By Debbie Hall
The county’s tourism budget will be tapped to pay for expenses related to the new tourism facility opening on Main Street in Stuart.
Initially called a Visitors’ Center, Sandra Belcher, director of tourism, said the new facility now will be called a Welcome Center.
She said her department and members of the Tourism Advisory Council (which oversees the agency), had not decided on the final name of the facility when the idea was proposed to the Patrick County Board of Supervisors.
Then, the facility to locate at located at 126 N. Main Street, was referred to as a Visitor Information Center, according to the proposal.
“Our Visitor Information Center will showcase Patrick County, convey experiences that encourage visitors to learn more about the area, stay longer, and return for multiple visits. The goal of the tourism department is to promote Patrick County as a premier travel destination and a Visitor Information Center is the natural next step in this vision,” the proposal stated.
“Each visitor center in the region has its own style. Henry County’s Visitor Center is located in the prestigious New College Building. Galax’s Visitor Center is music themed. Wytheville’s is attached to their history museum,” it added.
The new facility also will focus solely on tourism efforts, Belcher said.
It “will not be watered down. It will be focused on one thing, and that is informing everyone who walks in the door what is available” in Patrick County, she added.
The new facility will complement, not compete, with the county’s Visitors’ Center, which is located downtown in the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce’s office, Belcher said.
The addition of the manned facility uptown also will provide an opportunity for Rebecca Adcock, executive director of the chamber, “to focus even more on business. She and Bryce (Simmons, the county’s economic development) are doing a great job,” Belcher said.
The chamber is open weekdays until 2 p.m. The new facility, which also will house the tourism department, will be accessible for more hours, Belcher said, adding that she and her assistant “will be there every day,” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
The council plans to work with other agencies for volunteers to staff the facility on Saturdays, Belcher said, adding the Saturday hours have yet to be set.
Belcher said work is underway to get the new facility open and work out any kinks before June, when state tourism officials indicated tourists will be ready to travel.
“We want to get this up and running and be ready” for the anticipated influx of visitors, she said.
County funds will not be spent on the new facility, Belcher said. All the associated expenses will be paid from the tourism department’s share of proceeds from the Transient Occupancy Tax.
According to the terms of a lease between WestCo LLC, and the County of Patrick/Department of Tourism, rent for the 1,000 square-foot building is $550 per month. The rental term is for one year, beginning January 1 and ending December 31, 2021.
The proposal stated the building may be rented an additional 12-month period without an increase in rent.
Monthly expenses are projected to be less than $724 per month, or an estimated $8,703 for the year, according to the proposal.
In addition to rent, which totals $6,600 for the period of the lease, other projected expenses include $120 per month, or $1,400 per year, for phone and internet.
“The Internet and phone system will be included under the county government blanket/policy, as the Visitor Center will be an off-site campus of the administration department. A new phone system is currently being installed in the” administration building “and Internet Solutions is hoping to branch off existing equipment and offer a package called mynet5+one, costing roughly $96 without taxes,” the proposal stated.
The estimated cost of oil heat is $400 per fill up per year, or $33.33 per month, according to the proposal; electricity is estimated to cost $20 per month or $240 for the year.
“The electricity will be included under the county government blanket/policy, as the Visitor Center will be an off-site campus of the administration department. AEP’s connection fee may be $150 – it was stated. This is unknown until the application is completed. There will be no deposit,” the proposal stated.
Insurance coverage is $15 per year and will be through the county’s General Liability and Property Coverage. A $5,000 plate glass insurance policy and a $10,000 property coverage policy will be added to the county’s insurance schedule with no charge at this time as it is mid-year, according to the proposal.
All expenses for the center will be paid from the tourism budget, the proposal stated.
“A lot of counties have a welcome center,” Belcher said, and added that Patrick County soon will be among them.
