Public Input Wanted for Rural Pathways Project

Category: Local News Releases Local News Releases
Published: 31 August 2017 31 August 2017

The New Mexico Tourism Department is pleased to announce its selection of the Corporation for Downtown Development, doing business as Silver City MainStreet, in Silver City as the selected applicant for Cycle 1 of the Rural Pathway Project.

The Rural Pathway Project aims to assist tourism stakeholders within New Mexico in developing profitable tourism products by providing the necessary tools, resources, and support. Through strategic programming specific to the needs of the state’s diverse tourism industry, the Rural Pathway Project aims to develop existing assets into tourism products that fully embody the New Mexico True brand promise to deliver "Adventure steeped in culture."

The Steering Committee representing the Corporation for Downtown Development in Silver City submitted a robust project concept committed to revitalizing cultural and heritage tourism throughout the community. The Steering Committee was composed of community members Lynda Aiman-Smith, Tom Hester, Jennifer Olson, Marcia Stout and Lucy Whitmarsh. The concept prioritizes the application of various strategic tourism products, including tangible tourism opportunities, public services and amenities, and other structural and historic assets.

Aiman-Smith said she is looking forward to learning about successful processes of developing tourism products that are appropriate and successful for New Mexico communities.

"I want to be able to share Silver City’s fascinating history and invest in its prosperous future," Olson said. "With this project, I hope to engage travelers in our community and draw new residents and businesses to our charming downtown." She is a director on the Silver City Arts & Cultural District board as well as a member of the New Mexico Tourism Department’s Southwest Regional Marketing Board, which aims to leverage and promote the area’s tourism assets and to develop attractions that will grow Silver City’s tourism industry.

"I hope to better showcase downtown Silver City’s rich architectural heritage to engage visitors and the local public in its preservation and its potential for future businesses," Olson said, adding that she would like to learn from the process of developing a viable Rural Pathway Project, too.

Through a series of five 4-hour workshops, the accepted Steering Committee will work with Tourism Department staff to develop the submitted project concept into a comprehensive, long-term tourism product development plan. The public is invited to attend these workshops. The Steering Committee may choose to submit the final plan to the Department for up to $50,000 in implementation funding.

The following is the Rural Pathways Project Workshop Schedule:

Wednesday, September 6 from 8 to noon at the Town Hall Annex , 1203 North Hudson Street Second Floor Conference Room - SESSION 1: SETTING A STRATEGIC DIRECTION Objective: To study local workforce and economic data, identify strengths and weaknesses for the project concept, and map existing and desired assets to develop a focused and attainable vision.

Monday, September 11 from 10:30 to 2:30 at the Town Hall Annex, 1203 Hudson Street Second Floor Conference Room - SESSION 3: FUELED BY ACTION
Objective: To review various action based planning tools to strategically identify and prioritize tasks for product implementation, and finalize a Scope of Work timeline for final Development Plan.

Tuesday, September 12 from Noon to 4 at the Silver City Visitor Center, 201 North Hudson Street Conference Room - SESSION 4: RURAL TOURISM MARKETING
Objective: To discover various target markets for the finalized tourism product to create a diverse marketing mix to draft immediate, short-term, and long term marketing strategies.

Wednesday, September 13 from 11 to 3 at the Silver City Visitor Center, 201 North Hudson Street Conference Room – SESSION 5: CREATING A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR LASTING RESULTS. Objective: To identify applicable funding opportunites to establish ongoing sustainability options and ensure stakeholder diversification, review steps for effective stakeholder collaboration and follow-through, and identify, "next steps" for product implementation.

The mission of Silver City MainStreet is "To encourage a vibrant, historic downtown Silver City which is recognized as the heart of our diverse community." Please visit our website, www.silvercitymainstreet.com to learn more.

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