Tourism bureau awards $50K in grants
PENN TWP — Nearly 230 members of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau gathered Thursday for the organization's annual “Toast to Tourism” dinner at the Butler Country Club.
“Look around,” said bureau president Jack Cohen. “Everybody here is smiling.”
Describing tourism as the county's “number one industry,” Cohen said the state recently announced $592.1 million was spent on tourism in Butler County in 2016.
“This is an awesome place to live, work and play,” he said.
The annual dinner, which featured Butler County foods and products, from the goat Gouda appetizers to the coffee cake ball desserts, included the awarding of $50,000 in grants to agency members which promote tourism.
Additionally, the crowd heard a presentation by keynote speaker Christina Cassotis, CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority. Cassotis described the terminal modernization project to begin this year at Pittsburgh International Airport. She said the project, which will help the 25-year-old airport become “tech forward,” is important to the entire region because the airport is the “beginning and end of brand” for people visiting.
In addition to announcing the grant winners at the dinner, Ed Tanski of Buttercup Woodlands Campground was named Tourism Ambassador of the Year.
The award, given to an individual who has gone above and beyond as a tourism advocate, was presented to Tanski by last year's winner, Kathy Allen of Armstrong Farms.
Grant winners from the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau's Toast to Tourism event Thursday:Harmony, to provide parking signage throughout the boroughSpeckled Hen Chocolate Company, to transform a garage into a classroomGlade Run Lake Conservancy, to renovate a boat launch buildingSlippery Rock Area Parks and Recreation, to provide signs on map markers for a park trailDerailleur Bike Shop, to construct an ADA-compliant wheelchair ramp to their outdoor seating areaGet Fit Families, to assist with marketing efforts for the Get Fit Families race series and other eventsFun Fore All, for the purchase of displays for the Holiday Lights minigolf event benefiting the Caring PlaceEDCO Park and Pool, to renovate the park and poolWhite Barn, to provide new landscapingHistoric Harmony, to promote the second annual In-Harmony Heritage Music Festival.Allegheny Aquatic Alliance, to fund a shuttle bus and kayak trailersThe Perfect Piece Home Furnishings, to provide advertising decalsZelienople Community Park Association, to renovate an existing building into a park officeCorrigan Aerial Media, to assist with costs for video production servicesWashington's Trail 1753, to help pay for travel and lodging for representatives and keynote speakers at their annual summitButler Township — Preston Park, to produce a brochure of the park as a tourist destination.
