CORDELE – Friends of Georgia State Parks, SAM Shortline Chapter has been awarded a $20,000 cooperative tourism marketing grant by the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Tourism Division.
SAM Shortline Executive Director Kathy Odom said the funds will be used to produce marketing materials and advertise the train’s excursions in various publications.
According to a press release from the Department of Economic Development, the purpose of the cooperative tourism marketing grants is to assist communities in reaching a larger audience through marketing projects they may not be able to fund on their own.
Independent judges scored the 82 applications that were received based on economic impact, project goals and objectives, benefit to the community, positive impact and the ability to attract and service visitors.
A total of $500,000 was awarded to 41 applicants across the state.
Kevin Langston, assistant commissioner for tourism says, “the co-op program is a great example of the private and public sectors working together to leverage one another’s assets.
“By combining our resources, we are able to attract additional visitors to our communities thereby generating private sector revenues along with additional sales and lodging tax revenues.”
For its total marketing budget, SAM Shortline also is receiving revenue from ticket sales, several billboards, a number of brochures and three governing and business entities including City of Americus, Americus Downtown Development Authority and Cordele Downtown Business Organization.
In her application, Ms. Odom said the Friends chapter plans to provide route maps for all businesses along the Presidential Pathways corridor, to 69 welcome centers and 11 state visitor centers.
Maps also will be given to local area motels and all five Georgia State Park lodges. In addition, SAM Shortline promotional key cards to enter motel rooms at those lodges and at three local motels will be provided.
Other promotional materials include survey cards, luggage tags and SAM logos.
Ms. Odom said, “we have the capacity to sell 338 tickets per excursion. Our current average is 241 visitors.” Adding almost 100 visitors for each excursion will not increase expenses, she explained, because costs remain the same regardless of the number of passengers.
Her immediate goal is to increase ridership by 10%. “Increased visitation, especially by new visitors will largely impact the region over time,” Ms. Odom says, “since SAM is known for creating repeat visitation.”
SAM Shortline’s marketing initiatives which will cost a total of $54,000 between November, 2009 and April, 2010 are expected to have almost a $1.2 million economic impact on the Crisp and Sumter County areas.
Local news
Sam Shortline receives marketing grant
- Local news
-
-
Jones named Crisp teacher of year
LaCrystal Jones, Crisp County High School's teacher of the year, was named system-wide winner of the top honor during a program at Crisp County Middle School Thursday morning.
-
Police make arrests for armed robbery, theft by deception
Police have provided no details for a couple of arrests officers made in non-routine cases listed in a press release reporting the department’s Wednesday activity.
-
Four sheriff's candidates qualify
By 3 p.m. Thursday, four candidates had qualified to run for sheriff of Wilcox County.
-
Qualifying begins with several seats contested
Qualifying for the July 31 partisan and non-partisan primary elections began Wednesday, and activity has been brisk in the tri-county area so far.
-
Crisp Superior Court clerk receives award
Jean H. Rogers, clerk of the Superior Court of Crisp County, is the recipient of the Stetson E. Bennett Superior Court Clerk of the Year award for the State of Georgia.
-
Suspect still being sought in $750,000 marijuana seizure in Wilcox
The search continues for a suspect wanted for questioning in connection with the seizure of $750,000 worth of marijuana last Thursday at a home on May Road.
-
Police called to investigate burglary, thefts
City police have been asked to investigate a burglary and two thefts that took place on Monday or Tuesday.
-
Crisp 4-H shooter takes top honors
Nikki Smith, a member of the Crisp County 4-H .22 Rimfire Team finished 1st out of 75 shooters with a score of 594 out of a possible 600 at the state match at Rock Eagle 4-H Center near here.
-
Convenience store clerk, resident wounded in early Sunday shootings
A convenience food store owner leaving his business for the night and a man inside his home were wounded in shootings that occurred within a span of just over two hours early Sunday morning.
-
Burnette passes
Long-time resident and community leader Jean Burnette passed away Sunday. Burnette served the City of Cordele first as assistant city administrator from 1974 until 2000 when she became city administrator. She retained that position until her retirement in 2010.
- More Local news Headlines
-
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
Hurricane Forecast: 15 Named Storms Expected
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Search Intensifies for Missing Louisiana Woman
Bloomberg: Man Implicates Self in Etan Patz Case
NYPD: Person Implicated in Etan Patz Death
Raw Video: Fire on Nuke-powered Sub in Maine
Illegal Burn Suspected in Nevada Fire
Obama: 'We've Got More Work to Do'
Astrologers Predict Outcome of Presidential Race
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
Raw Video: Passed Out Man Robbed
Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior
HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B
