Haywood County tourism and local government leaders are poised to act on an idea they have been kicking around for years — funding economic development projects that will attract tourists.

At a meeting Friday, the executive committee of the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority recommended that an additional 1 percent be tacked on to the occupancy tax currently collected by overnight accommodation owners in the county.

At the full TDA board meeting Monday, the suggested amount was upped to 2 percent, which will bring the tourism tax up to a total of 6 percent, the maximum allowed under state law.

The amount is expected to generate an additional $450,000 annually that could be used to complete sports complexes or other projects that will attract tourists to the community.

Alice ...