Page 16 - Robeson Living Winter 2020

Town of Fairmont’s I-95 Billboard

IF YOU BUILD IT,

THEY WILL COME
By: Charles Kemp
Fairmont Town Commissioner

There is an old adage that states, “a picture is worth a thou-
sand words,” and it could not be more accurate in describ- Over the past seven years the board has drawn hundreds of
ing the Town of Fairmont’s I-95 billboard. Beaming down at travelers through our business corridor on Walnut Street and
motorists who travel south on that major artery is a beautiful raised our town’s business viability. Its location and format
ocean side scene of waves, a reflection of the sun, high rise have been altered but the message has remained constant
condos, and an invitation in bright yellow script offering ad- “take exit 10 to Fairmont and get to the beach quicker”. Aid-
vice to take exit 10 to Fairmont and shorten the beach drive. ing travelers who take exit 10 are 5 brown “bread crumb”
signs spaced out on the 5-mile approach road to our town
This advice has been seen by southbound motorists since helping as a guide to motorists. Many of those accepting the
2013 when the first of three such billboards was erected. shorter route invitation have, no doubt, returned home by
Revisions and site changes have been made resulting in the using the same route and have also shared their experience
present sign located south of mile marker 15 and featuring with other friends and family creating a domino effect.
the logos of 12 Fairmont businesses or organizations.
Our most recent billboard edition was installed in early No-
The original billboard, created by Lamar Sign Company, vember and features the business logos of the following
was the product of a project devised when I was Mayor in businesses and organizations who are its sponsors: Dollar
2013. An economic committee I had formed in 2010 called Tree, Thomas Auto Repair & Towing, Sun-Do Convenient
the J.O.B.S. team (job opportunities and business support) Mart, McDonald’s, Fairmont Pizza, Fairmont Drug Compa-
felt we should take advantage of southbound I-95 traffic ny, NAPA Auto Parts, Southeastern Health, Fairmont Rotary
by offering those seeking a shorter route to the S. C. Grand Club, Fairmont Development Corp., O2energies, and Rogers
Strand a viable alternative. After reviewing N.C. DOT traffic Screenprinting & Embroidery. Each has their logo or trade-
statistics showing 9,000,000 cars traveling on I-95 per year mark proudly displayed at the signs bottom. These very pro-
we felt it completely reasonable to visually encourage some gressive businesses and civic organizations are the vanguard
of them to travel through our town and shorten their trip. It of our town’s effort to rise and meet the economic challenges
worked. that all small towns are currently facing.

By the end of the 2013 summer several Walnut Street busi- As the future offers better health conditions and travelers
nesses who were sponsors of the billboard reported out of venture out more to enjoy vacations at our lovely beaches
state travelers were patronizing their locations. One busi- they will be welcomed by a bright and enticing panorama by
ness reported their walk-in business increased from 3.4% the side of the road which will show them the way to arrive
to 6.1%. I personally had conversations with multiple out at their destination quicker and with much less travel stress.
of state travelers in several locations who informed me they We, in Fairmont, invite all of them to experience firsthand
saw the billboard and sought the shorter route. our town’s motto, “Where History and Hospitality Meet”

Page 16 Robeson Living ~ Winter 2020