County tourism group hands out 9 grants to local businesses
JACKSON TWP — The Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau awarded grants to nine county travel and tourism businesses and organizations at the bureau’s annual Toast to Tourism dinner on Tuesday evening, May 9, at Steamfitters Local 449 event center.
“The purpose of the grant program is to enhance the tourism experience, increase tourism visitation and overnight stays in Butler County,” Jack Cohen, the bureau’s president, said.
The bureau hosts the event annually during National Travel and Tourism Week, which was created by Congress in 1983.
The grants were given out in values up to $5,000 each. Applicants had to be members or partner with a member of the bureau to be eligible for the grants.
“Tonight’s nine grant recipients represent a diverse group of Butler County organizations, all of which have the same goal of improving our overall quality of life,” Cohen said.
The grant winners were Butler Brew Works, Butler County Airport Authority, the Disc Golf Doubles Championship, Mystique Moon Antiques & Artisans, America250PA: Butler County, Wagon Wheel Antiques, Cranberry Township Sunrise Rotary Club, SurfSUP Adventures and The Atrium.
Ron Marshall, an antiques dealer associated with Wagon Wheel Antiques, accepted the grant on behalf of Wagon Wheel. He said he looks forward to seeing the grant money spent on online advertising.
“We applied to continue our advertising campaigns,” Marshall said. “Our Facebook advertising is focused on counties east, west and south of Butler County. We want to attract visitors from outside the county to spend money inside the county.”
Nick Fazzoni, president and co-founder of Butler Brew Works, said the grant money will be used for upgrades to its Butler location, particularly with the addition of an outdoor venue.
“We are extremely appreciative of Butler County Tourism,” Fazzoni said. “Our primary project for this year is to get the backyard of our downtown location functional for the city. We are going to have a beer shed out back, a big stage for live entertainment and we are growing some flowers to clean up the space. There is not a lot of outdoor venue spaces in the city.”
Michael Hall, owner of General Rental Center, was recognized as the 2023 Butler County Tourism Ambassador of the Year.
“We love it around here,” Hall said. “I have no intention on leaving Butler County. This honor was very unexpected.”
Cohen explained the success of so many Butler County festivals, fairs, regattas and other events starts with Hall and General Rental.
“Everyone in Butler County and beyond knows that if you are going to host an event of any size, you need to contact Mike and his team at General Rental,” Cohen said. “It’s not because General Rental has everything you need for large festivals and small events – and they do. It’s because Mike makes things happen, with the highest level of customer service.”
Ken DeFurio, president and CEO of Butler Health System, received the Tourism Corporate Champion Award for his dedication to county tourism businesses.
“Thank you everyone for what you do in the community,” DeFurio said as he addressed the crowd. “Thank you for making Butler County a great place to live.”
