The recent letter to the editor from Jerry Chorosevic of Bristol misrepresents a number of facts and does a great disservice to Congressman Rick Boucher.
In his letter, Mr. Chorosevic criticizes Mr. Boucher for obtaining $750 million in funding for horse trails in the national forest. The actual grant he is talking about was in the amount of $600,000 – less than one-tenth of what Mr. Chorosevic claims – to construct horse trails in the High Knob area not far from my home in Scott County where the Regional Horse Association has spent considerable amounts of its own money to develop a wonderful park in nearby Dungannon that attracts hundreds of visitors to the area.
These trails will add to the growing number of recreational assets in that area and will bring greater numbers of horseback riders to the region, increasing the revenue of both local businesses and local governments.
Congressman Boucher has helped to bring technology-based companies to Southwest Virginia, creating more than 5,000 jobs. He has, through his hard work, secured funds to help build industrial parks, construct public water and wastewater systems at an unprecedented pace. He has taken innovative steps to make the 9th District the rural leader nationally in the use of information technology, securing federal funds to expand broadband services to homes and businesses and increasing the number of telemedicine sites in our rural region to create access to the best health care available anywhere.
Mr. Chorosevic further criticizes Boucher for bringing federal funds to restore the Bristol Train Station and to create a new museum for Scott County. These valuable projects are actually key investments in the new economy of our region and are supported by partnering with the Virginia Tobacco Commission, our local governments and private funds. These are investments that will ultimately generate revenue for our region, and Boucher has had the foresight to develop them. As a resident of Southwest Virginia involved in economic development and tourism efforts, I appreciate every dollar Mr. Boucher helps bring to projects in the 9th District of Virginia.
Joe Fuller
Nickelsville, Va.
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