The opening of Tanger Factory Outlets today marks a historic moment for Washington County. Together with the slots casino at The Meadows and eventually the Bass Pro complex, the outlet mall will confirm the Route 19-Race Track Road area as a tourist destination.

Tanger will offer 75 national retailers and expects 4.5 million visitors a year. With that many people, the benefits will spill over into other businesses outside of the immediate confines of the outlets and the casino.

Many of these visitors will arrive on bus tours but will still spend money while they are here. Those who travel by car will patronize local restaurants and buy gas and incidentals. If they decide to stay overnight, the economic benefits multiply.

In this respect, one of the tiniest of Tanger's tenants, a nonpaying one at that, is highly significant. Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency will operate a booth where shoppers can receive information about where to eat, find a hotel room or locate other local attractions. Getting a face-to-face greeting from a living person who can answer questions should serve to make travelers feel more welcome, encouraging them to perhaps stay longer and to come back.

When it was first proposed, the outlet mall was a source of controversy and legal challenges because of the tax-increment financing (TIF) system used to help develop it. The TIF, approved by Washington County, South Strabane Township and Trinity Area School District allowed the county redevelopment authority to float bonds to pay for infrastructure development. The taxing bodies would continue to receive property taxes on the value of the unimproved property, while the bulk of increased property tax from the improved property will be dedicated to paying off the bond debt.

Fortunately, the TIF went through, and we are able to celebrate today's opening.

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