Strategic Plan for Sustainable Tourism and Economic Development in Murray County August 4, 2015

Strategic Plan for Sustainable Tourism and Economic Development in Murray County Initiative for the Future of Rural Oklahoma A three-year demonstration project Dr. Joe Williams, Initiative Director

Strategic Plan for Sustainable Tourism and Economic Development in Murray County Deborah Sharp Murray County Extension Director Amy Morris Cowley Murray County Tourism Development Assistant Jack Frye Community Development Specialist Wes Lee County Educator Mike D. Woods Extension Economist

Strategic Plan for Sustainable Tourism and Economic Development in Murray County Goals and Action Plan (or strategies) Activities and Early Results (or Outcomes) Challenges and Lessons Learned

Goals and Action Plan (or strategies) 1. Set up and equip an Economic Development and Tourism Office in Murray County. 2. Organize a planning retreat for identified community leaders from across the county. 3. Develop a plan for coordination of efforts to educate our entire county population on the importance and impact of tourism dollars on the local economy.

Goals and Action Plan (or strategies) cont. 4. Coordination of an ongoing series of seminars for the service industry on the importance of customer service skills. 5. Develop and implement a training program for developing new leaders within the county and to improve the skills and knowledge of existing leaders. 6. Document and evaluate the results of this cooperative project by partnering with OCES and OSU students for an outside, independent review.

Activities and Early Results (or Outcomes) Setting Up Office Retreat to Gainesville, Texas Long Range Planning Committee Beautification Committee Lodging Tax Committee Oklahoma PRIDE Customized County Program Promotional Efforts Leadership Murray County

Setting Up Office Outcome: Meets goal of setting up an office of Economic Development and Tourism

Retreat to Gainesville, Texas Outcome: Led to the development of some long-term goals.

Long Range Planning Committee Outcome: Assists with the goal to coordinate efforts countywide.

Beautification Committee Outcome: Further supports the goal of coordinating tourism efforts across the county.

Lodging Tax Committee Outcome: The lodging tax will support coordinated efforts to develop tourism in the county.

Oklahoma PRIDE Outcome: Employee hospitality training supports the goal of tourism development.

Promotional Efforts Outcome: Supports the goal of providing an office of tourism for the county that can provide coordinated efforts to develop tourism.

Leadership Murray County Outcome: To develop new leaders within the county and to improve the skills and knowledge of existing leaders.

Challenges and Lessons Learned Challenges Personality Conflicts Keeping people from “burning out” Lessons Learned Communicate with the right person from the start The IFRO Grant made a difference

Questions???