By Jim Beller

Marketing Rogersville was the theme for a recent study conducted by the Rogersville/Hawkins County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class of 2006-7.

"In our case study, we wanted something that could be used by the Main Street Program," Mary Ellen Evans said at Thursday's Chamber breakfast meeting at Wellmont Hawkins County Hospital.

"We wanted to help establish some community branding with emphasis on the Main Street Program. We wanted to be able to have the tools to market the community, either to visitors, new citizens of Rogersville or new businesses," Evans said.

"We asked individuals in Rogersville to give us their thoughts. We had some demographic (items) in the beginning, then we had five questions that we asked to give their true, honest feelings about Rogersville," she said.

The surveys were placed throughout town and conducted online, generating 285 responses. Two-thirds of the respondents were female; 61 percent were married.

Nearly 95 percent of those who responded cited downtown as the town's most marketable feature, followed closely by Hale Springs Inn. The courthouse was third at nearly 70 percent.

When asked "What are you most proud of about Rogersville," the majority focused on the town's citizens, heritage, beauty and small-town characteristics.

When asked for a possible slogan for Rogersville, 210 responded. Examples were : Historic Places, Friendly Faces; Past, Present, Future Rogersville is the Place to Be; Enjoy Rogersville's Hometown Heritage; Where History and Tradition Meet Tomorrow; Preserving the Past, Focusing on our Future.

Having a revitalized downtown topped the list of nearly 60 percent of those surveyed when asked, "How do you envision Rogersville in five years?" Nearly half said, "The same or no change."