Tourism Talks: Granville on the Go!
Tourism Talks: Granville on the Go! We are excited to tell you about a new regional tourism planning initiative and we want you to be a part of it!Granville County Tourism, Economic Development, and Cooperative Extension have joined the Kerr TarRegional Council of Governments (COG) and UPLIFT North Carolina to engage in sustainable tourismplanning with other local and regional partners for the Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, and Warren Countyregion. We’d love for you to attend one of many Regional Tourism Networking events across the County so that youcan provide your expertise in this important process. It'll be a chance to get together, share ideas, and identifywhat's special about our place that we want to share with visitors. This information will help to guide a regionaltourism planning effort currently underway in the county. The role of UPLIFT North Carolina The UPLIFT North Carolina program is a key driving force behind this initiative, aiming to support tourismthrough community driven efforts in rural North Carolina. UPLIFT provides technical assistance, marketingsupport, and planning expertise to ensure tourism efforts bene?t local economies while preserving communitycharacter and natural resources. To stay informed about UPLIFT, learn more about the program, and keep upwith upcoming local workshops in the region, please visit https://www.uplifttourism.com/. Why Tourism Matters in Granville County Tourism is a key economic driver for this region. Domestic and international visitors to and within GranvilleCounty spent $60.8 million in 2023, marking a 3.5% increase from 2022, according to an annual studycommissioned by Visit NC, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. Tourism Impact Highlights for 2023: The travel and tourism industry directly employs more than 323 people in Granville County.Total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Granville County was $13.7 million.State tax revenue generated in Granville County totaled $2.5 million through state sales and excise taxes,and taxes on personal and corporate income. About $1.9 million in local taxes were generated fromoccupancy, sales, and property tax revenue from travel- generated and travel-supported businesses. Why is Your Input Important? We want to hear from everyone to make sure planning efforts re?ect the needs and desires of residents. We areasking that you help map and highlight key community assets that can attract visitors, while connecting withother local leaders and ensuring your organization/business is included. Regional Tourism Networking Event Dates We’ve already had a great start gathering community input, with drop-in sessions held during the EasterEgg Hunts in Oxford, Creedmoor, and Stem on April 12. Residents stopped by to share their thoughts onwhat makes Granville County special. If you missed those events, don’t worry—there are still several more opportunities to participate in person andtake the Regional Tourism Survey: • Thursday, April 17 | 5:30 – 7 PMStovall Branch Library – 300 Main Street, Stovall, NC• Friday, April 25 | 5:30 – 8 PMGroovin’ at the Gazebo – 416 Central Avenue, Butner, NC• Tuesday, May 6 | 6 PMOxford Business Meetup – Location TBD Can’t make it to a meeting – No worries! Fill out the Online Regional Tourism Survey (Click Here). For more information, go to https://www.granvillecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=154, contact, Angela Allen at 919-693-6125 or angela.allen@granvillecounty.org
