Black Belt Treasures is an 18 county project funded through the Ala-Tom RC&D Council and the Alabama-Tombigbee Regional Commission begun several years ago. They've proven that small towns and rural communities have more than enough great attractions to bring in tourism. At a recent event held October 27th, between 200 and 300 folks came during the day from across the state, and even from neighboring states. Eight artisans demonstrated their talents in pottery making, quilting, basket making, weaving, story-telling and music. Also, they had a Holiday Open House on Friday, November 10, with artists Faye Bennett and Sherry Barnes. CULTURAL HERITAGE TOURISM FACT SHEET
What is cultural heritage tourism?
Cultural heritage tourism means traveling to experience the places and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present. It includes irreplaceable historic, cultural and natural resources.
What benefits does cultural heritage tourism offer?
Tourism is big business. In 2004, travel and tourism directly contributed $600 billion to the U.S.economy. Travel and tourism directly employs more than 7.3 million people and creates a payroll income of $162 billion and tax revenues of $100 billion for federal, state and local governments.
(Source: Travel Industry Association of America/TIA, U.S. Dept of Commerce Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, World Tourism Organization) more>>>
News From Around Alabama's Communities
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Chickasaw Revitalization
Thanks to the Concerned Citizens of Chickasaw, a local community group, Chickasaw is undergoing revitalization! Several clean-up projects are going on, and CCC has adopted an area at the gateway of the city where a landscaping “makeover” is taking place! Crape myrtles, azaleas, and other horticulture delights are being donated by businesses for this project. Area businesses are being encouraged to take on a project. Banners are also going up around town to remind all citizens to do their part in making Chickasaw the best that it can be. In the October issue of The Mobile Bay Monthly, a magazine that covers Mobile and Baldwin counties, Chickasaw was featured for its uniqueness, beautiful homes, sidewalk streets, and the real feeling of community that the residents enjoy here. The secret is out now- Chickasaw has always been a great place to live and now it’s even better!
Choctaw County Growth
Stone is now being laid in the Choctaw County Industrial Site for Accelerated Trucking. Accelerated Trucking will open a terminal in Choctaw County in 2007. When Phase 3 is complete this facility will employ 25 people. Wahaluk Lumber Company which opened in Spring 2006 with 25 employees has increased their capacity and now employ 73.
more news and events from Alabama's Communities
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ASCA ANNOUNCES NEW GRANTS PROGRAM FOR ARTS & CULTURAL FACILITIES
The Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA) has begun a long-awaited Arts and Cultural Facilities granting program. Under this new funding program, organizations can be awarded grants for planning, design or construction of an arts space. The first round of grants have been awarded effective October 1, 2006. All projects include licensed professionals with demonstrated expertise in urban and/or community planning, architecture, landscape design or historic preservation.
Adequate cultural facilities have been an issue in both urban and rural areas throughout Alabama. There is an ever-growing appreciation for the arts and clearly appropriate spaces are necessary to showcase the rich diversity of the arts in Alabama. The unique nature of the arts suggests that space will dictate not only what can be attempted, but also how the arts will be presented. The type of arts facility available to a community can contribute greatly to successes in the arts. New audiences are attracted by exciting spaces in which to experience the arts. Suitable cultural facilities must exist in order to make possible the presentation and preservation of the arts at a high-quality level. more>>>
ARC and USDA announce support The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced their support for a grants competition program this week to promote value added agricultural development in five Appalachian states. Supporting the Sustainable Community Grants (SCG) competition sponsored by the Sustainable Agricultural and Research (SARE) program and the Northeast Center for Rural Development is part of ARC’s overall effort to promote asset-based economic development in the Region, which also includes boosting export and trade of Appalachia’s wood products, more effectively utilizing regional renewable and non-renewable energy resources through ARC’s energy blueprint, and creating gateway communities. Non-profit organizations, local governments, farm cooperatives, educational institutions, and local and regional development organizations are all eligible to apply for the grants. The SCG call for proposals is available here. Proposals must be submitted by November 28, 2006. Maximum awards are $25,000. Awards will be announced in Spring 2007. |
3rd Annual Alabama Agriculture Energy ConferenceThe Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), in cooperation with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, will be hosting the 3rd Annual Alabama Agriculture Energy Conference on Wednesday, November 29, 2006. The conference will be held at the Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center in Auburn, Alabama and will focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and techniques for agriculture. The one-day conference will feature presentations on biofuels and renewable energy solutions for Alabama farmers. A poster session highlighting current ADECA Agriculture Energy Program projects will also be included. Agricultural producers, extension agents, university personnel, government leaders, and others interested in agricultural energy are invited to attend. You may view a draft agenda and register for the conference here. Pre-registration is required. For more information contact the ADECA Energy, Weatherization and Technology Division at 1-800-392-8098. |
Smart Growth in Gulf Shores The most popular stretch of the 32-mile Baldwin County coast, the beaches just south of the route 59 and 182 intersection in Gulf Shores, still show scars from Hurricane Ivan of 2004, but the city's long-term Envision plan will make them better by turning the intersection area into a dense, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly downtown, with WHL Architecture Design Director Rex Cabaniss saying, "Good design and smart growth builds on and enhances the inherent strengths of a site such as this." www.smartgrowth.org/news |
WARC Uses New Technology to Improve Services to Towns and Counties |
Rural Culture ElementsThe rural culture elements are a tool to help assess a community of any size, in any state. Every town, no matter if it is a ghost town, has a story to tell about each of the elements. Some of the evidence may not be visible, but the story is there. Looking for all eight elements helps provide a more comprehensive look at your community. more>>> |
And The Rest... Support Alabama Farmers. A list of Alabama U-Pick farms and a host of other information can be found at the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries website (www.agi.alabama.gov) Subscribe to their latest Farmers and Consumers Bulletin or browse back issues at http://www.agi.alabama.gov/bulletin |
The Planning Department staff of the West Alabama Regional Commission has initiated a high-tech system for mapping utility infrastructure. They are using a new Global Positioning System for mapping the 15 water systems in Bibb, Hale and Pickens counties. Prior to the actual mapping in the field, they are coordinating the project with local water authority personnel and engineering firms to obtain the latest data.