Page 38 - Murfreesboro, TN Comprehensive Plan: Chapter 7, Economic Development

7.38 Chapter 7

DRAFT 12.02.15

and development policies. Through the Mountain Area
Workforce Development Board in Asheville, employers
can receive a 50 percent or more wage reimbursements
for training dislocated workers, adults, and youth hires
for on-the-job training.

TOURISM
As discussed in Chapter 6, Parks, Recreation and
Open Space, in an effort to promote their cities, bring
visitors to attractions, and to draw outside dollars into
the community, many cities have developed public/
private partnerships solely responsible for promoting
and marketing a city’s tourism resources. The cities
of Greenville and Asheville tourism efforts are mainly
handled by the local Chamber of Commerce. Other
cities, including McKinney, Athens, and Nashville are
run through a convention and visitors bureau. Tourism
plays a large role in the economic stability of a city,
contributing millions of dollars into the local economy,
creating hundreds – if not thousands – of jobs. Athens
tourism contributed $256 million dollars into the local
economy and has created over 2,500 jobs as of 2013.
Other cities utilize their downtown areas and districts as
their main tourism draw, managed through non-profit
organizations and downtown business associations.
The cities of Charlottesville and Florence benefit from
their downtown associations’ marketing efforts. Cities
can find tourism resources through state marketing and
tourism efforts as well as private tourism organizations.
The State of Tennessee has a Department of Tourist
Development which advertises local events on the state
website, and can provide information on tourism-related
resources and events. The Market Georgia tourism
portal, run by the Georgia Department of Economic
Development - Tourism Division, provides visitors with
tourism product development, grants and incentives
(state and federally funded), and resources teams to
help develop tourism in a city. The State of Missouri‘s
Division of Tourism provides a Cooperative Marketing
Program, a 50/50 matching funds reimbursement
program designed to encourage new and expanded
cities by offering incentives that other cities cannot tourism marketing initiatives at the local level.
offer them. Incentives can be in the form of grants,
tax abatements, or reimbursements. McKinney draws REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
new retail-oriented businesses into its revitalized Town Redevelopment projects can provide a major economic
Center through historic preservation tax incentives boost to a city through the draw of tourists, and outside
to those relocating and renovating historic structures. dollars spent visiting the redeveloped area. As a Main
Through the Historic Neighborhood Improvement Zone Street city, the City of McKinney revitalized its Town
(HNIZ) which includes the Town Center, properties can Center, which now serves as an economic hub, retail
receive ad valorem tax exemptions based on verified center, and tourist attraction for the city. In in the
investments meeting the requirements of the program. late 1950s, Charlottesville’s Chamber of Commerce
The City of Asheville offers a Business Development developed the idea of a pedestrian mall in the city’s
Grant program which is designed to provide monetary downtown. In 1974, renowned landscape architect
assistance for up to three years with a maximum Lawrence Halprin was hired to design the mall. Today
City contribution of $1.5 million. Stipulations on the the Historic Downtown Mall is viewed as one of the
grant include the ability to create and retain jobs, the most vibrant urban centers in America. While the mall
company has to have been in operation for a minimum itself is an attraction, the events hosted at the mall
of three years, and the location and type of business bring additional visitors and revenue to the community.
must be consistent with the City’s long-range plans Asheville saw a resurgence of its downtown district