Strategic Plan for Sustainable Tourism and
Economic Development in Murray County
July 1, 2016
Strategic Plan for Sustainable Tourism and
Economic Development in Murray County
Initiative for the Future of Rural
Oklahoma
 A three-year demonstration project


Dr. Joe Williams, Initiative Director
Strategic Plan for Sustainable Tourism and
Economic Development in Murray County

Deborah Sharp


Amy Morris Cowley


Community Development Specialist
Wes Lee


Murray County Tourism Development Assistant
Jack Frye


Murray County Extension Director
County Educator
Mike D. Woods

Extension Economist
Strategic Plan for Sustainable Tourism and
Economic Development in Murray County

Goals and Action Plan (or strategies)

Activities and Early Results (or
Outcomes)

Challenges and Lessons Learned
Goals and Action Plan
(or strategies)
1.
2.
3.
Set up and equip an Economic Development
and Tourism Office in Murray County.
Organize a planning retreat for identified
community leaders from across the county.
Develop a plan for coordination of efforts to
educate our entire county population on the
importance and impact of tourism dollars on
the local economy.
Goals and Action Plan
(or strategies) cont.
4.
5.
6.
Coordination of an ongoing series of seminars
for the service industry on the importance of
customer service skills.
Develop and implement a training program for
developing new leaders within the county and
to improve the skills and knowledge of existing
leaders.
Document and evaluate the results of this
cooperative project by partnering with OCES
and OSU students for an outside, independent
review.
Activities and Early Results (or
Outcomes)





Setting Up Office
Retreat to Gainesville, Texas
Long Range Planning Committee
Beautification Committee
Lodging Tax Committee
Oklahoma PRIDE
Customized County Program
Promotional Efforts
Leadership Murray County
Setting Up Office

Outcome: Meets goal
of setting up an
office of Economic
Development and
Tourism
Retreat to Gainesville, Texas

Outcome: Led to the
development of some
long-term goals.
Long Range Planning Committee

Outcome: Assists
with the goal to
coordinate efforts
countywide.
Beautification Committee

Outcome: Further supports the goal of
coordinating tourism efforts across the
county.
Lodging Tax Committee

Outcome: The lodging tax will
support coordinated efforts to
develop tourism in the county.
Oklahoma PRIDE

Outcome: Employee hospitality
training supports the goal of
tourism development.
Promotional Efforts

Outcome: Supports
the goal of providing
an office of tourism
for the county that
can provide
coordinated efforts
to develop tourism.
Leadership Murray County

Outcome: To develop
new leaders within the
county and to improve
the skills and knowledge
of existing leaders.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
Challenges
 Personality Conflicts
 Keeping people from
“burning out”
Lessons Learned
 Communicate with the
right person from the
start
 The IFRO Grant made a
difference
Questions???