Funding to help find Athens!
City getting tourism money for way finding signs
A city’s
assets should be as easy to find as its fast food restaurants,
and Athens is getting money to ensure visitors can navigate its
historical, shopping and recreational districts.
Members of
the local legislative delegation have secured $25,000 for the
first phase of the city’s way finding signage project. Sen.
Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, R-Madison, and Rep.
Dan Williams, R-Athens, secured $15,000 through the Alabama
Department of Tourism and Travel. Orr also was able to secure
an additional $10,000 grant for the project.
“It is
important for cities to be able to market themselves and lure
visitors who spend money and support the local economy,” Orr
said.
City Planner
Mac Martin said the money will fund 12 signs, and city workers
will erect most of them on U.S. 72 and U.S. 31.
Jeannette
Dunnavant, president of the Athens-Limestone County Tourism
Association, said tourism is the largest industry in Alabama in
terms of jobs created and revenue generated, and way finding
signs will help promote Athens as a tourist destination.
In 2010,
Limestone County employed 1,178 travel-related workers. As of
September, the city had collected $651,095 in lodging taxes and
$68,227 from a $1 per night room fee. Dunnavant said lodging
taxes for the city have increased by more than $150,000 since
2008.
“Athens is
fortunate to have Exits 351 and 354 as a stopping point for
tourists traveling Interstate 65,” she said. “When tourists get
off at our exits now, they may think what they see is all we
have to offer such as food, lodging and gas, when in reality, we
have so much more. It is imperative that we direct them with
way finding signs to our Visitors Center, museums and downtown
so they can see our beautiful city.”
Holly Hollman
City of Athens, Ala.
Phone: 256-262-1399
Email:
hhollman@athensal.us
