BARC takes new course to attract tourists
BROWNSVILLE – The Brownsville Area Revitalization Corp. is taking a new approach to attract tourists to the community. BARC recently received $6,000 in grants from the Fayette County Tourism grant program.
“You could apply in three different categories: marketing, operations and capital improvements,” said Stephanie Hayes, a VISTA worker with BARC.
BARC received $5,000 for marketing and $1,000 for operations. Hayes said the marketing funds would be used to redesign BARC’s tourism brochure, which in the past has focused on the Flatiron Building Heritage Center and the Melega Art Museum, both housed in the Flatiron Building and owned by BARC.
“What we’re trying to go for now is an Historic Brownsville brochure,” Hayes said.
Hayes said the new brochure will include information about Nemacolin Castle and the Monongahela River, Rail and Transportation Museum, as well as the BARC-owned museums.
“That way, when a tourist comes into town, they know all these sites are available to them,” Hayes said.
Hayes said part of the grant will be used to advertise the attractions in surrounding counties and to continue BARC’s participation in the Laurel Highlands brochure distribution program.
Funding for the grant program comes from the Fayette County Hotel Room Rental Tax, which was implemented in July.