Surry County Tourism Partnership Begins Branding Efforts

by: Erin C. Perkins – Mount Airy News

DOBSON — You could visit for a day, but you might stay a lifetime.

It’s one of the slogans that received unanimous nods yesterday when the Tourism Partnership of Surry County met to brainstorm key elements to help brand and market the area.

Clemmons-based branding company MadCat, which the tourism organization hired last month for $25,000 to help with the branding process, created various exercises to help board members articulate what best represents the area.

Tuesday’s four-hour session was the first of a 12-week process categorized into four stages that include strategic development, positioning development, creative development and marketing development.

MadCat representatives Scott Rhodes, Melanie Barbee and Doug Shouse facilitated the group.

“It’s important we get your honest opinions,” Rhodes said. “It’s your judgment, what you feel in your heart, there’s no right or wrong.”

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Erwin, NC and North Carolina Small Towns Economic Prosperity Program

Town Leaders Encourage Attendance Tomorrow Night Erwin Hopes Small STEP Becomes Giant Leap For Town

Brian Haney
Daily Record Reporter

There is good news and bad news in the Town of Erwin.

The good news is, as a participant in the North Carolina Small Towns Economic Prosperity (N.C. STEP) program, the town is entitled to an ultimate total of $130,000 to go toward its revitalization.

The bad news is, while initial support among Erwin residents looked promising, the town has yet to see the amount of citizen participation it needs to fully implement the program.

Those involved in the program are hoping that will change tomorrow night at 6 when the town invites its residents and those of the surrounding towns together to offer some input into the future of Erwin and how the town will progress into the future.

A number of leaders – business, civic and governmental – met in the Erwin community building meeting room recently to discuss the issue of participation and ways to bring in more local support for the program.

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