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Highland chamber highlights tourism efforts, new board
BY M.K. LUTHER • STAFF WRITER
MONTEREY — The Highland County Chamber of Commerce continued working closely this past year with regional associations to promote tourism and economic growth in the county.
At the chamber's annual dinner Sunday at the Highland Inn, board president Kevin Wagner said the chamber is involved with program development with groups like Virginia's Western Highlands Tourism Association, the Central Shenandoah Valley Planning District Commission and the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission.
The tourism association, formed in 2006 by Alleghany, Bath, and Craig counties and the cities of Covington and Clifton Forge, received money from the Appalachian Regional Commission's Asset-Based Development Initiative to create a regional tourism-marketing plan. A Gateway Communities Planning Workshop, paid for by another ARC/NEA grant and run by tourism professionals, is set for January 2009, Wagner said.is also working with the CSPDC on a Central Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Plan, designed to promote and support bicycling and cycling tourism in the region. The bicycle plan committee is designing a Web site with trail maps and links to area chambers of commerce.
Highland's chamber is organizing a committee to coordinate with the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission to promote tourism based on the McDowell Battlefield during the 150 anniversary of the American Civil War. The sesquicentennial starts in 2011 and the commission is developing a statewide marketing campaign with Virginia Tourism Corporation, Wagner said.
Wagner reported the 2007-08 chamber membership totaled 197, and the chamber received 1,327 tourist requests during the year.
This past August, Linda Holman, Margaret Morse and Patti Reum became leaders of Highland County Lodging Association executive committee. County business owners formed the association in 2005 to represent the expanding lodging industry.
Wagner said the report on the 50th anniversary of the Maple Festival was good, but not great. Sales of the brass commemorative key chain should offset the rising cost of producing the festival, Wagner said. The new North Water Street Food Court introduced in 2008 will serve as a central location for most of Monterey's food vendors during the festival.
The HCCC announced the board members for the 2008- 09 year: Lisa Hevener, Franklin Marks Jr., Melody Moats, Gregg Morse, Margaret Morse, Philip Munchel, Susie Newlen, Bryan Obaugh, Carolyn Pohowsky (chamber director), Brian Richardson, Kevin Wagner, Mark Waybright, and Lorraine White.
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