Logan County Tourism Bureau to fund Atlanta, Elkhart and Mount Pulaski visitors centers

 

[March 30, 2019] 

At the March meeting of the Logan County Tourism Bureau, board members unanimously approved an award of $4,500 to go toward establishing visitors centers in the communities of Atlanta, Elkhart and Mount Pulaski.

The three communities have been working together to design a cohesive program that will cross promote tourism locations in all three communities, plus Lincoln.

At the LCTB meeting held Thursday, March 28th representatives from the three communities were on hand - Alan Schaal representing the Mount Pulaski Township Historical Society, Tom Martin with the Mount Pulaski Courthouse Foundation, Dr. Peggy Lee representing the Village of Elkhart, Gillett Ransom representing the Elkhart Historical Society, Rachel Neisler of the Atlanta Museum and Logan County Economic Development Partnership Director Bill Thomas.

The group offered a proposal to invest a total of $8,137.54 in the three towns. Each town would have a designated visitor center, with outdoor signage indicating such. In Atlanta the center will be located at Atlanta Museum in Union Hall. The Elkhart center will be located in the Country Bumpkin antique store. In Mount Pulaski the center will be located at the Mount Pulaski Township Historical Society.

Inside each visitor center will be kiosks with brochures highlighting the tourism attractions in all four communities.

The request also includes dollars to be invested in signage along Route 66 and Illinois State Route 121 drawing motorists off the highway and into the towns and visitors centers.

Ransom commented that the purpose of the signage is to get people off the road and into towns where they can explore all that each community has to offer. In their request, the group noted that the goal is not only to attract travelers to the tourist attractions but to give each traveler the opportunity to explore and visit local retailers as well.

A comment was made that in Atlanta there have been times when travelers noted they were stopping there, then going to pass right on through the rest of the county as they travel Route 66. So, the goal is to help those travelers, wherever they make that first stop, to see that there is a lot to do and see in all of Logan County.

The initial request made to the tourism bureau was for $5,137.54. Each community has proposed to invest $1,000 and was asking the LCTB to pick up the difference.

The group was asked if they would be able to move forward with their plans if the LCTB was unable to provide the full $5,000.

The response from the community representatives was that they would, but some of the components they were proposing might have to be left out.

Thomas noted for example that the proposal includes large tv/computer screens that would be visible from the outside of the buildings. Those screens would feature information about the entire county and would be turned on when the respective locations where closed. He said if the LCTB were unable to award the full request, the group might have to forego those monitors, for example.

When the item came up for discussion and vote later in the evening, all the LCTB board members were in agreement that the project was worth supporting and would benefit the entire county.

The concerns expressed were budgetary, as the board discussed the amount of the award being sought. The bureau had put in its budget $3,000 for brick and mortar tourist attraction preservation and support. The board decided they could invest the balance of that budgeted line item and also add dollars from the general fund to make a total grant award of $4,500, just over half of what will be needed to complete the visitors centers.

Board member Tracy Welch made the motion to approve $4,500, which was seconded by Gail Sasse. The motion passed by unanimous vote. Board members on hand for the evening were Kevin Bateman, Emily Davenport, Cindy Fleshman, Neal Patel, Gail Sasse, Nila Smith, Shawn Taylor, Tracy Welch and Marilyn Wheat. Kathy Horn, Tom McLaughlin and Steve Parrott were absent for the evening.

[Nila Smith]