Public Meeting on Tourism to be held Wednesday, January 18 at 4:30PM at the Powell - Melvin Agricultural Center, 450 Smith Circle, in Elizabethtown.

Bladen County was chosen as one of 4 southeastern North Carolina counties to benefit from a state inititive focusing on increasing tourism in rural communities. A public meeting will be held to Wednesday, January 18 to introduce the UPLIFT program. 

According to organizers, UPLIFT works regionally - across county borders - to support local tourism leaders and practitioners in realizing their vision for tourism in their community, including natural, recreational, cultural, agricultural, culinary, built and other tourism. The program is implemented by Appalachian State University in collaboration with NatureScapes, NC State University & local residents.

"This is perfect timing for us and we are honored to be involved," Elizabethtown - White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Terri Dennison said. " We are certainly seeing an increase in visitors to Mother Nature's Playground. This program will help us strengthen the tourism product, develop our strategies and focus on the impact of tourism on our economy and quality of life".

The UPLIFT Program's goals are to:
- Develop multi-night itineraries that connect sites in your region to strengthen the overall tourism product mix, keep visitors in the community longer, increase spending & make it easier for travelers to visit;
- Enhance, innovate and scale the tourism experiences offered within your region, working with new and existing tourism providers;
- Strengthen tourism economies, skills that stimulate entrepreneurship, grow businesses and create/retain jobs;
- Tell the stories your region, your communities, and individual tourism sites;
- Integrate sustainability practices into the region's tourism experiences

The meeting on January 18 is open to the public. Anyone interested in tourism is encouraged to att. For more infomration, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 910-862-4368.