UNLEASHED DOGS AND THEIR WASTE continue to be a topic of concern in Midway. Zach Rankin, co-owner of Midway Makers Market, head of volunteers for festivals in Midway and city council candidate put up signs reminding residents and visitors of the leash law. The signs were created for the Midway Merchants Association for use at its festivals, but given the issue is allowing them to be used now. Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift expressed the city’s gratitude to Rankin during this week’s council meeting. (Photo by Scott White) “Birthplace of Bourbon” is the new logo for the Woodford County Tourism Commission’s latest project. Executive Director Emily Downey said there is hard historical evidence to back the claim up and this will help Woodford County build on its already strong bourbon tourism. (Photo submitted)

 

 

Woodford County Tourism Commission Executive Director Emily Downey told the Midway City Council that the commission would have a new tourism tag, “Birthplace of Bourbon.”

Downey said they are in the process of obtaining a trademark or working out a negotiated use of it with the existing trademark holder. She said a lot of the commission’s programs and projects will build off of this and that a logo is already designed and in use.

“We can make a great factual case that Woodford County is, in fact, the actual birthplace of bourbon,” she said. 

 In her update of the annual report, Downey told the councilmembers at the July 15 meeting that the commission is funded with a 3 percent transient guest tax and governed by a seven-member board, and that their mission is to “help share the story of Woodford County to our community, our region, our state, our nation and the world. We hope everyone will come visit and experience the special Woodford County charm we have here.” 

She added that communication has been one of their main focuses this year, both in and outside of Woodford County. 

“To let folks know Woodford County is a great place to visit and spend time in,” she said. Downey said she was pleased with the results of a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) that is used to assess an organization’s competitive position and develop strategic planning.  

“A big outcome from this was re-branding from ‘Reserve Woodford’ to ‘Visit Woodford’,” she said. “This integrates us better with the other commissions around us and we are now using it in all of our communications.”

Downey said the commission is up for an Emmy Award from the Ohio Valley Chapter of the television industry for the short YouTube video “Joy Ride” starring influencers Mike Wolfe and Leticia Cline. The film can be viewed at this link: https://visitwoodford.com/take-a-joy-ride/. 

In addition, she said Woodford County is also involved in the new Kentucky Train Trail which winds through seven counties and will include stops in Midway, Wallace Station and the Bluegrass Railroad Museum in Versailles near Falling Springs. 

The commission is also planning a “FAM Tour” this fall which will bring in seven influencers from around the country to spend a week in Woodford County creating content for social media, podcasts and TikTok. Downey also said MSNBC did a feature story on the new Rail Explorers-Bluegrass Division which is proving to be very successful and already is a catalyst for other tourism activities.

As to hard data, Downey said the commission’s success is measurable. 

“Comparing the annual state tourism reports from 2002 to the most recent year 2023, spending from tourists has grown from $36.2 million to $38.1 million with a higher trajectory with the growth in bourbon tourism and three new distilleries coming online – Bluegrass and the planned ones (at Edgewood Farm and the boutique hotel under construction at the old Woodford Bank building downtown).”

Grant writer contract

Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift asked the council to consider a resolution to pay for a grant writer and to be ready to discuss it at the July 29 council meeting. 

“I think we need to contract with a grant writer – no one full time. I think we are letting a lot of money go by and this is worth doing as a pilot project for a year. I think it’s likely this will pay for itself with grants we are able to receive,” he said. 

Vandegrift said $20,000 is a reasonable amount to dedicate to this project given there is funding in the budget that can be allocated to the professional services category.

Councilmember Logan Nance agreed, saying, “If this succeeds, it will pay for itself.” Councilmember Patrick Hall said, “I know there are things out there we will qualify you for and this can really help the Park Board as it’s looking at new projects.”

Encroachment approved

Zach Rankin’s request for an encroachment to take up two parking spots in front of his and his wife’s store, Midway Makers Market, from 9 a.m.  till noon on August 3 to celebrate the store’s five-year anniversary and to honor founder Amy Bowman was approved.

Next meeting

Due to conflicts in schedules, the council has moved its next regular meeting scheduled for August 5 to July 29. A special meeting notice will be posted online. Vandegrift said he expects the council will take up the Short-Term Rental/ Airbnb and medical cannabis text amendments being prepared by the Woodford County Planning Commission that were discussed at the July 1 meeting. He said he also looks forward to hearing feedback on his proposal for an RFP to solicit applicants for the grant writing contract.