Arkansas Delta Rural Heritage Development Initiative Beth Wiedower

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Arkansas DeltaRural Heritage Development
Initiative Beth Wiedower
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• Preservation-based economic development and
  community revitalization strategy heritage
  tourism, local business development, imaging and
  branding, heritage education and landmark
  preservation
• 15 counties of the Arkansas Delta bordering the
  Mississippi River, including 6 Main Street
  Arkansas communities a consortium of 2-
  4-year higher education institutions
• Includes two National Scenic Byways Crowleys
  Ridge Parkway the Great River Road

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• Creation of Heritage Trail System
• - Highlights unique and distinctive heritage of
  the region
• Provides ready-made experiences for travelers
• Connects the dots for locals and visitors alike

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• Heritage Trails
• Again, connecting the dots within the region
• Mechanism for telling our story both tangible
  and experiential
• Ensure authenticity
• Local buy-in is critical
• Serves as mechanism for pride-building within
  communities
• Catalyst for private investment and capital
  improvements
• Preservation of unique heritage of the Arkansas
  Delta

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Heritage Site Development- focus on sites along
developing Heritage Trails - required economic
component/catalyst- sustainability and capacity
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An Imaging Branding Campaign for the Arkansas
Delta____________________________________________
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• Utilize micro-brands and encourage partners to
  buy-in to regional brand

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Materials utilizing the regional brand
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The rich soil that makes up the Arkansas Delta
was deposited from across the nation by the power
of the mighty Mississippi River.  In that spirit,
people from all over are traveling to the
Arkansas Delta Byways tourism region to see the
people, places and history that make up this
fertile landscape.   Time flows at a more relaxed
pace here, but even a day in the Delta can bring
back a flood of memories. Come experience the
Arkansas Delta, its soil and soul!
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Arkansas DeltaMade Branding Promotional Program
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Phillips Community College-RHDIs
Tourism-related Business Incubator and
Shared-use Kitchen Facility
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