Interesting nuggets from the second-quarter report of Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership a few days ago released its second-quarter report.

A lot of material in the report already has been reported here. However, drilling down finds some other material that appears noteworthy. The nuggets below are directly quoted from sections of the report and lightly edited:

— “The Financial Sustainment Task Force can now confirm corporate sponsorships of over $500,000. An
additional $250,000 sponsorship has been tentatively approved and awaits final confirmation. Public
announcements regarding corporate donors and how these funds will be used to support the Route
66 Centennial plans of the Road Ahead will be announced in 3rd Quarter.”

— “Tourism is still down overall across the Route 66 footprint; TX/OK seeing significant domestic
traffic but CA/AZ are still much lower than normal.”

— “The Route 66 Extraordinary Women Initiative has now raised via gifts/pledges over $33,000.00. An
initial round of the EW Micro-Grant Program awarded $10,000 in direct grants to women
owned/operated businesses and attractions along Route 66 during 2nd Quarter. As additional funds
are raised/received, future rounds of the Micro-Grant program will be conducted.”

— “The Oxford Research Encyclopedia will present ‘the history of Route 66’ in the next month. We are told it will be available to any user requesting it. This is a huge step forward in raising historical issues needing clarification
and in providing a generous set of links for students and researchers. It is written by the chair and
co-chair of this (working group). We have also begun planning with Northern Arizona University a large grant
application to the NEH, to be submitted by the end of the year.”

— “In Illinois, the Road Ahead has started consultations on three projects that may have an
adverse effect on Route 66. Two in Will County, one of which will significantly affect a National
Register listed segment of the Road and the other is a minor adjustment adjacent to I-55. The third is
in the East St. Louis area where interchange improvements work will be done at I-270 and IL111. We
are negotiating for improved signage and way-finding materials at the Chain of Rocks Bridge on the
Illinois side.”

(Image of an Oklahoma Route 66 sign in Chandler, Oklahoma, by scott.tanis via Flickr)

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