BMTC18: Tourism: How Beer Revitalizes Downtowns

Is beer the cure all? Of course not. But we have seen it do some amazing things, including revitalizing the downtowns of small and large towns seemingly left behind by the technological era. Our panelists will present several different case studies of how beer, breweries, and beer tourism helped revitalize a downtown. Presenters: Ed Phillips, Karen Nevin, Mark Frier

Transcript

1. CRAFT BEER MORGANTON Ed Phillips – Director of Tourism
2. Morganton, North Carolina • Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains • 50 Miles E of Asheville & 60 Miles NW of Charlotte • Part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Destination
3. 2.5 miles off of Interstate 40
4. ASHEVILLE & CHARLOTTE BEER DESTINATION
5. WHO WE ARE Population of 18,000 (inside city limits) Retail Market Population 50,000
6. At one time the Furniture Manufacturing Capital of the World!
7. NOW WE ARE… High Tech Manufacturing Leisure Travel Destination Home for “Solo-Preneurs”
8. First Craft Brewery Opened in Downtown in 1999. 1st Downtown Manufacturer of ANYTHING since furniture started to diminish
9. 2018 Morganton Craft Brewery Scene
10. CATAWBA BREWING
11. FONTA FLORA
12. SIDETRACKED
13. 3 Craft Breweries employ more than 40 full-time
14. 5 Tap Rooms Employ an additional 12
15. City Map Overview of Blocks Impacted
16. RESULTS
17. Downtown Visitor Center Traffic Up 60% Since 2010
18. 38 New Businesses in the Last 5 years
19. UNIQUE SHOPS
20. THE ARTS
21. POTTERY
22. EATERIES
23. 20 New Retailers
24. EVENT VENUES
25. LOCAL TOURS
26. Investments Both Private and Public… OF OVER $7,990,000
27. 3rd Annual Craft Beer Festival in June “State of Origin”
28. Fonta Flora Purchased Downtown Block
29. Catawba Expanding & Adding “Garage Tasting Room”
30. • MAIN STREET • CITY OF MORGANTON • COMMUNITY LOAN POOL PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT