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

According to organizers, UPLIFT works regionally 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. 

“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 in a press release. “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 a particular region to strengthen the overall tourism product mix, keep visitors in the community longer, increase spending and make it easier for travelers to visit
• Enhance, innovate and scale the tourism experiences offered within a region, working with new and existing tourism providers
• Strengthen tourism economies, skills that stimulate entrepreneurship, grow businesses and create/retain jobs
• Tell the stories of regions, communities, and individual tourism sites
• Integrate sustainability practices into the region’s tourism experiences

The program is implemented by Appalachian State University in collaboration with NatureScapes, NC State University and local residents.

The meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 18 is scheduled to take place at 4:30 p.m. at the Powell - Melvin Agricultural Center, 450 Smith Circle, in Elizabethtown and is open to the public. Anyone interested in tourism is encouraged to attend. For more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 910-862-4368.