Invited by Greene County Chamber
Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, will visit several Greene County attractions next Wednesday, Sept. 30. Durham will be hosted by Greene County Chamber tourism and events coordinator Angie Pedersen.
At the beginning of the year, Durham committed to travel to at least 12 towns across Iowa to see their attractions first hand and to increase IEDA’s awareness of their needs and ways the agency can help build the tourism industry.
Pedersen extended an invitation to Durham last March. “This is a huge deal and I’m so excited she accepted our invitation,” Pedersen said.
Durham named the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower, RVP~1875, Wild Rose Casino and Deal’s Orchard as places she wants to visit. In planning the schedule for the day, Pedersen added Greene Bean Coffee as the first stop and put Deal’s at the end of the day. “It will be pie time when we get to Deal’s,” Pedersen said.
Durham will also do a walking tour of the Thomas Jefferson Gardens and have lunch at Angie’s Tea Garden. According to Pedersen, Durham’s entourage is just one of three groups that have planned tours of Greene County that day. Durham will see the county’s tourism energy, as all three groups are having lunch at the same place.
Greene County Development Corp director Ken Paxton, Chamber president Omega Wise and Jefferson Matters: Main Street president Jamie Daubendiek will join Durham for lunch. State Rep Jerry Behn and state Sen Chip Baltimore may also be on hand for part of the day. Members of Grow Greene County will serve as Durham’s hosts at Wild Rose Casino.
The Main Street program and Travel Iowa, both of which play important roles in promoting and developing Jefferson and Greene County, are housed within the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
“As a long-time economic development professional, I understand the tremendous impact of Iowa’s tourism industry. And I value your hard work and partnership as we position Iowa as an ideal place to live, work and visit. It is a task that requires participation from all of us, working together,” Durham told tourism professionals earlier this year.
