Jack Cohen is president of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau.

The travel and tourism industry provides an unprecedented value for our local economy, businesses and personal well-being. It’s the fabric of our culture and generates growth in innumerable ways.

There’s no denying that 2020 was a year full of challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially Butler County’s restaurant and hospitality industry. But in the midst of an ever-changing environment, we adapted and supported one another! Our community came together in a variety of ways to help individuals and businesses in a time when they needed it the most.

Over the course of a year, we’ve seen the resiliency of an industry that was on the verge of collapse. We applaud those who have shown up, worked hard and provided exceptional customer service.

Many businesses, especially restaurants have restructured and found ways to “make it work” during a very challenging time. They adapted to a new way to provide service, created or expanded their patios to provide outdoor seating, pivoted to a take-out focus and marketed themselves creatively on social media.

Several art studios and restaurants provided DIY kits for people to take home, libraries set up outdoor reading stations for children and our state parks organized self-guided walks. In 2020, our parks were filled, and they saw record breaking numbers in visitor attendance.

Our locally owned businesses are the heart of our community, and we need to continue supporting them because they enhance our experiences and promote economic development within Butler County.

Several businesses in the hospitality industry are still looking for employees. Many provide generous salaries, health benefits and more.

Even during a pandemic, our small towns continued to move forward with their revitalization efforts. They have updated streetscapes, encouraged new businesses and partnerships, created signature events, and made these towns a true destination for visitors.

Going one step further, these towns did it while keeping their charming heritage and historic architecture intact!

Zelienople businesses boomed in 2021 and collectively celebrated their openings, expansions and relocations together in August with a special red ribbon ceremony. When walking down Main Street you’re greeted with an abundance of shopping options, charming window displays, top-notch restaurants, cozy cafes and unique breweries.

On Thursday evenings from May through October, the town hosted the Zelienople Open Air Market. Vendors and local businesses lined the street, which attracted many visitors to the area.

The tourism bureau is designed to attract visitors to Butler County. We support local businesses and the community through a variety of coordinated marketing efforts that promote the county as a great place to live, work and visit. The bureau currently represents over 400 local businesses and organizations, which is the most members we have ever had, and we continue to grow!

It’s very exciting to see that things are going in a more positive direction, and we look forward to welcoming more visitors to Butler County. We invite you to plan your visit and safely explore when you’re ready. You’ll find one-of-a-kind attractions, restaurants and breweries, charming towns, “tasty trails,” and discover unique experiences only found in the gentle rolling hills of Butler County.

Visitors are really enjoying our self-navigated tasty trails which include the Butler County Beer Circuit, Sweet Tooth Trail and our newest, the Butler County Coffee Connection. You can create your own itinerary on these tasty trails and fill up your passport with a specially designed symbol from each participating location. Move on to the next spot at your leisure.

Once your passport is complete, bring it to Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau to claim a commemorative prize! As passports for our Sweet Tooth Trail were turned in, we were told, “It has given us something to do, and we’ve also explored the towns while we were out and about, and stopped at different places for lunch, too. It was a nice way to enjoy the weekend.”

Visitors and residents alike can learn more about Butler County in our upcoming 2022 Official Visitors Guide. Our free travel guide is filled with information about top attractions, local businesses, small towns, itineraries, maps and more. Plan to pick up a copy at our office, call 866-856-8444 or visit our website www.VisitButlerCounty.com.

Jack Cohen is president of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau.