A proposal by Thrive Allen County first mentioned in April may have gained ground Wednesday night when a group of about 30 local citizens came to learn about VISIT Allen County.
John Brocker, county commissioner, requested the meeting, he said, before he would vote to approve $50,000 to help launch the program.
Were looking for ways to bring people to live and work here and for ways to attract industry, Brocker said.
In that vein, VISIT Allen County would gather what area chambers of commerce and other volunteers are doing to encourage tourism, put it in one hopper and then disseminate the information not only to other Kansans but to a global audience.
Global? Of course, such is the potential of the World Wide Web and by any measure the preferred way todays audiences research tourism opportunities.
At the forum, city leaders described their local offerings.
Humboldt City Administrator Cole Herder listed the Humboldt Speedway as a main attraction, adding that if those coming were better informed, they might make more of an effort to arrive early to dine in area restaurants.
Iolas location at the crossroads of two highways is a decided advantage, said Iola Administrator Sid Fleming, but its tourism efforts have recently flagged due to the lack of a chamber of commerce director.
The biking and walking trails continue to draw out-of-towners, he said, as do its museums, pickleball courts, restaurants and disc golf course.
The Mildred Store has a once-a-month hoedown that draws from a wide area.
As for annual events, Iolas Farm-City Days and county fair along with Humboldts Biblesta are ones that fill each town with visitors. Moran, Elsmore, Savonburg and LaHarpe have similar attractions.
But none of these offerings will bring people our way which, for the most part, is why they exist unless theyre promoted better.
TO DATE, local efforts are minimal, said David Toland, Thrive executive director, who cited the competition.
Just north of Iola along U.S. 169 is a billboard promoting businesses in Chanute that are apt to cause travelers to stop. Once in the towns clutches, those visitors will purchase fuel and food, and may spend a while longer to shop.
