Judy Sizemore, director of the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, talked to TimesDaily Staff Writer Russ Corey and explained why the heritage area is so important.

Q: Which counties are included in the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area?

A: Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone and Morgan.

Q: Is there a particular focus in the development of the national heritage area?

A: There are three elements. We have the river, then we have the Native American heritage and the music, because people from the area changed the world as far as music is concerned. A lot of people in the Shoals area only think of the Quad Cities being impacted by the river, but it impacted Lawrence, Morgan and Limestone (counties) as well.

Q: How can the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area impact Shoals residents?

A: As far as careers, the area that had the largest increase has been related to tourism. Not all tourism jobs are minimum wage jobs. Look at the printing companies that make brochures or the companies that develop ad campaigns. There are a lot of different people having a lot of different skill sets that are important in the tourism industry.

Q: Who benefits from the region receiving this designation?

A: Everyone. We depend on sales tax dollars. When you look at tourists coming in, they come in, spend their money and leave and go home. They don’t need the services that our tax dollars will pay for. The more people we can invite in, get them to stay longer, the better off we’re going to be.

Q: “What opportunities will the national heritage area provide for residents?

A: There will be opportunities for entrepreneurship. Cultural tourists want to experience authenticity, they’re not looking for the big chain restaurants, the big chain stores. They want to experience the way people live here and what’s important here.

The whole idea is to expand economic development and increasing cultural tourism. We’ve already got cultural tourism, but how can we get people to know what’s here.