At the annual Governor’s Conference for Tourism in Kingsport, the State of Tennessee awarded the Greene County Partnership as the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) of the Year for small organizations. This award was presented during the Stars of the Industry Awards Ceremony. Destination Marketing Organizations are state-designated organizations, usually chambers of commerce, which promote tourism in each county. Two awards were presented in this category, one for organizations with tourism budgets under $500,000, and one for over that amount.
“We couldn’t be happier to accept this award. Everyone on staff has worked incredibly hard this year to put on some of the biggest and best events we’ve ever held and our marketing is at a high level. We also appreciate the trust our elected officials have in us to effectively market Greeneville and Greene County,” said Kendra Hopson, General Manager of the GCP.
The Greene County Partnership is responsible for tourism, economic development, workforce development, Keep Greene Beautiful, adult and youth leadership programs, youth council, young professionals, manufacturing council, sports council and the agribusiness committee. Some of the notable tourism projects of the GCP over the past year include the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Iris Festival, Dueling Pianos, Downtown Brewfest, Bike Ride Across Greene County, Depot Street Party, Firefly Festival, Wings & Wheels, Antique & Appraisal Fair, and the NAIA Beach Volleyball Tournament. The GCP Foundation awarded grants totaling $32,000 to Greene County businesses, mostly restaurants, to add support for lost revenue due to the water outage from Hurricane Helene. According to Tennessee’s Department of Tourism Development, visitor spending in Greene County reduced each household’s tax burden by $370 in 2024.
