerns about this trail being built basically in their front yards,” she said. “I would not support offering support” for the grant.

Commissioner David Guice, whose family owns land near the trail, said he hasn’t heard the same “groundswell” of opposition from those property owners. He listed the health and economic development benefits of the trail “and I could go on and on and on,” he said.

“Why we can’t do the easy things, I’m not sure,” he said, sounding incredulous. “Not support a letter?”

In an update to commissioners on the progress of the project, Conserving Carolina Executive Director Kieran Roe reminded them that a subsidiary of his organization had last year purchased the trail corridor, which runs from Hendersonville to Brevard.

And even before the announcement of the new state funds, $5.1 million was available to build the first 5.3 miles of the trail, from Hendersonville to Horseshoe. The design of that portion has begun, he said, and construction is expected to start early next year.

Conserving Carolina and Friends of the Ecusta Trail have also raised $4.4 million in gifts and pledges, which will help provide matching funds for grants.

“We’re trying to do this in ways that do not incur costs to local governments,” Roe said.

The money from the state, announced by state Sen. Chuck Edwards and state Rep. Tim Moffitt Monday afternoon, was originally earmarked for the removal of a dam — work that did not go forward for environmental reasons, said Chris Burns, a founding board member of Friends.

This is widely expected to add to the already substantial momentum to build the trail.

“It’s a done deal. It’s going to happen with or without the county,” Chapman said.

If that’s the case, Burns said Tuesday, local leaders should seek all available outside funding to limit the burden on Henderson and Transylvania taxpayers.

“The Friends of the Ecusta Trail applaud the Henderson County Commission, the city of Brevard and Sen. Edwards and Rep. Moffitt for their leadership to take advantage of these unprecedented federal funds,” he said.

“There is no doubt that this pot of money will be used by cities, counties and states that understand these funds will only be available for a limited time.”

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