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LaRue County Chamber, Its Members Prepare for 2012 Tourist Season

Check out our article that was in the LaRue County Herald this week:

 

As the economy continues to show signs of recovery, the LaRue County Chamber and its members are looking ahead to the 2012 tourist season with great enthusiasm.

“We think it’s going to be the best year since the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial,” said Jessica Davis, Chamber executive director.

“The importance of tourism to our local economy cannot be understated.  It creates jobs, generates revenue and exposes our community to people from around the country and around the globe,” Davis added.

According to Kentucky Tourism Industry, direct expenditures related to Tourism in LaRue County in 2010 exceed $5.1 million and there were 263 jobs in the county related to tourism.

The public’s fascination with Lincoln’s legacy drives tourism here.  The National Park Service reports that in 2010 the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park saw more than 177,000 visitors.

And The Lincoln Museum sees nearly 30,000 paid museum tours annually.  In 2011, the museum had visitors from 49 states and 37 countries. Museum Director, Iris LaRue attributes other nearby tourist attractions such as the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the National Corvette Museum and Mammoth Cave with bringing even more visitors to LaRue County as one of several stops on their tour.

“These same visitors shopped in our stores, ate in our restaurants, filled gas tanks and saw everything that LaRue County has to offer,” said Stefanie Rock, President of the Chamber’s Board of Directors.

Pat Durham, chamber board member and owner of The Sweet Shoppe, credits 75% of his business to tourism and estimates seeing 15-20 visiting families each day.

The chamber is proud to be Hodgenville and LaRue County’s welcome center and is taking that job seriously with capital investments in an updated website (www.laruecountychamber.org ) and an active social media presence on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.

“We encourage all businesses to join us by putting out the welcome mat as we get ready for another successful tourism season in Hodgenville and LaRue County,” said Davis.

Welcome New Chamber Members!

The LaRue County Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome five new members! Make sure to check them out! Also, stay tuned for details about ribbon cutting ceremonies for each new member, one of which will be this Friday!

Please help us welcome:

 

Aflac Insurance  Independent Agent James Beery

Contact: James Beery

[email protected]

622 Hubbards Lane

Bardstown, Kentucky 40004

www.aflac.com

(502)275-9311

 

Allegro at Helmwood, LLC

Contact: Katrina Valliant/Steve Sanford

[email protected]

[email protected]

108 Diecks Drive

Elizabethtown, Kentucky 42701

www.allegroliving.com

(270)765-4414

 

Blazin Xpressions

Contact: Joshua Singer

[email protected]

1353 Dangerfield Road

Hodgenville, Kentucky 42748

(270) 361-8426

 

Melanie Wells Photography – Open House Friday, February 24, 2012, 10-2pm (Ribbon Cutting 10:30am)

Contact: Melanie Wells

[email protected]

212 North Lincoln Blvd.

Hodgenville, Kentucky 42748

http://www.melaniewellsphotography.com

(270)234-4810

 

Todd’s Lunch Box

Contact: Todd Akin

[email protected]

105 South Walters Avenue

Hodgenville, Kentucky 42748

(270)872-3161

Chamber Offers Bundle of Sponsorship Opportunities

DonLaRue County Bundle Up Winter sponsorship‘t miss your chance to “Bundle Up This Winter” with the LaRue County Chamber! Our bundle plan allows you to bundle your membership and other sponsorship opportunities so that you can save some money and the Chamber will have your commitment for the year 2012.

Contact Jessica at the Chamber office (270) 358-3411 for more information or you can email her at jessica@laruecountychamber.org.