CRANBERRY TWP — The secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development will visit Zelienople later today, but he was not the only state official in Butler County this week.

Jack Cohen, the president of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, said this morning that he hosted the state secretary for tourism and an assistant secretary for DCED earlier this week.

Mike Cortez, the senior adviser to the secretary of the DCED, came this week and toured the new UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex that is under construction in Cranberry Township.

Diane McGraw, the executive director of the state tourism agency, toured the North Country Brewing Co. outside of Slippery Rock.

She also toured the new sports complex in Cranberry, a visit that left her “totally blown away,” according to Cohen.

He talked with both officials about the possibility of getting grants that could help promote the county and its tourism industry.

“They wanted to come out and see who we are and what we do,” Cohen said. “Their draws were dropping on the floor when they saw what we have to offer here. Most of them are from the other side of the state and have never been here before. They were floored.”

Cohen also said Carolyn Newhouse, another secretary from the DCED, will be in here later this month.