- Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 April 2015 02:38
The Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency was joined today by the Washington County Board of Commissioners as well as representatives of the county's tourism attractions to unveil Washington County's new tourism slogan –Share the Energy – at the Field & Stream store located at the Old Mill Shopping Center, South Strabane Township, Washington County.
The event was highlighted by the agency unveiling a 15-foot canoe branded with the new slogan and presented to the county's first major event of the 2015 tourism season – the Marianna Canoe Race, which attracts over 3,000 people each year to Ten Mile Creek in Marianna, PA.
According to Larry Maggi, Chairman of the Washington County Board of Commissioners, the new slogan is an opportunity for Washington County to promote the excitement found in Southwestern Pennsylvania's leading county and at its tourism assets. "Washington County is known for its outdoor activities, parks, biking trails and river recreation. It is also known for its premier shopping experiences, gaming, fine restaurants and historical treasurers. Share the Energy reflects our county's rich tourism offerings as well as invites both business and leisure travelers to explore, learn or simply re-charge in Washington County," Maggi stated.
Diana Irey Vaughan, Vice Chairman of the Washington County Board of Commissioners, discussed the economic importance of the tourism industry on Washington County. "Share the Energy not only lends itself to the sense of excitement our county is experiencing but also the impact tourism has on energizing our economy. Tourism contributes $754.7 million to our economy and supports 5,957 jobs," commented Commissioner Irey Vaughan.
Washington County Commissioner Harlan G. Shober, Jr., stated that the slogan is part of the social foundation of Washington County. "We are proud that families from our region, country and world are visiting Washington County and seeing firsthand the tremendous beauty and history our county has to offer, especially at sites such as the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, David Bradford House and Meadowcroft Rockshelter. In fact, we have hosted visitors for over 16,000 years," Commissioner Shober jokingly commented referring to Meadowcroft Rockshelter-an archeological site dating back 16,000 years-found in Jefferson Township, Washington County.
Jeff Kotula, President of the Washington County Tourism Promotions Agency, reflected on the new slogan as well as the choice of Field & Stream as the backdrop for the announcement.
"As we continue to refine our tourism messaging and promotion, we find that more and more travelers are interested in outdoor activities, food, gaming, shopping and other unique experiences. In addition, many of these visitors are sharing their experiences by traveling with friends and family as well as communicating their adventures through their social networks. Share the Energy is a bold statement that we believe both welcomes and challenges visitors to explore Washington County for not only recreation, history and entertainment, but also for jobs, business opportunities and as a place to raise a family," Kotula commented.