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Putnam on trail of wider tourism reach
The Putnam County Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB) has become the third in a three-county partnership promoting art- and food-related businesses and attractions along the Rural Routes to Main Street Cultural Trail (RR2MS).
Started by the Hendricks County CVB as a way to attract visitors interested in "Going Local," RR2MS promotes restaurants sourcing ingredients from the county, galleries that feature local artists, garden shops, breweries/wineries, quilt/fiber stores, honey farms and more.
Morgan County linked its tourism-related businesses with the trail three years ago, expanding it to include Hot Blown Glass Studio, the Monrovia Mudworks, Sally Ann Ceramics and more
RR2MS also broadened its criteria so more artisans could participate, launching "Second Saturdays" to involve artists and food producers whose studios and stands are not open regular hours.
The trail expanded further last month to include Putnam County's locally focused tourism-related businesses.
"The potential is enormous for this trail to help Putnam County artisans increase their businesses and for the county to increase recognition as home to artisans creating unique foods, art and fine craft," Putnam County CVB Executive Director Nancy Mark said.
"Involvement in this trail truly demonstrates Putnam County's uniqueness among Indiana counties in terms of the artisanal work coming from here," Mark said. "Indiana has 10 Artisan Trails that focus on local foods and art in 44 counties.
"Putnam County is one of only six that are part of two trails," she noted. "The others are Brown County, Monroe County, Bartholomew County, Hamilton County and Jefferson County, all areas known for their cultural richness, and one goal for partnering in RR2MS is to highlight the similar depth we have here in local foods and art and in stories of the craftspeople who make it."
Putnam County was one of six that partnered on the Rivers and Roads Artisan Trail five years ago. Led by the Rural Urban Entrepreneurial Development Initiative at Indiana State University, the Rivers and Roads Trail also involves art- and food-related businesses and attractions in Clay, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo counties.
The state's 10 Artisan Trails are a network created by Indiana Artisan, a statewide organization started in 2008 by Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman to help identify, recognize and promote the work of the state's highest-quality artisans.
Annually, through an extensive review process, the organization names new Indiana Artisans. Those with studios, workshops, kitchens, or retail venues such as wineries or breweries are encouraged to become part of a Trail as a way to increase tourist visitation and sales.
Putnam County's artisans will be included in the 2017 RR2MS printed guide. Each artisan also will be featured on an individual page of the trail's website.
Participating artisan businesses receive a trail decal for their front door, indicating they are a stop on what is now a three-county trek. Putnam County is expected to benefit as visitors in Hendricks and Morgan counties learn of additional artisans to visit.
"This is an ideal market for us," Mark said. "These are visitors known to enjoy local foods and art, and they already are nearby in areas contiguous to Putnam County.
"Making the drive to our county and to our businesses is an obvious way to benefit from promotion nearby counties already are doing, and it's a great way to share the visitors coming here," Mark added. "It's a wonderful partnership that highlights the artisan nature of this area of the state," she said.
Businesses interested in being included on the Putnam County portion of the RR2MS Trail are encouraged to contact Mark at the Visitor Bureau, 12 W. Washington St., Greencastle.