PICKENS, S.C. (WSPA) – There’s special funding available for non profit organizations to use in order to entice tourists to visit the area.
Pickens County is home to 136,000 people.
County leaders said their goal is to show visitors how special their home is.
“We think it’s important for people to tell the story of Pickens County and what’s available and what’s happening throughout the course of the year, and we want people to come visit us and spend money and go back home,” said Roy Costner III, Vice Chairman of Pickens County Council.
When visitors stay at hotels or eat at restaurants in Pickens County, accommodation tax is collected.
Leaders said 70% of the A-tax as is used to fund events residents and visitors attend.
“The city of Liberty wants to apply for funding for the big July 4th festival that they’re going to do or the Pickens Azalea festival, they would apply for that funding,” said Costner.
The other 30% of A-tax funding must go toward non profit organization’s advertising plans on how to get visitors here.
“It’s not going to them specifically. They’re creating a persuasive campaign ad and here’s how we’re going to use it,” explained Costner. “Through social media, through television, through print, through radio, through billboard, whatever that is.”
Non-profits can apply starting on Wednesday. Organizations must present a tourism promotion plan.
“There is that accountability factor because we want to make sure that we get proof of concept of what they, what they’ve said they do,” said Costner. “So whether it’s impression based or whether it’s ad based or whatever that is, we want to see how many people saw it and where did they see it, and did you reach the demographic we were that you said you were going to reach in order to accomplish what we were trying to accomplish?”
Overall, county leaders want to show visitors there’s more to Pickens County than some may think.
“At the end of the day, it’s how we get the message out about why Pickens County is one of the greatest places to come visit,” continued Costner. “There’s a lot of things to do and to see.”
The application is open until Tuesday, October 29.
In November, organizations need to report to the state with a plan on how money will be used to advertise Pickens County to visitors.
