Staff Writer



EASLEY - Local author Gerald Sweitzer believes city officials should use Easley's railroad past as an asset for the future.



Sweitzer, who co-authored "The 5O Best Small Southern Towns" shared what he believes the best Southern towns possess with members of the Tax Increment Finance Committee Thursday morning.



Sweitzer and co-author Kathy M. Fields visited over 150 towns in the South, all with populations under 25,000, while researching their book.



"We found some common characteristics of those towns that we considered outstanding," he said.



Great towns have to have "three F's," Sweitzer said.

"Flowers, fountains and festivals," he said.



Easley's railroad and its history could be a great asset in both attracting tourists and giving the city a sense of identity, Sweitzer said.



"A lot of the towns have railroads," he said. "Don't let that deter you."



Sweitzer cited Acworth, Georgia as a town that has embraced its railroad history.



"It's a popular thriving ... downtown area," he said.



While Easley officials have often been frustrated by delays caused to projects due to railroad regulations, they might want to consider building Easley's downtown area around a railroad theme, he said.



"You took your depot down but you might want to put another one back up and make a restaurant or a visitor's center out of it," he said.



Sweitzer is the co-chair of Pickens County Vision 2025 movement, which seeks to greatly improve the area by 2025.



"You all have great possibilities," he said. "Don't let the train be a deterrent. A lot of people would give their right arm for what we've got in Pickens County."



A new state tourism initiative is designed to bring tourists from Charleston to Greenville, Sweitzer said.



Officials should market Easley to those tourists, he said.



"You're the gateway to the mountains," Sweitzer said.



Officials should branch out when looking for ideas to bring back to Easley, Sweitzer said.



"Take a look at what other towns are doing," he said. "Look a little beyond."



Reach Jason Evans at jevans@theeasleyprogress.com or 855-0355.