Maybe 50 years ago they were appropriate, but they're now in a developed area. They don't guide tourists. They inhibit the way a tourist would see our community. Billboards may work to stunt the local economy, according to Fogle. The biggest tourism component today is heritage tourism.
People are going to communities because they have a sense of character, they show their heritage.
They provide people with new information about how other people live. The billboards detract from that. The largest signs are 525 square fet each. If the town receives the grant, it could be awarded as early as May with funding coming in October. The town would be required to use the money for billboards acquisition within 48 months of receiving funding, she said.