ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) board approved three grants for upcoming tourism-related projects this year at the meeting on Wednesday.
Beneficiaries include the Liberty NC STEP Program, the American Legion Southeast Regional Baseball Tournament and the Operation North State Top Shelf Fishin’ Festival at Randleman Lake.
The board approved a $2,500 grant to Liberty to help create a business directory, visitor guide brochure and business website. Organizers told the board in their application, the brochure will be a complete snapshot of the town, broken down by categories such as dining and shopping. All businesses that participate in the directory will also be listed on the city’s new website. The goal is to create 5,000 brochures for distribution in time for a May 9 Kick-Off Festival.
Randolph County will once again be host for the American Legion Southeast Regional Tournament, Aug. 6-10, at McCrary Park in Asheboro. The TDA board approved a $12,500 grant for the event. Randolph County hosted the event in 2013 and 2014. Organizers said it brings thousands of players, fans and families to the area each year.
A new event this year will be the Operation North State Top Shelf Fishin’ Festival at Randleman Lake on May 19. Operation North State is a nonprofit organization based in Davidson County that helps North Carolina soldiers and veterans. Organizer Terry Snyder said the event gives disabled veterans a welcome day of fishing with equipment donated by local anglers.
This will be one of six events Operation North State has planned this year. Other events will be held at Lake Norman, Badin Lake, New Bern on the Neuse and Trent rivers, Jordan Lake and Oak Island.
The TDA board voted to award the group $5,000 to help put on the event in Randolph County.
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