Nathan Straus
Jacksonville Daily Progress
JACKSONVILLE —
The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce has joined the Texas Forest Trail Partnership Program for 2010, said Chamber President Peggy Renfro.
It is a partnership that has happened in the past, she added, but now the Chamber will take a more active role.
“This is an organization we are partnering with to promote Jacksonville’s upcoming events, along with just promoting the town,” Renfro said. “It’s another avenue.”
Jacksonville’s chamber is just one of 24 organizations joining the program for 2010, a Texas Forest Trail Region press release stated. TFT Board of Directors President Brian Bray said the group is delighted to have wide-spread support from a diverse group of partners.
“By becoming a member of the Texas Forest Trail Partner Program, organizations receive specific benefits while paying only a fraction of the costs for numerous marketing opportunities, hospitality training and networking and educational opportunities,” Bray said.
The Texas Forest Trail Region is a regional tourism initiative developed by the Texas Historical Commission which fosters regional economic development by promoting heritage tourism through the preservation of cultural and historical resources and regional partnerships, the press release added.
This Texas Forest Trail Region involves 35 counties in East Texas.
Renfro said this will provide two opportunities to Jacksonville, one being a networking bonus for being located on the group’s Web site, the other being a listing in the group’s quarterly brochure.
Renfro said partnership costs the chamber about $350 a year, which is taken from the city’s hotel and motel tax fund.
“We’re working to be more involved in this,” Renfro said. “We have participated in this program in the past but we will be more active.”
She said this involves attending a meeting in August to learn about networking, social media and partnering with the surrounding community to promote Jacksonville.
