HIGHLAND FALLS – Orange County officials and members of the Town of Highlands business community have come together to collaborate on a project to promote tourism within the area.
The county executive’s office presented a check to the Town of Highlands, which was then transferred to the Town of Highlands Chamber of Commerce, for approximately $5,000. The funding would cover the costs of a brochure collaboration between chamber businesses, designers and other local stake holders.
Town of Highlands Chamber of Commerce President James Modlin said he sees the town as the gateway to Orange County and putting a heavier focus on tourism there is a huge advantage, one that has possibly been overlooked for too long.
“People coming up the Palisades Parkway, people coming up, migrating up north from New York City, their entryway into Orange County, in my view, is right here through the Town of Highlands,” said Modlin. “I think there’s a whole lot of benefit, a whole lot of strategic benefit, from a county perspective.”.
Acting County Executive Harold Porr agreed boosting Town of Highlands local tourism, underlined by the fact they already have the US Military Academy drawing in tourists from all over the country and state, would be a huge asset to the county.
Porr said with over $200 million in sales tax revenue coming into the county last year and the county’s recent trajectory of becoming more tourism focused than ever, it was time to put the area into the spotlight.
“Promoting the Village of Highland Falls and the Town of Highlands can only mean more tourism dollars coming into the coffers of the county,” Porr said. “Plus, more importantly, Highland Falls is a beautiful village. The Town of Highlands is a beautiful town. West Point is here. It’s a unique, phenomenal kind of tourism destination and we need to let the world know what’s here and what they can enjoy.”
The brochures have already been designed and printed. They are available through the offices of Orange County Tourism and the county executive, as well as through the Town of Highlands Chamber of Commerce.
Town of Highlands Chamber of Commerce said they are looking at also expanding distribution and encourage local feedback on any way the initiative can be improved upon.
