In October, the Johnston County Commissioners appointed four members to the Johnston County Tourism Authority, two returning and two new members. The same month, the Four Oaks Chamber of Commerce announced one additional board member, making a total of five members appointed.
Jim Godfrey, President of the Clayton Chamber of Commerce was reappointed to a second three year term. Godfrey serves as chairman of the Johnston County Sports Council. Karen Henthorn, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Carolina Premium Outlets, was reappointed to a second three-year term, and she serves on the Johnston County Visitors Bureau Marketing Committee.
New members are Warren Stancil, owner of Interstate Outdoor, Inc., Rosa Andrews, Director of Economic Development at Johnston Community College, and Stacy Lee with the Town of Four Oaks Parks and Recreation Department. Stancil and Lee will serve on the Special Projects Committee and Andrews will serve on the new JoCo Hospitality Association. The Johnston County Tourism Authority is the governing board for the Johnston County Visitors Bureau, providing oversight for the room tax funds collected from area hotels. The board is charged with promoting the county's tourism assets, granting funds for special events, and capital funding for tourism development projects.
The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina recently announced that domestic visitors traveling more than 50 miles to Johnston County spent $204.51 in 2013, an increase of 3.5 percent over 2012 figures. Other signs the tourism industry is healthy in Johnston County include new hotel development, investment in new tourism attractions and openings of service industry businesses like restaurants, retail, and transportation.
In other news, the Tourism Authority Board elected Keith Brinson, Johnston County Farm Bureau, to serve as Vice-Chairman and Lynn Daniels, Super 8 of Smithfield, to serve as Secretary. Ernie Brame, Kenly 95 Petro Truckstop, is the current Chairman of the authority and other members of the board include, Scotty Henley with The Clayton Center, Joseph Stallings from the Town of Benson, and Chad McLamb, Ex-officio County Finance Officer.
More information on the programs, budget, and activities of the Johnston County Visitors Bureau may be found on the website, or by calling 919-989-8687.
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