CVB official: Time is wasting for promos

At least two plans to promote the county's attractions are in place.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The administrator of Mahoning County's new convention and visitors bureau told the commissioners the bureau is losing valuable time in promoting upcoming events that could bolster the county's economy.
Two things that are desperately needed is the appointment of a new CVB board and the creation of a Web site to promote the bureau and the county's attractions, Suzanne Heino said Thursday.
Dispute not settled
The outgoing board of commissioners and the former Youngstown/Mahoning County Convention & amp; Visitors Bureau haven't settled a dispute about whether the bureau is entitled to keep revenue from a county lodging tax that it received before October 2003, when commissioners cut off its funding.
The case remains pending in the 7th District Court of Appeals.
Heino, the former director of the Ashtabula CVB, moved back to Mahoning County about a little more than a year ago to serve as CVB administrator.
But things haven't moved nearly as quickly as she would have liked to get a new CVB in place to get more people to bring their money to Mahoning County.
She said a proposed nine-member board has only four people who have committed to serve. She said she would like to get people from the retail, restaurant, and arts and culture industries on the board. She added one of two of the commissioners should also serve, at least for a year.
Promoter volunteered
Local promoter Bruce Paulette of Austintown, who is spearheading the "Rally in the Valley" motorcycle event July 2-4 near the Youngstown Convocation Center site, volunteered to be on the board, and he gave Heino the names of others who might be interested in serving.
The next crucial element is the creation of a Web site. Heino said she has a contract pending with a Brookfield company to build the site, but she has been unable to get a meeting with the county's data processing people to discuss the technical specifics with the company. She has the money to pay for the pact.
Richard Ouzounian, head of the Western Reserve Film Commission, said he would volunteer to help build the site, saying he has experience to do so.
Commissioner John McNally IV said if a meeting can't be made with data processing by March 15, he told Heino to move forward to get the site running.
Ouzounian said the film commission has a lead for a California company to shoot a documentary using the Corrections Corporation of America's prison on Hubbard Road in Youngstown as a site. CCA still must give the approval to use the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center, but the Tennessee-based company seems open to the idea, Ouzounian said.
Film work mentioned
He added a New York company also is interested in shooting a short film in Mahoning County and would need an abandoned fast-food restaurant as a backdrop. Both companies would send film crews here and provide a boost to the county economy by patronizing local restaurants and hotels and motels, he said.
Heino also has a proposal for signage along the Ohio Turnpike to promote the county's hotels and food establishments. Money also is available for that project. The plans are in place, she said, but action needs to be taken soon. She said spring begins the travel season and the county will miss out on many opportunities if a board and Web site aren't functioning.