As you consider your year-end giving plans, keep in mind that 2020 brings new provisions that amplify the impact of charitable gifts to organizations like Scenic America, thanks to the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act. According to the Internal Revenue Service, taxpayers who do not itemize deductions may be able to take…

Scenic America recently took an important step forward in its ongoing effort to secure funding for the National Scenic Byways Program. The Senate Appropriations Committee included $35 million for scenic byways in its appropriations bill for Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development (THUD), and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021.  You can find the appropriation here,…

The National Scenic Byway Foundation recently released the findings of a research project exploring trip planning needs and preferences of byway travelers. To gather more insights about the visitor experience, Corridor Solutions surveyed 287 people who reported driving a scenic route or byway within the past two years. When asked how they discovered the route,…

When shaping the look and feel of their jurisdictions, city planning directors often wrestle with the conflicting interests of developers and preservationists. To empower planners in historic and scenic cities and towns to better balance these disparate viewpoints and priorities, preservation and planning experts Ronald Lee Fleming, FAICP, and Jeffrey Soule, FAICP, developed the Place…

You can access this article on the NEXTpittsburgh site here. Next month is Scenic Pittsburgh’s 10th anniversary, but staff isn’t planning a celebration. Executive Director Mike Dawida, former PA state senator and representative, as well as former Allegheny County Commissioner, says with the region reeling from the economic blow of the COVID-19 pandemic, they don’t have the…

With autumn in full swing, it’s the perfect time to hit the road for leaf-peeping and other activities in the great outdoors and along our National Scenic Byways. As the nation’s leading advocate for scenic conservation issues, Scenic America has put together this list of twelve of our favorite destinations that showcase autumn’s beauty. Arkansas:…

In the midst of a budget shortfall, Pittsburgh is missing out on collecting tens of millions in tax revenue. Back on November 27, 2012, the Pittsburgh City Council passed a 10% levy on revenue generated by billboards within city limits. Learn more about Billboard Companies’ Fair Share The tax was supposed to net the city between…

Former Pittsburgh Court of Common Pleas Judge Ray Novak Supports a Legal Intern through Pitt Law School A lot of the work we do involves finding legislative solutions for scenic problems: revising and updating zoning, enforcement of regulations, and finding legal precedents from which to fight billboards and poorly planned development. So this donation by Judge…

Michael Dawida, executive director of Scenic Pittsburgh, has been elected Chair of the Board of the national non-profit Scenic America.

Scenic America has teamed up with a newly launched philanthropic production company to create a compelling collection of videos and stunning images that showcase the natural beauty of the nation, beginning with a video focusing on Walton County, Florida. These media assets will be featured in campaigns to attract additional supporters and donors to the…