SOUTH POINT - The local chamber of commerce and visitors bureau wants to help local events go global.

The Greater Lawrence County Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau is preparing to publish the Lawrence County Calendar of Events for 2006 and it is asking for information on events individuals or organizations are planning for the upcoming year.

The chamber will publish the calendar locally, nationally and even globally - all for free.

The chamber is there to help market Lawrence County, said Viviane Khounlavong, director of the convention and visitors bureau.

&#8220We do this every year and it is free,” Khounlavong said. &#8220It is one of those marketing tools that the community can use.”

She said they publish about 5,000 hardcopies of the guide a year.

The information is also posted on the Lawrence County Web site, appalachianohio.org, which also has a partnership with National Geographic and discoverohio.com- which means people will be able to access information about local events on a global scale.

&#8220We receive hits from the Web site daily for information about Lawrence County,” she said. &#8220At least 30 information requests a month.”

Information requests come from as far away as China and Germany, Khounlavong said. This year, the chamber is also publishing a restaurant guide and shopping guide to distribute to help travelers and tourists.

&#8220We do not have an actual rest area or tourist center,” she said. &#8220This office serves as our tourist center.”

Each day, an estimated three to five people a day visit the tourist center where they can pick up a calendar of events and information about Lawrence County.

The vistor's center is located in the chamber of commerce building off of the Solida Road exit.

The office lobby has space to house any promotional items, brochures or flyers.

For more information about the guide or tourism in Lawrence County, contact Khounlavong at (740) 377-4550.

&#8220We're here to help market any event or attractions,” she said.