Local counties work towards becoming Kentucky Trail Towns

Fleming County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Crystal Ruark; F.C. Chamber assistant Melanie Jones; Mayor of Carlisle, Larry Jolly; Nicholas County Judge Executive, Mike Pryor; Representative from Bluegrass Area Development, Chris Chaney; Flemingsburg Mayor, Marty Voiers; Nicholas County Chamber of Commerce president, Tracy Pratt; Fleming County Tourism director, Ginny Reeves; Cynthiana Mayor James Smith; and Fleming County Tourism volunteer, Claudia Clark, discuss ways to cross promote local events.

The Fleming County Chamber of Commerce hosted this months Licking Valley Adventures meeting Tuesday July 12, at the Fleming County Covered Bridge Museum.

The Fleming County Chamber of Commerce provided lunch for those who attended the meeting with local food items from Cowan Station Honey, Fleming County Farmers Market, The Dinner Bell, McLeans Fresh Fruit, Dot’s Homemade Goods, Echo Valley Winery and Misty Morn Meats.

Brenda Plummer and Claudia Clark donated their time to set up with tables decorated with museum items.

Licking Valley Adventures is a group of citizens from Nicholas, Bath, Harrison, Fleming, Mason, Bourbon, Robertson, and Pendleton Counties

that have joined together to help promote tourism in the Licking Valley area.

The group meets each month to brainstorm ideas that will help connect a trail of local attractions and to collaborate on the idea that small communities can create a regional destination to attract potential visitors.

Self-driving tours such as the Barn Quilts and Covered Bridges, are an example that will take visitors throughout the region and past other small attractions, restaurants and lodging.

To help boost tourism in the region, Licking Valley Adventures is a unified effort to include their communities as a Kentucky Trail Town.

A Kentucky Trail Town is a destination portal that connects area resources which can help increase a towns economic growth, but but also community pride.

A plan of action is underway for each of the participating counties to become a Kentucky Trail Town.

From the opportunity for grants that will help create trails and racks for bicyclists, to partnering with civic organizations along with budget and committee planning, it takes a dedicated group of concerned citizens to make it possible for their communities to become a Kentucky Trail Town.