Photo courtesy of Jamie Newton, Brown County CVB

Visitors to Brown County can now be sure they've arrived, thanks to the installation of four new welcome signs at county lines.

The first sign, on State Road 46 at the Brown-Monroe county line, went up Wednesday morning (pictured above).

The Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau's marketing committee has been working on the "gateway signage project" since 2010, with the help of Tom Vornholt and Bob Everman, who at that time were leaders of the Brown County Economic Development Commission and Brown County Chamber of Commerce.

"For years, comments have been heard from business owners that while talking with visitors, they would say things like, 'I have been driving through here for years and never knew this town existed,'" said Jane Ellis, executive director of the Brown County CVB.

"The town of Nashville installed signs at the city limits, but we wanted to take it to the next step and let people know they are entering a county that is worthy of the recognition that you are entering a special place."

In addition to the Brown-Monroe county line, the signs will be installed along state roads 46 East, 135 North and 135 South.

Installation required the approval of the Indiana Department of Transportation, the county commissioners and county planning and zoning boards.

The signs, costing $3,100 each plus about $1,000 for installation, were made by Gary Anderson of Bloomington Sign Design, who has designed several other signs in Brown County. Three signs are being paid for out of Brown County Convention and Visitors Commission funds and the other by the CVB. The money comes from the 5 percent innkeepers tax, paid by overnight visitors.

-- Sara Clifford, Brown County Democrat