Stump Appointed to County Visitors Board

Heidi Stump, executive director of The Clayton Center, has been appointed to a seat on the board of the Johnston County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Bureau is the leading authority on tourism and travel in the area.

"I look forward to working with others on the board to help market Johnston County," Stump said. "We need the revenue that visitors bring into Clayton and elsewhere in the county."

Residents might not view Johnston County as a tourist destination, but figures show that visitors spent nearly $175 million here in 2007, the last year that figures are available, including more than $14 million in local and state sales taxes. The Bureau promotes county destinations to visitors and encourages the use of hotels, restaurants, retail outlets, heritage sites, museums, entertainment and recreational sites.

In addition to its marketing role, the Bureau has spent more than a million dollars over the years supporting special events and festivals in an efforts to foster tourism development.

As executive director of The Clayton Center, Stump oversees the operation of a multi-use venue that supports more than a thousand events a year, ranging from performing arts to trade shows, expos and corporate events. During her four years on the job, revenues from the Center have steadily risen each year.

For more information, please contact Stump at 553-3152.