The Lexington Dispatch says the confusion surrounding the planned Randolph County welcome centers is “a classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right is doing.” Imagine that.
But guess what? The Dispatch still thinks state-operated welcome centers are a good idea, not just for Randolph but for all counties with interstates running through them:
Today, every county’s economic development strategy includes tourism. In its 2005 resolution, the tourism board cited a total statewide economic impact of $18 billion and $1.14 billion in tax receipts.
Having state-operated welcome centers like those planned for Randolph in every county with an interstate passing through – fewer than half the state’s counties – would cost about $9 million a year. That’s a lot of money, but it pales compared to $18 billion and to the sums routinely offered to manufacturers as incentives.
With Interstate 85 running through it, Davidson would be one of those counties. You can’t blame local leaders for focusing on tourism, though. It’s about all the county has right now.
