BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County Judge-Executive Colby Kirk announced last week that the county would use a $99,000 USDA grant to develop a website to promote the Caney Campground.
“Funding made available through this grant will leverage the effort to redevelop the Caney Shaft Industrial site into an outdoor entertainment venue,” explained Kirk. “The planned application will focus on the development of web-based infrastructure (social media site and website with campground operating management capability) to promote and assist in seeing the outdoor entertainment center succeed.”
Kirk added that a critical goal is to ensure area residents have access to the opportunity and benefits of the Caney Shaft redevelopment and regional tourism.
On Thursday, the Martin County Fiscal Court accepted Appalachian Renewal Project’s proposal to develop and operate the campground that lies between Emily Creek and Route 292.
Clifford Smith of ARP said his company would begin cleaning the site in August, hoping the campground would be ready to offer primitive campsites in the spring since tent camping is a seasonal activity.
Smith worked with Kirk to write the USDA grant application. The website will allow for online reservations for the campsite, which eventually will feature R.V. accommodations and cabin rentals. The website will promote events that Smith plans to hold at the site, as well as fairs and festivals.
“This grant is crucial to not only develop a website and to be able to advertise and promote Caney Shaft but will also extend an opportunity to local business owners who do not currently have a website to learn how to develop their own digital footprint and will extend to more advanced training on utilizing social media sites to advertise and promote their businesses and services at a level they may not be aware is possible,” said Smith.
ARP agreed to a shorter lease for Caney Shaft than what it requested. Smith noted that having only four years to accomplish as much as they can doesn’t leave a lot of time to turn the site into a campground with all the amenities he would have liked to see transpire, but he is optimistic that much can be completed during that time.
When asked about one of the conditions of the lease agreement between ARP and the county that stipulates 2-1/2 percent of all gross profits will go back to the county once ARP recoups its development, Smith stated that he would only be “guesstimating” if he threw out a timeframe for that return to begin.
“There are too many unknowns for me to feel comfortable in answering that question with a definite date because so much depends on the final cost of developing the site and whether we can obtain funding for projects associated with the campground, such as establishing electric and water service on the property,” explained Smith.
“As of now, there are several routes we are considering in getting water to the site, and we’ll have to see what works best and is cost-effective. Also, we can none predict how quickly the site will become a hub for campers and RV owners. Once revenue is being generated, we will move forward with sharing the set percentage of the profit with the county once ARP has recouped its investment.
“That’s why the grant to develop a website for the campground was so important since it will give us a way to get the word out there and to attract tourists from near and far.”
Smith said if all goes as planned, events that may include fairs, festivals and arts and crafts shows, to name a few, can be held at Caney within the next few months.
Smith added that the cleanup process is greatly affected by weather, and with all the recent rain the area has received, work at the site may not move as quickly as planned.
“Again, we go back to all the unknowns that are out of our control,” said Smith. “But I can assure the public that we will be working diligently to achieve our goal and create an outdoor venue at Caney Shaft that will be an asset to the county and will offer unique lodging accommodations that allow visitors and locals alike to get in touch with nature and experience the great outdoors.”
While speaking on the campground, Smith continued to elaborate on the benefit of the USDA grant to promote not only Caney but tourism in the entire county and local area.
“In order to promote tourism and attract folks to Martin County and what we have to offer, there needs to be what can be described as a ‘one-stop-shop,’ so to speak, a website where the click of a button can access a variety of information that spotlights attractions, events and activities. But it doesn’t stop there.”
Smith explained that when someone searches for a particular event scheduled in the local area, having a website and social media page that not only has that information, but details of restaurants, lodging facilities, places to shop and other points of interest, simplifies the search and promotes local businesses that the visitors may decide to visit.
“The more details we offer and links we post, the more attention our website will garner. It’s truly a win-win situation for all of Martin County and surrounding areas,” said Smith.
According to Smith, the first stage of the web-based project will begin after Aug. 1, as will the cleanup of the Caney Shaft.