A New Business Development Plan for Natural Lifeways™ Inc.2002-2005:

Since 1996, the national demand for eco-tourism (nature-based, outdoors recreation, et al) experiences has grown at an annual rate of 5-15% in North America (Patterson, 2002). Eco-tourism in West Virginia has been defined as resource conservation, local community participation and sustainable, small business economic development (WV Eco-tourism Association, 2000)

2001 research program data from the WV Division of Tourism shows that over 21 million visitor days were recorded in the state, an increase from 2000. Of these, roughly 4% or 840,000 visitor days were spent in Lewis County. Of these, 18% or 151,000 visitor days were spent visiting a park area in Lewis County. Stonewall Jackson State Park reported 132,923 visitors in 2001 and 173,027 visitors through July 2002 (verbal communication, 2002). Park visits appear to be increasing dramatically in the Lewis County area. Regarding visitor activities outdoors in Lewis County, about 134,000 visitor days were spent hiking or biking and about 58,000 visits involved camping.

Natural Lifeways Corporation believes that increasing numbers of tourists in WV and to Lewis County will be seeking high quality, nature-based outdoor recreation experiences (Industry Statistics, WV Division of Tourism, 1999; 2002; WV Sustainable Tourism Conference Proceedings, April, 2002). In anticipation of meeting this increasing demand in West Virginia, NLC lead the development of the WV Eco-tourism Association from 2000 to the present. We now feel prepared to respond ambitiously to the apparently growing demand for eco-tourism in WV by establishing the first eco-tourism park area in southern Lewis County.

In 2001, three of the top 10 trends in the travel industry included more travelers seeking "nature therapy"; nature-based tourism and travel closer to home (within a three-hour drive). For the eco-tourism park service, these trends mean we can expect increasing numbers of visitors seeking our brand of park services. For a park in Lewis County, the third trend means marketing primarily in the Pittsburgh, PA and Charleston WV market areas. For the proposed Lewis County eco-tourism park, these trends and visitor statistics can be refined further.

Of the 60,000 to 151,000 park, hiking-biking and camping visitors recorded in 2001, we expect to attract only a hard-core nature lover contingent or 10% to 20% of this group to our new eco-tourism park services. The other 80-90% of these will probably continue to use other services at the county and state park facilities in Lewis County.

So, we expect 6,000 to 12,000 camper visits; 13,000 to 26,000 hiking and biking service visits and 15,000 to 30,000 park service visitors at the eco-tourism park planned for southern Lewis County.

Natural Lifeways Corporation is a West Virginia small business dedicated to developing ecological lifestyle alternatives in central Appalachia and elsewhere through research, education, consultation work and "green" business development. NLC is headquartered in the City of Weston in Lewis County, WV. That community is expected to benefit directly from economic development and employment growth at the project.

Several existing NLC programs are supported by this business plan expansion. These include the Community Education division, WV Eco-tours, the WV Eco-tourism Association (WVETA) and its member operations. The project is expected to increase retail sales of both services and products and to provide for new and expanded product lines based on the acquired land resources.

According to tourism industry statistics, travelers in WV spent about $70 per day in 2001. We might then anticipate generating over a million dollars in total park visitor revenues per year, increasing our annual current sales revenues ten-fold from $15,000 to 1,000,000. Within 5 years, we expect to see an additional doubling increase in annual sales at the two NLC locations. (Up to $2,000,000 at a 5% visitor growth rate).

The specific goals of the eco-tourism park project are to:

1. Increase land resources and related production opportunities for NLC and its affiliates by acquiring a substantial land asset for development as an eco-tourism park facility.
2. Increase retail sales revenues to NLC and WVETA members by creating new product selling spaces and new services in conjunction with park facility development.
3. Expand the market access of NLC and WVETA programs to new market niches and clients through eco-tourism service development.

The primary objectives of this proposal seek to respond to increasing national market demand for eco-tourism experiences by developing the first eco-tourism park in West Virginia from the year 2002 to 2005 featuring:

1. Low environmental impact camping facilities.
2. Group transportation service connections to Weston, WV via hiking and bicycle trails and a corporation-owned shuttle van, plus a canoe and kayak rental service for nearby public water bodies.
3. "Green" cottage housing and cabin facilities for short -term rentals, long-term leasing and staff housing.
4. Cooperative resource processing and production centers for food, fiber, water, clothing, furnishings and other renewable products derived from "sustainable" land-based resources.

A complete operations plan for each of the features above is available for further review.

Natural Lifeways Corporation will develop, operate and administer park services under annual contract with the WVETA and a community development organization formed by the park investors (landowners). NLC and the WVETA program members have the necessary expertise on staff and on consultant contract at this time to implement this plan. New employees (n=2 to 6) for the park itself will be hired by NLC when the park opens in 2003.

The initial marketing plan for the WV ecotourism park #1 includes: regional distribution of park literature, direct marketing of the park at key tourism events, addition and promotion of a new internet web page, an open house roll-out festival and annual travel agency contracting in the Pittsburgh, PA area.

The three-year start-up financial plan calls for $300,000 in first year expenses against $400,000 in expected sales revenues. Year two calls for $ 200,000 in additional development expenses against increased revenues of $ 450,000. By year three, we expect to expend $134,000 in development expenses to complete the initial project plan against increased revenues of $ 482,000.

Increasing profitability of the enterprise is expected thereafter with a portion of annual revenues being dedicated for new development until the park lodging and cottage industry development plan is completed, probably within the first ten years of operation.

A complete financial plan and financial statements of the principals are available for review by investors.

Contact John Williams of NLC at the address above to discuss your individual or organizational participation in this project.