TOURISM OFFICIALS AWARD Nearly $4 Million To Five COMMUNITY PROJECTS
CONTACT: Marla Tambellini
Asst. VP/Director of Marketing & PR
(828) 258-6138
mtambellini@exploreasheville.com
or
Dodie Stephens
Public Relations Manager
Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau
(828) 257-4959
dstephens@exploreasheville.com
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (June 26, 2007) — The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) announced today that it is awarding nearly $4 million to five community projects through its Tourism Product Development Fund (TPDF). Funding will assist with construction of projects that are expected to drive more overnight hotel stays, while also enhancing the area.
. “In Buncombe County, our hospitality legacy is intertwined with our quality of life,” noted Ron Storto, TPDF committee chair and vice president of hospitality development for Biltmore Farms, Inc. “These are facilities and attractions that add to the visitors’ experience, but still serve the needs of residents of Buncombe County. They make us a more vibrant place to visit and a better place to live. “
The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) voted to award the grants during its most recent meeting based on recommendations from its TPDF committee.
Recipients of the 2007 funding cycle for the Tourism Product Development Fund include:
§ Pack Square Conservancy which will receive $1.5 million for Pack Square Park, a new public gathering place estimated for completion in 2008.
§ The Health Adventure which will receive $1 million to construct a new indoor/outdoor for a revamped health and science museum.
§ Asheville Art Museum which will receive $1 million for planned expansion of galleries, public spaces, education facilities and visitor amenities.
§ Western North Carolina Veterans’ Memorial which will receive $67,000 to complete the construction of a monument to veterans and their families in the future Pack Square Park.
§ The Buncombe County Civil War Trails which will receive $16,500 to install 15 interpretive markers as part of the North Carolina Civil War Trails project.
“With today’s announcement of $3,583,500 in awards, TDA has pledged a total of $7,383,500 to community projects in the past few years,” said TDA Chair Craig Madison who is also the President and CEO of the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. “Furthermore, this is – to my knowledge – the only industry in our community that actually organized itself to create a self-imposed tax that generates money for the community.”
The tourism product funding is generated through room tax collected from overnight visitors that stay in Buncombe County hotels, bed & breakfast inns and cabins. One fourth of the four percent room tax is dedicated to capital projects that will increase room nights and ultimately the economic impact on the region. Visitors also pay state sales tax on their lodging.
“The TDA is investing in the health of our region,” said award recipient Paige Johnson, CEO of The Health Adventure. “New jobs, additional visitation to the region, and an expanded facility that will allow The Health Adventure to serve more children, students and families are just some of the returns that will be made on this investment. We are grateful for the support and look forward to sharing the full project with the community.”
Since the TPDF legislation was passed in 2001, nine projects have received funding. The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority is the single largest contributor of the John B. Lewis Soccer Complex at Azalea Park. Its tourism product funds also helped build the Bonsai Garden at the North Carolina Arboretum and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center and offset construction costs for the Grove Arcade Public Market. Pack Square Park and The Health Adventure also received funding in prior years.
The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority also spends more than $5 million each year to market the destination and contracts with the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau to implement its program of work.
More than 2.75 million overnight leisure visitors travel to the Asheville area each year generating more than $1 billion in economic impact to the region.
For more details, download the Tourism Builds Communities brochure, which details the current and past projects that benefited from this program.
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