MONSON, Maine (NEWS CENTER)-- Many people showed up at the Monson General Store to see the town of Monson become the first Appalachian Trail community in the state of Maine.
Monson Town Manager Julie Anderson said this dedication could help boost the local economy.
"We have lost our industry in the town of Monson and right now the hiking community is our biggest economics right now," Anderson said.
Anderson said hikers on the trail play a vital role in the towns' economics. Now that Monson is an Appalachian Trail community, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy can offer assistance to help Monson boost its tourism.
"It's very flexible in what every different town wants to do with this kind of designation. Some of them want to use it as an economic stimulus and have a festival and try and bring more tourism to town. So we might work with them on a sustainable tourism initiative," Appalachian Trail Conservancy Community Program Manager Julie Judkins said.
Anderson is excited to work with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to try and bring more people into town.
"We can extend on this, probably have some hiking programs and utilize the A.T. in the future," Anderson said.
This dedication could help Monson boost its economy, but even before Monson received this dedication it has always been an important place for hikers.
"The journey that hikers take along their 2,000 plus miles, includes stop offs for re-supplying and food and resting along the way," Judkins said.
With this new dedication, more hikers might come to Monson to go on the trail and help boost the economy.
NEWS CENTER