Houlton Visitor Information Center Update
By Jim Brown
A collaborative effort, spearheaded by the
Maine Tourism Association in conjunction
with the town of Houlton, has coordinated
the procurement of funding for the Houlton
Visitor Information Center for the remainder
of 2014 and all of 2015.
The sources of funding are from the
Aroostook County Commissioners and the
Maine Office of Tourism with any residual,
minor amount (if any) paid by the town of
Houlton. The real estate and building is
owned by the town which, as the owner, pays
for the general maintenance of the property.
All other funding for the equipment and
staff is paid by the Maine Office of Tourism
per an annual management contract with
the Maine Tourism Association.
This is very welcome news as the VIC
is such an important link to the Tourism
Industry in The County; regardless of where
people are traveling from when they stop
in for information or just a travel break.
Travelers are greeted by professional and
informative staff whose jobs are to ensure
that the traveler is provided with as much
information as possible for area attractions,
hotels, restaurants, shopping and cultural
history. The VIC is also a wonderful
resource for the people of Houlton and the
surrounding area given its location, picnic
tables, free WIFI and a safe place to take a
walk (with or without a dog!).
Houlton is a gateway to all parts of northern
Maine for people traveling from New
Brunswick or any other part of our State.
The staff makes a positive impact on each
and every person who stops by. This does
the town a lot of good in that it brands
Houlton as a friendly and enjoyable place to
visit and patronize. Whether any particular
traveler spends time in Houlton after a
particular stop is not always as important
as the town making a lasting impression
which will cause people to look at our area
favorably and one where they would like to
see again, and spend time (and money).
There was a very real chance that the VIC
without this funding would have closed or
at a minimum offered less services with
restricted hours. I think that would have
been highly unfortunate for The County and
Houlton itself. The good news is that the
VIC has received a new “lease on life” so to
speak. Think what an inhospitable greeting
to northern Maine, The County and Houlton
would have looked like with a “shuttered”
VIC; not what we would have wanted to
project.
All this said, this funding should not
be counted on as long term; it is a one
year commitment, but a very important
commitment nonetheless. I raise this point
as it is imperative for the town of Houlton
to see alternative sources of funding to the
extent that the town council does not or will
not approve funding for 2016 and beyond.
Many other towns benefit from the Houlton
VIC – therefore, it makes sense for a wellstrategized effort to request funding from
the other towns where people visiting the
VIC are directed by the Houlton MTA Staff.
I would also recommend the exploration of
other sources of funding, too – all bases
should be covered in an effort the ensure the
Houlton VIC’s future.
The Maine Tourism Association provided
considerable guidance and assistance to
town council members and the new town
manager in promoting the Houlton VIC in
relation to helping to secure this funding.
The experience was a great example of the
private sector (the MTA) collaborating with
a municipality for the greater good of all.
I am proud to serve on the board of directors
of the MTA and want anyone reading this
to know that as the northernmost board
member, I am a resource to any business
who would consider becoming an MTA
Member. The cost is low in relation to the
overall benefits of membership. When
I joined the Board, I let the people who
nominated me know that I would be a very
vocal proponent of The County and all of
northern Maine; and to be ready to provide
me with assistance in any way I needed in
that effort. I can safely say that the MTA
Board and its CEO stepped to the plate in
a big way; and this funding is evidence of
that; for which I am grateful.
WINTER 2015
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