Asset Based Community Development

1

• Asset Based Community Development

2
Cultural / Heritage Assets

• Craft
• Music
• Agri-Heritage
• Ethnic
• Food

3
Natural Assets

• Natural Wonders
• Scenic By-ways
• Parks
• (State and National)
• Water Amenities
• Costal, Lakes, Rivers

4
Educational Assets

• University Programs Elder Hostels etc.
• Unique Schools
• Craft Schools, Sailing Schools, Boat
  Builders
  
• New Trends
• Learning Vacations-
  
  i.e. Archeological
  Digs, Cooking Schools
• Outdoor Recreation/Adventure Schools
• Rock Climbing, Kayaking, Hang Gliding

5
Asset Mapping and Public Meetings

• Public Meetings were and are the key for our
  trails program
  
• We asked specific questions of each meeting, but
  always asked certain key questions
  
• Where dont you want visitors to go (sacred
  places)?
  
• Sites to share with visitors?
• What are you most proud of here?
• What makes your area unique in WNC?
• Then we literally put up a map and placed dots
  where folks gave us information
  

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What is a Trail?

• Thematic
• Geographic
• Trail to Marketers
• Trail to Visitors
• Trail to Hikers

7
Just a Few Examples from NC

• African American Heritage Trail American
  Motor Sports Trail American Tobacco Trail
  Appalachian Trail Asheville Urban Trail
  Beaufort By-The-Sea Coastal Carolina Christmas
  Trail Brunswick Co Farm Trail Canoeing the
  Haw River Trail Craft Heritage Trails Madison
  County Driving Trails Elizabeth Citys Historic
  Walking Trails Farms Gardens and Countryside
  Trails of Western North Carolina Glen Burney
  Trail Boone Greenway Trail Historic Albemarle
  Trail Hoop Pole Creek Nature Trail Civil War
  Trails Great Smokey Mountain Agricultural Trail
  Homegrown, HandMade and Absolutely Wild Rock
  Stew Ramble NC Golf Trail Twenty Miles of
  Furniture
• out of 274!

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• When is a trail appropriate vs. straight
  marketing of sites?

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Criteria

• HandMade must have criteria to know who to
  include but more importantly to say why certain
  sites were left out
  
• This is the standard that ensures the best
  experience for your visitor
  
• Policing?? Enforcement? (print is very different
  here from web)
  
• Key to striving towards a consistent product
• Gives the organizers some control over final
  product

10
Site Criteria

• Focus on authenticity and quality
• Celebrates and reflects positively on the
  cultural heritage of the region
  
• Locations easy to access (excludes 4-wheel drive
  across areas
  
• Private residences must have separate business
  entrance
  
• All sites specify
• Regular Business hours a minimum of 2-days per
  week

11
Craft Criteria

• Sites (studios, shops, galleries) must provide
  interpretation
  
• Historic sites must be related to craft/crafts
  person /architectural craft
  
• Shops must feature American-made craft with an
  emphasis on WNC
  
• Selected events include craft fairs,
  demonstrations, educational experiences must take
  place on an annual basis

12
Craft/Garden/Farm Criteria

• Restaurants feature indigenous mountain foods
  (i.e. blue plate specials, family style dining,
  organic and vegetarian meals
  
• Lodgings B B, farm stays, historic inns,
  fishing or hunting lodges, indigenous garden sites