Banners Promoting Regional Campaign KY Great River Road
Press Release Date: Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Come Closer
Contact Information:
Norma Pruitt,
Email: ky.grro@yahoo.com
Kentucky Great River Region Organization, Inc
Website: http://www.kygrro.org
Phone: (270) 705-0506
La Center, Ky, (May 8, 2012) – The Kentucky Great River Region Organization and the Kentucky Mississippi River Parkway Commission together are launching the first of four roadside banner campaigns inviting people to ‘come closer’ to the four-county Mississippi River region. A special thanks to Ms. Ashley Blankenship of BallardCounty for the use of her photography being displayed on banner and other promotions. The four-county region, partnering together in the KY GRRO organization is aggressively promoting the assets, amenities, and attractions along the Mississippi River.
Local leaders in the four counties are building a regional image promoting tourism, using research, advertising, public relations and a strong online and social media presence promoting the Kentucky Great River Road National Scenic Byway. “We are all about helping encourage businesses and attractions in the four counties in the Mississippi River region, promoting them to the ten states bordering the river,” stated Norma Pruitt, Executive Director of the Kentucky Great River Region Organization. “We are receiving calls daily from people across the U.S. looking to visit the region,” she continued.
The Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism organization is assisting the effort by providing tourism matching fund dollars to each of the four counties which are being used collectively to market the region, according to KY GRRO Chair Judge Executive Greg Terry from CarlisleCounty stated. “Governor Beshear and his team acknowledge our efforts of regional cooperation of the four counties and are working as great partners with us in these efforts,” he stated. Judge Terry noted a banner will be on display at the Cunningham Fire Department in celebration of the Cunningham Strawberry Festival.
“We are excited in Ballard County to participate in the placement of this banner, letting our people know that we are working not only here in Ballard County, but also in the river county region together to bring new and increased tourism and economic development opportunities to our people,” stated Ballard County Judge Executive Vickie Viniard.
KY GRRO believes the key to building the economic engine of tourism is partnership—increasing visitor spending by bringing together groups with similar interests developing promotional programs reaching high-yield markets. Partnerships with the hospitality community, arts and cultural institutions, restaurants and visitor bureaus have proven to be vital to the success of the regional tourism industry. For a more information about events and festivals visit www.kygrro.org
Background: The KY GRRO (Kentucky Great River Region Organization, Inc.) is a non-profit, destination marketing organization promoting tourism, activities, and events in the KY Great River Road National Scenic Byway. The Byway travels along the entire western border of Kentucky along the Mississippi River through the counties of Fulton, Hickman, Carlisle, and Ballard. In 2009, Governor Steve Beshear provided funding to the KY MRPC (Mississippi River Parkway Commission) developing a CMP (corridor management plan) aiding in the Federal Highway Administration designation of the Kentucky Great River Road National Scenic Byway in 2009. In 2011, the four county judge-executives, fiscal courts, and economic development agencies committed financially to establishing KY GRRO, appointing a broad-based board of directors representing twelve members from the four counties.
