LYBURN -- The Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority has been seeking sponsors among ATV manufacturers and other outdoors recreational vendors and a major sponsor signed on this past week.

"We have been able to secure a sponsorship from Toyota Motor Corporation to be the official Truck of the Hatfield McCoy Trail System for 2008," Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority Executive Director Jeff Lusk said.

Lusk added that he is pleased to be adding Toyota as the newest member of the Hatfield McCoy Trails family.

Currently, the HMRRA receives funding from several sources, including state allocations, state and federal grants, ticket and merchandise sales and, of course, sponsors.

"Toyota's sponsorship will push our total projected sponsorships income for 2008 to over $200,000," Lusk explained. "Toyota's name will be added to our already impressive list of sponsors which include Kawasaki ATVs, Suzuki ATVs, Goodyear Tires, Can-Am ATVs, Gander, Mountain Stores, Best Western Hotels and Tucker Rocky Outfitters. These sponsors, along with several smaller sponsors will continue to build our name recognition and credibility as the premier All Terrain Vehicle riding destination in the Eastern United States."

According to Lusk, the most recent sponsorship will help Hatfield-McCoy in what promises to be a very active year in trail maintenance and building.

"Sponsorships, in my opinion, continue to be an underutilized revenue source and marketing tool for the authority," Lusk said. "It is my intent, as we move forward with the implementation of our five year marketing plan to spend more time cultivating and building on these partnerships.

With our No. 1 ranking as the top All-Terrain Vehicle Destination in the eastern United States by Dirt Wheels magazine and our continued double-digit permit sales growth we should be able to increase this revenue source while still providing a good return on investment for our sponsors."

Hatfield-McCoy is planning to make a major impact this spring, Lusk said. Recently the trails system was featured on the Outdoor Channel on the Fishers ATV World Program which reaches an estimated 27 million viewers nationwide. The shows featured the fall Trailfest event in Gilbert and Lusk said there are five more national television programs scheduled for this year.