HIV Outbreak ‘Challenge’ for Scott County’s Image
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe marketing director for the Scott County Visitors Commission says the overall negative view of the county since the HIV outbreak has “hurt us.” Brandon Polley says some people won't stop in Scott County to eat and one man changed his post office box from Austin to Henryville because it was impacting his business. He says the outbreak and negative news coverage is decreasing morale and hurting the people who live and work in Scott County. The commission says it's working with the Building & Development Association of Southern Indiana to turn things around by increasing positive publicity and assuring people that it's “safe to do business” there. The Visitors Commission says it also wants to use the social media hash tag called: #IAMSCOTTCOUNTY.
Last week, the Indiana State Department of Health announced the number of HIV cases in the southeastern Indiana outbreak is now at 160. State health officials say the Community Outreach Center is providing services like HIV testing and HIV care coordination. Officials also say the Needle Exchange Program has provided more than 20,000 needles.
Polley says while some businesses are seeing a regional impact, tourism hasn't really been affected. He says they were sold out several weekends around the Kentucky Derby and this past weekend's concert at the Ross Country Jamboree was sold out. He stresses there are a lot of good things happening in Scott County, including a new restaurant that just opened and the Samtec Inc. facility currently under construction.