Two Virginia Tech researchers have received funding to lead a project to improve tourism in the Rocky Knob area of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Hospitality and tourism management professor Nancy McGehee and forestry professor John McGee received a $266,000 grant from the National Park Service to help develop "a sustainable tourism strategy," the university announced Monday.

The 18-month project will include regular consultations with people in the community and involve cooperation with the National Park Service and Blue Ridge Heritage, a recently formed nonprofit organization with the goal of boosting economic development in Floyd and Patrick counties.

Lee Chichester, a member of the Blue Ridge Heritage's board of directors, said the money will fund the research phase of a project aimed at building a "destination facility" in the area to complement existing attractions. She said the study will look at ways to fill in the gaps in a region that already attracts people with hiking trails, music and art.

"It's really just an augmentation or an enhancement of what's here already without duplicating anything," Chichester said.

The Rocky Knob area consists of more than 4,000 acres stretching from Virginia 8 in Floyd County south to the Mabry Mill area, which is just north of Meadows of Dan in Patrick County.

Chichester said the Blue Ridge Heritage group was formed from a steering committee set up by U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, in 2004. The organization received its nonprofit status last month. Funding for this first part of the project is coming from the National Park Service with the expectation that Blue Ridge Heritage will be involved in future funding, Chichester said.

The Tech researchers will also cooperate with researchers from Clemson University on the project. Work will include surveys and regular consultations with community members. The researchers will present reports, maps and other data to Blue Ridge Heritage and the National Park Service. Chichester said the results of the research will be made widely available and should have uses beyond the project.

A couple of ideas for the facility have already been discussed, Chichester said. One would be for a nature center to call attention to the different species and natural beauty in the area. Another possibility is a mountain heritage educational center, to preserve local traditions and crafts.

"We don't want a water park here," Chichester said. "That might be very attractive to tourists, but it doesn't represent anything we are."