Pure Carolina Regional Trails        

Partnering with Visit Charlotte, the Arts and Science Council, and the Charlotte Regional Partnership, Meritage Consulting was contracted to inventory, assess and plan for a set of thematic driving trails for this sixteen county economic development region.

Trails will highlight four themes and have the potential to significantly impact all 16 counties in the area (12 of which are in NC and 4 in SC).  With the themes of Motorsports and Adventure, Cultural and Culinary, the rural counties included have the opportunity to leverage the major investments going on in Charlotte and tap into that market to push people outside of the city and beyond.  Pure Carolina Cultural Trail and the Pure Carolina Culinary Trail continue to build on topics that cause people to travel and spend money, especially rich throughout this region not only in the Charlotte City limits but in every county included in the project.

This region has never put together such a wide collaborative project.  Already the partners have invested in this concept and by the end of 2007 will have a complete inventory for the region, a marketing plan and strategy as well as an implementation plan.

Description of the services provided by Meritage Consulting:

• Public Meetings
• Inventory of Assets
• Strategic Plan
• Implementation and Marketing Plan
• Grant Writing

Pure Carolina

Phase II 

For 2008 and 2009, Meritage was again contracted to provide services for the partnership.

These Include:

• Public Meetings
• Design of Web (oversight)
• Design of Guidebook
• Logo Management
• Participant recruitment
• Design of Trails
• Design of Collateral Marketing Pieces