What’s the connection between swimming and the local economy? If, like me, you never thought about the number of people who come into Tifton during the summers because of swim meets, consider this: More than 10,000 visitors were brought into Tifton last year to attend swimming competitions, according to Tifton Tourism Talk (a newsletter produced by the Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association and Tift Area Hospitality Association).
The GRPA District III meet was held yesterday at the Baldwin Drive Aquatic Center, and the Tift County Recreation Department and the YMCA will host the state GRPA meet July 24-25 in Tifton. Tyron Spearman of the Tourism Association said Friday that 1,000 swimmers are expected for the state meet — which has to be great for local restaurants, hotels and stores.
Another recent event with links to tourism was the Miss Georgia Forestry Pageant, a six-day event held over two weekends in June. The Tourism Association estimates that 5,000 people were in Tifton to attend the competitions at the Tift County High School Performing Arts Center. The contestants were honored with a reception and dinner at the Georgia Agrirama on the Thursday before Erica Moore of Vidalia was crowned Miss Georgia Forestry on Saturday, June 20.
Other meetings and events scheduled in Tifton include the Georgia District Lions Club Convention in June 2010, the Bicycle Riders Across America convention in October 2010 and Tifton’s first Memphis Barbecue Network sanctioned event this September.
The barbecue festival, to be hosted by the Main Street program, seems particularly appropriate for Tifton right now because of the Smithsonian Institute’s Key Ingredients exhibit, currently on display at the Agrirama. Key Ingredients focuses on the evolution of the American kitchen and features a segment on barbecue as a regional tradition rising from a mixture of national origins.
Cutting the ribbons
Chamber ribbon cuttings scheduled in July: Coconut Asian Bistro, 724 Second St., July 14; Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, July 17; Mi Tierra Mexican Restaurant, 1657 Carpenter Road, July 21; and United Irrigation Supply Co., 1103 Highway 82 East, July 28. Mi Tierra is a Mexican restaurant and nightclub located in the old City Limits building. They specialize in foods made from fresh ingredients.
Market recovery
I spoke this week with longtime local real estate broker and salesperson Marianne Hill, who is now with ERA Coleman Overstreet. Mrs. Hill says she believes the Tiftarea market is not nearly as depressed as some think and that a review of recent sales would bear this out.
“I’ve been working in this market for 36 years, and I’ve seen downturns before,” Mrs. Hill said. “This was one of the worst, but I believe we’re already coming out of it and in a few more months it will be back up where it was.”
Mrs. Hill said higher-priced homes seem to be selling particularly well.
