BUTLER TWP — Canadians are invading Butler County, but that’s a good thing.

Paula Slomer of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, said at a presentation Thursday night at the Aubrey’s Dubbs Dred Golf Course, that Ontario residents stop at Butler en route to visiting Myrtle Beach.

“They quite often stop in Butler County,” she said.

Slomer said Butler is the halfway marker for Canadians headed for South Carolina.

She said along with Ontario, the tourism bureau’s general marketing thrust for 2016-17 would be directed at Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, New York and Michigan.

“Michigan is big for us,” Slomer said.

Sports marketing stretches even farther.

Jack Cohen, tourism bureau president, said the 2016 Fall Classic hockey exhibition series at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township next month will draw people from Dallas, Colorado and Austria.

The bureau also uses professional sports teams to advertise the county’s sites.

Slomer said that advertising runs in the Pittsburgh sports teams’ annual publications that are used throughout their respective seasons.

The bureau receives money from the bed tax assessed to people paying for lodging in the county.

The county commissioners, who attended the presentation, in July approved a 2-percentage point bed tax hike to 5 percent that is expected to increase tourism revenue by $600,000.

Previously, the bureau received roughly $1.7 million from the bed tax. Another $700,000 is generated from membership dues, co-op advertising and event fundraisers.

The county commissioners spoke after the presentation about the impact of a new chief of planning and economic development post, which would coordinate various county departments and county-related agencies to spur growth here.

Along with the tourism bureau, the director would work with the Community Development Corporation of Butler County and the Butler County Chamber of Commerce.

Commissioner Leslie Osche said each agency would benefit by no longer being stretched too thin, so they can focus on their respective missions.

“That’s when they work well,” she said.

Commissioner Kevin Boozel agreed with Osche, saying the county needs to be more proactive addressing economic development.

“Butler County won’t be as docile as we have been,” Boozel said.

Commissioner Kim Geyer said the county is investing in technology to enhance such efforts.

Larry Sassone, manager of Kelly Automotive Park, asked about the lack of movement in developing Pullman Park.

Boozel assured him those efforts have not died.

Cohen said this is the first all three county commissioners on a board regularly attended tourism meetings.

He praised the commissioners for working with tourism and making economic development a priority.

“It’s a new day for all of us,” Cohen said.