Suzanne Williams, Executive Director of the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce, is excited by the news that DeKalb County experienced a 6.5% growth in tourism in 2014 compared to the previous year.
As WJLE previously reported, the Economic Impact of Travel on Tennessee report showed DeKalb County gained a substantial increase of 6.5% in tourism dollars. In this latest report, travel-related expenditures for DeKalb County hit $41.16 million. Tourism also created 270 jobs in DeKalb County with over $7 million (3.6% increase) in travel-related payroll, $5.37 million (6.7% increase) in local tax receipts, and $2.29 million (6.8% increase) in state tax receipts. These figures place DeKalb County third in terms of travel-related expenditures in the 14-county Upper Cumberland region.
“We have been working hard to break the $40 million mark, and it has finally happened,” said Williams. “The economic impact of tourism on DeKalb County is huge. We are so blessed to have Center Hill Lake, Edgar Evins State Park, and the Appalachian Center for Craft, as well as great events such as the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival, Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour, DeKalb County Fair, and other local music and art events. The small town charm, friendly people, and scenic beauty that you find all across the county keep people coming back and make it a desirable place to live, work, play, raise a family, and retire,” she said.
Governor Bill Haslam and Commissioner Kevin Triplett, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, announced during a special event at the Ryman Auditorium on Tuesday that tourism’s direct domestic and international travel expenditures reached $17.7 billion in 2014 in Tennessee, up 6.3 percent, and an all-time high for the state.
Tourism-generated jobs for Tennesseans reached 152,900, an increase of 2.8 percent. State and local sales tax revenue for the industry topped $1.5 billion, up 7 percent over 2013, and the ninth consecutive year tourism topped $1 billion, according to the latest statistics from the 2014 Economic Impact of Travel on Tennessee as reported by U.S. Travel Association.
For the first time in history, travel to Tennessee topped 100 million, achieving 101.3 million person stays, a 5.1 percent increase over 2013. International travel increased 8.4 percent, reaching $576.5 million in economic impact. All 95 counties in Tennessee had more than $1 million in direct travel expenditures, 19 counties saw more than $100 million, and three counties, Davidson, Shelby and Sevier, had more than $1 billion in economic impact. Knox and Hamilton Counties round out the Top 5 with nearly $1 billion in economic impact. Tennessee is ranked in the Top 10 destinations in the U.S. for total travel.
“This increase in tourism across the board is a result of the strategic work of Tourist Development, the Tourism Committee, and the entire tourism and hospitality industry,” Haslam said. “We want Tennessee to be a place people from all over the world want to visit. The data shows that’s happening, and more jobs and $1.5 billion in sales tax revenue is good news for every Tennessean.”
Tennessee’s customer satisfaction landed at an impressive 8.5 out of 10. The satisfaction scores are greater than those of the average U.S. destination.
“Tourists are drawn to Tennessee for our world-renown music, outstanding attractions, stunning scenic beauty,” Triplett said. “But, at the end of the day, people keep coming to Tennessee for our authenticity and exceptional, Southern hospitality. That is the ‘made in Tennessee’ brand delivered to our visitors every day by our communities and partners.”
The Tennessee Tourism Committee, appointed in 2011 by Gov. Bill Haslam, is made up of tourism leaders in both the public and private sectors. TTC is chaired by Colin Reed, Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc., and co-chaired by Jack Soden, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. and Sande Weiss, president of Music Road Resort.

A Smithville area boy is among six hunters who will get the chance to take part in TWRA’s seventh elk hunt in East Tennessee this fall.
15 year old Jacob Parker, son of Billy and Sabrina Parker of Smithville, has been selected for the Tennessee Young Sportsman Hunt, which will be held October 24-25.
A total of 9,285 applied for this year’s hunt, which will be held October 19-23, and four were selected in a drawing. Their names were announced at the August meeting of the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission. They are Trevor Childs of Knoxville, Roy Bivens of Tellico Plains, Andrew Coffey of Crossville, and Forest Landers of Afton.
A fifth permit was donated to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation and auctioned off on on eBay in July. Nicholas Nelson, from Fayetteville, N.C., had the high bid of $11,101. The money will go to the TWRA Elk Program.
Each hunter is assigned a zone to hunt in the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area, and may kill only one elk.

DeKalb County experienced a 6.5% growth in tourism in 2014 compared to the previous year.
According to the latest statistics from the 2014 Economic Impact of Travel on Tennessee as reported by U.S. Travel Association, Tourism expenditures in DeKalb County were $41.16 million in 2014, up by 6.5% from $38.64 million the year before. Payroll increased by 3.6%. State and local tax receipts from tourism in DeKalb County grew by 6.8% and 6.7% respectively from 2013.
DeKalb County was second in the fourteen county Upper Cumberland region in tourism growth behind Putnam County which had a 7.6 percent increase.
Tourists are drawn to DeKalb County for attractions including Center Hill Lake, the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree, and the DeKalb County Fair among others.
Visitors to the Upper Cumberland Region spent $377.34 million in 2014, up from $359.62 the year before. Payroll increased 2.6 percent.
Meanwhile, Governor Bill Haslam and Tourism Commissioner Kevin Triplett announced Tuesday that the state’s direct domestic and international travel expenditures from tourism reached $17.7 billion in 2014, up 6.3%, an all time high for Tennessee.
Tourism-generated jobs for Tennesseans reached 152,900, an increase of 2.8 percent. State and local sales tax revenue for the industry topped $1.5 billion, up 7 percent over 2013, and the ninth consecutive year tourism topped $1 billion, according to the latest statistics from the 2014 Economic Impact of Travel on Tennessee as reported by U.S. Travel Association.
For the first time in history, travel to Tennessee topped 100 million, achieving 101.3 million person stays, a 5.1 percent increase over 2013. International travel increased 8.4 percent, reaching $576.5 million in economic impact. All 95 counties in Tennessee had more than $1 million in direct travel expenditures, 19 counties saw more than $100 million, and three counties, Davidson, Shelby and Sevier, had more than $1 billion in economic impact. Knox and Hamilton Counties round out the Top 5 with nearly $1 billion in economic impact. Tennessee is ranked in the Top 10 destinations in the U.S. for total travel.
“This increase in tourism across the board is a result of the strategic work of Tourist Development, the Tourism Committee, and the entire tourism and hospitality industry,” Haslam said. “We want Tennessee to be a place people from all over the world want to visit. The data shows that’s happening, and more jobs and $1.5 billion in sales tax revenue is good news for every Tennessean.”
Tennessee’s customer satisfaction landed at an impressive 8.5 out of 10. The satisfaction scores are greater than those of the average U.S. destination.
“Tourists are drawn to Tennessee for our world-renown music, outstanding attractions, stunning scenic beauty,” Triplett said. “But, at the end of the day, people keep coming to Tennessee for our authenticity and exceptional, Southern hospitality. That is the ‘made in Tennessee’ brand delivered to our visitors every day by our communities and partners.”
Counties Expenditures 2014 (in millions)
Cannon $3.96
Clay $6.69
Cumberland $106.62
DeKalb $41.16
Fentress $12.26
Jackson $2.22
Macon $7.41
Overton $7.36
Pickett $7.45
Putnam $117.99
Smith $11.54
Van Buren $8.88
Warren $23.11
White $20.69
UCDD $377.34
TN $17,185.27

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce presented a well-earned Community Improvement Award to Hardee’s of Smithville for their extensive interior and exterior renovations. Beautiful outside improvements include updated exterior, new signage, fresh landscaping, easy access walkways, new pavement and other parking lot upgrades. On the inside, everything the customer can see has been enhanced, and one entire interior wall is dedicated to custom-designed art that reflects iconic symbols from our local community. Since 1987, Hardee’s has been serving DeKalb County residents and its visitors, and Manager Mark Harrell wants to thank their numerous customers for the many years of continued support.
Pictured l-r:
Front Row: Chamber Board Member Kathy Hendrixson, Hardee’s employees Brandon Arnold & Roberta Wilkerson, Hardee’s Manager Mark Harrell, Hardee’s employees Judy McBride & Mia King, Chamber Board Member Sherry Harris Back Row: Chamber Director Suzanne Williams, Hardee’s employees Eloy Velazquez, Jordan Funk, Tierra Anderson, Caressa Parker & Carolyn Knowles, Chamber Adm. Asst. Josh Isaac

The DeKalb County Fire Department has received an elite award for 2014-15 Training Achievements
Of the 732 fire departments in Tennessee, both volunteer and paid, DeKalb County Fire Department ranks # 36 for 2014-15 training achievement by the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy. Considering the ranking among departments that operate with 100% volunteer staff in the state, DeKalb County Fire Department ranks # 3
This is the seventh consecutive year the DeKalb County Fire Department has been recognized as one of Tennessee’s elite fire departments for outstanding training achievement. Last year, the department was the #2 volunteer fire department in Tennessee for training hours. This year, the department logged 1,394 training hours at the state fire academy and was recognized as a Silver Level fire department in Tennessee for 2014-15. Roger Hawks, Executive Director of the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy, presented the department with a Certificate of Training Achievement.
DeKalb County Mayor Tim Stribling commended the department’s members and leaders for making DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s training program such a huge success. “Our county takes great pride in the level of commitment and service that we continue to see year after year from our volunteer firefighters who work hard and train hard to make sure our citizens have good fire protection here in DeKalb County. Getting this kind of statewide recognition for the seventh consecutive year makes it very clear that we have an excellent group of committed men and women who sacrifice many hours to be prepared to respond to the emergency needs of our citizens,” says Mayor Stribling.
Chief Donny Green says he wants to personally commend Assistance Chief David Agee, the department’s Training Officer, for his leadership in planning and coordinating the department’s training activities in a manner that spotlights our training program as one of top in the state; volunteer or career. In addition to the 1,394 hours at the Academy, Assistance Chief Agee coordinated 3,636 hours of in “in-house” training. Chief Green says that without the support of County Mayor Tim Stribling, the County Commission, the families of our volunteer firefighters, and the citizens of DeKalb County, the department could not have achieved such prestigious recognition. “Properly trained firefighters are the best tools available to any fire department. Without proper training, the best and most expensive equipment is useless. However, good training coupled with good equipment is priceless,” says Chief Green. Training performance and documentation are core elements in the Insurance Services Office’s (ISO) property protection that determine how much property owner’s have to pay in homeowners insurance premiums. The DeKalb County Fire Department’s proven success has resulted in a dramatic improvement to DeKalb County’s Public Protection Classification Rating of Class 6.
If you are interested in learning more about the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department, or would like information on how to be a member of our team and become a volunteer firefighter, you can visit the Department’s website at: www.dekalbfire.com, or call 615-464-7176. You can also visit the Department’s FaceBook group page.