Bureau envisions welcome center

By PETER H. MILLIKEN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Convention and Visitors Bureau seeks to establish a storefront tourist welcome center in a highly visible and accessible location in the city’s downtown.

The center would include bureau offices, a tourist information counter, an art gallery exhibiting local artists’ work and studios to be rented by artists.

Eventually, there could be a local event ticket sales counter and possibly a local economic development office, said Phil T. Moore, the bureau’s director.

A major focus would be on promotion of local fine and performing arts institutions and their events, but no name has been chosen for the center, he said.

“We want it to be a welcoming place that attracts people, both local residents and visitors, to come for information,” Moore said. “We want this to become a focal point in the revitalization of downtown Youngstown,’’ and possibly a “catalyst” to attract new businesses to locate downtown, he added.

“I would be very receptive to that and certainly would do anything that we could do to help make this come to fruition,” said Mayor Jay Williams. “I think this would be great to add to the continued interest in downtown,” he observed.

“I think it’s good for the Valley,” the mayor said, noting that some Mahoning Valley residents haven’t recently participated in downtown activities.

“I welcome all opportunities to have a unified method for advocating for the arts and to create art tourism in the Mahoning Valley,” said Patricia Syak, president and chief executive officer of the Youngstown Symphony Society.

For complete story, see Monday’s Vindicator or www.vindy.com.