Butler County native Mary Tate has been hired as the Tourism and Convention Bureau's new director of downtown revitalization and preservation.

“Initially, we need to find a way to facilitate a collaboration amongst the different entities so we aren't duplicating energy, time and money and try to direct it into one solid plan,” Tate said of her new position.

However, she said developing a comprehensive downtown revitalization plan will take time and can be challenging.

“Coming up with one comprehensive plan that encompasses community and economic development — all of those things work together for revitalization and have to be done in parallel with the understanding that that doesn't happen quickly. It can be an uphill battle. There's a lot to do. But that's OK; I like a good challenge.”

Her new role will be to develop public/private partnerships and bring an understanding of the use of preservation as a tool for community and economic development.

Tate, who is a 2001 Butler High School graduate, said her first objective will be to ensure all organizations invested in the downtown Butler business district are working cooperatively toward the same goal.