Columbiana Co. bureaus plan to work together

By D.a. Wilkinson

LISBON — Tourism in Columbiana County is about to get organized.

Representatives of the four tourism bureaus and other allied groups told the county commissioners they plan to work together to boost travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes.

Lori Kline, executive director of the St. Clair Township Travel and Tourism Bureau acted as a spokeswoman for the groups.

Historical societies, tourism branches of local chambers of commerce and the county’s development department have agreed to form the Columbiana County Tourism Community.

“We’ve all been trying to do it on our own, and it’s going to work better as a group,” Kline said.

Commissioner Penny Traina, who has pressed for more collaboration in the county, said, “This is a great day.” The commissioners formally endorsed the plan.

Under it, each group will continue its activities or projects while promoting other local attractions.

The group will seek grant funds to create a Web site to highlight local activities, join travel and tourism groups outside of the county and cooperate on travel show opportunities. At travel shows, locals go outside the county in the hope of drawing outsiders to visit the county.

The joint program also will “actively lobby” tour-bus companies to bring in visitors to the county for one to three days.

Audrey Null, executive director of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, said she was glad to see the plan.

Commissioner Dan Bing added, “I’ve been after this for several years.”

A similar plan failed several years ago when creation of a tourism Web site ran into legal programs.

wilkinson@vindy.com