CLEARFIELD – Executive Director Holly Komonczi advised board members of the Clearfield County Recreation and Tourism Authority on Wednesday that she’ll continue to monitor plans for tourism funding and marketing on the state level.
“It’s changing daily and dramatically,” Komonczi said of Pennsylvania’s scenario for tourism funding and marketing. Initially, she’d received an e-mail, indicating that there was approximately $417,000 “leftover” in the state’s tourism budget, and it’d be distributed as grants.
According to her, anyone who had applied for tourism grants during 2010-11 would be eligible to receive the leftover funding. The CCRTA would qualify for approximately $1,700, she said.
However, Komonczi and administrative assistant Susan Swales-Vitullo recently met with Rob Fulton, president of the Pennsylvania Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (PACVB). Fulton discussed the potential formation of a Pennsylvania Association for Travel and Tourism.
At the present time, the PACVB is a non-profit association for the officially designated tourist promotion agencies (TPAs) within Pennsylvania. The PACVB association communicates to the general public, government officials and other appropriate audiences, the importance of the travel and tourism industry to the state’s economic wellness
The PACVB association, according to Komonczi, wants to broaden its “umbrella” to include more than the total 49 TPAs that are recognized by the state’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
In the second phase, Fulton said there’s interest in forming a Pennsylvania Travel and Tourism Commission. He said the $417,000 in leftover funding could go directly to this commission so that it could market tourism statewide.
“This is all still new. It’s not a done deal, and we don’t have to agree,” Komonczi said. She told board members that she’s advised Fulton that she’ll need to see the entire plan and the figures associated with that plan. “I’m leery. I’m asking a lot of questions, and I’m asking to see plans.”
In other business, Komonczi showed board members the CCRTA’s new logo. She said it was designed by a Philipsburg-based artist at Game Changing Solutions and has been easier to utilize. Additionally, she said the header on the CCRTA’s Web site would undergo some redesigning, improving its visibility on the Smart Phones.
After a brief executive session, board members approved promoting Swales-Vitullo from administrative assistant to travel development specialist. Board member Hildred Rowles indicated the promotion would become effective immediately after the resignation of Brian Roseberry, whom previously filled the position.
Vitullo’s salary was set at $26,500. The CCRTA board also approved advertising for an administrative assistant.
The board’s next regular meeting will be at 12 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16 at the CCRTA office located at 12 North Front St., Clearfield.
