ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 30, 1996 TAG: 9612020020
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
Pulaski's economic development office has joined an effort to market the New River Trail by localities through which the 57-mile former rail bed runs.
The New River Trail State Park Marketing Group has received $4,900 from the Virginia Tourism Corporation Matching Grants Program. It will print some 20,000 brochures for the trail soon.
Barry Matherly, economic development director for the town of Pulaski, told the economic board's executive committee Wednesday that his office first got together with the Galax-Carroll Chamber of Commerce, and then the town of Wytheville's public relations office on ways to market the trail.
That led to the formation of the marketing group, which now has contributions from localities totaling $8,600.
The towns of Pulaski and Wytheville and counties of Pulaski and Wythe have each given $1,500 to the group. It has also received $1,000 from Carroll County, $800 from Grayson County, $500 from Galax, $250 from the Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce, and $50 from the town of Fries.
Besides the $4,900 state matching grant, the group is also getting a $2,500 contribution from the state park itself toward the brochure. It will seek proposals from printers from Galax to Pulaski to produce the brochure.
The park already has a trail map and guide that sells for about $4 and gives a history of the trail. The new brochure will be free, and give information on restaurants, motels, stores and other attractions in the communities bordering on the trail.
People who visit the trail usually stay for more than one day and would like to know "where they can eat, where they can stay, things like that," Matherly said.
The organization is also advertising the trail in the Virginia Is For Lovers Guide at a cost of $2,240 and the Virginia Fall Vacation Planner for $1,120. It will also pay $1,700 for an advertisement in the Virginia Outdoor Recreation Guide.
Matherly said a "postage-stamp" size ad in a publication which went to 11 states brought in some 2,500 requests for information on the trail. "Our next ad is the Outdoor Guide. It goes nationwide," he said.
The marketing group is unusual in that it has no officers and no board. Participants simply divide responsibilities for its projects like the brochure, preparing a trail home page on the Internet, working toward trail signs on the interstate highways, creating a directional sign system and information map system for the trail directing users to surrounding communities for services such as accommodations, food and shopping.
Its members also plan to educate surrounding communities on facilities provided by the trail and increase trial use by local residents.
LENGTH: Medium: 54 linesby CNB