3.2 Community Partners

The Destination McDowell Tourism Master Plan planning process included input from the general public and a variety of stakeholder groups including non-profit, government, and quasi-government agencies.

The consultant team engaged stakeholders through a series of interviews, focus groups, walking tours, and public drop-in meetings that resulted in a broad insight into key community opportunities and constraints. The public and coalition of community leaders established the foundation for the cooperative vision and recommendations found within this master plan. GOVERNMENT/QUASI-GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

MCDOWELL COUNTY

CITY OF MARION

TOWN OF OLD FORT

MCDOWELL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MARION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE/MARION BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

MARION DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION

OLD FORT BUSINESS OWNERS

LITTLE SWITZERLAND BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

MCDOWELL TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

US FOREST SERVICE

NC DIVISION OF PARKS AND RECREATION

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

G5 TRAIL COLLECTIVE

CONSERVATION TRUST FOR NORTH CAROLINA

FOOTHILLS CONSERVANCY OF NORTH CAROLINA

FRIENDS OF FONTA FLORA STATE TRAIL

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE OLD FORT

WEST MARION COMMUNITY FORUM

ORCHARD AT ALTAPASS

MCDOWELL TRAILS ASSOCIATION

The West Marion Community Forum and People on the Move Old Fort coordinated efforts to create a mural in Old Fort that commemorates local civil rights history.