Tourism Marketing through the Clarion County EDC
Discover Clarion County is the Tourism Promotion Agency for Clarion County. Managed under the umbrella of the Clarion County EDC, Discover Clarion County leads the region’s efforts to increase visitation, support local hospitality, and showcase the county as a premier destination in Western Pennsylvania.
The Benefits of Investing in Tourism
Investing in tourism brings additional income to Clarion County. Small businesses benefit when visitors stop by local restaurants and stores. Tourists pay sales and lodging taxes, allowing Clarion County to collect additional funds for tourism promotion and development programs.
Tourism represents a significant opportunity for economic growth in Clarion County. As visitation increases, so does demand for the hospitality, dining, retail, recreation, and experience-based businesses that serve visitors. This creates opportunities for new investment, entrepreneurship, and job creation while strengthening the broader local economy.
But tourism’s economic impact extends well beyond visitor spending. When people visit Clarion County and experience its communities, natural assets, and quality of life, some may begin to see the area not simply as a destination, but as a place to live, work, and invest. According to Destinations International, 14% of people relocate to a community after having a positive experience as a visitor. This connection between tourism and talent attraction can help expand the local workforce, strengthen the talent pool available to existing employers, and make the county more attractive to businesses considering relocation or expansion. In this way, today’s visitors can become tomorrow’s residents, entrepreneurs, employees, and investors—making tourism an important component of Clarion County’s broader economic development strategy.
Discover Clarion County
The Clarion County EDC was appointed the official tourism promotion agency in 2023 and tasked with building the county's tourism promotion program as part of its broader organizational mandate. Since then, the organization has built and expanded its tourism operations, established a dedicated team, and launched Discover Clarion County as the county's official tourism promotion brand.
Today, DiscoverClarionCounty.com serves as the primary destination marketing platform for visitors, providing trip-planning resources, local experiences, attractions, events, lodging, dining, and other information to help visitors discover and experience Clarion County.
Additional Tourism Marketing Strategies
Discover Clarion County drives strategic destination marketing plans to attract visitors to the region. Some of the tactics utilized to promote Clarion County include:
- Social media campaigns
- Digital storytelling
- Targeted advertising across print and digital platforms
- Video production and photography
- Travel guide development and distribution
Discover Clarion County promotes everything from our iconic trails and waterways to seasonal festivals, charming downtowns, and rural backroad experiences.
If you are a local tourism or outdoor recreation business that would like to explore promotion opportunities, please connect with the team at info@discoverclarioncounty.com.
Events and Experience Development
Major events can uplift entire communities. Not only do festivals and experiences bring tourists to Clarion County, but they also create fun activities for local families. Events such as the Clarion Autumn Leaf Festival make Northwest Pennsylvania a great place to live. Other experiences like local fairs, heritage celebrations, guided hikes, and kayak runs all add excitement to life.
Vendors, food trucks, musicians, and makers all benefit from these events, while participants can enjoy fun weekend activities.
Festivals and events contribute to economic and community development by attracting visitors, generating local spending, and creating experiences that strengthen quality of life. The EDC supports the development and promotion of these experiences where appropriate.
Nonprofit Grant Funding
To support local event marketing and increase overnight stays, nonprofit organizations based in Clarion County can apply for the Clarion County Hotel Tax Grant Program. The program awards grants up to $1,000 per event day, capped at $3,500 total. Recipients must provide a 25% match and must use the funds to market their event to visitors located at least 50 miles away.
The purpose of this grant is to grow overnight visitation, strengthen the local economy through increased lodging, dining, and retail spending, and build the capacity for tourism-focused nonprofits to expand their reach with professional-grade marketing.
To learn more and apply, visit our online application here: Hotel Tax Grant Program Application
Work With the EDC to Grow Our Tourism Sector
The EDC works directly with local tourism and hospitality businesses (lodging, outfitters, attractions), community groups, and regional and statewide tourism networks, including Visit Pennsylvania, to promote Clarion County. Through these networks, the EDC supports local entrepreneurs and businesses while expanding Clarion County's reach as a tourism destination.
If you are an investor looking to explore tourism development opportunities, reach out to Info@clarioncountyedc.com
If you are an existing business who would like to explore promotion opportunities through Discover Clarion County, reach out to Info@discoverclarioncounty.com.
Reach out today to discuss partnership opportunities and promotional strategies.