The Blair County Convention Center is attracting some new business as it looks to rebuild a schedule wrecked by COVID-19 pandemic and related occupancy restrictions.

By accommodating and hosting six dance competitions so far this year, the convention center’s room rental and related revenue has started to climb.

Finance reports presented Wednesday to the authority that manages the convention center showed room rental and related income at $98,313 through the end of April, an increase of $64,438 over the 2021 budget target for that period. The budget was developed at the end of 2020 when it was anticipated that COVID-19 related restrictions would continue affecting operations at least through June 30.

Tara Saltzburg, director of sales and marketing, told the authority that the dance competitions were first-time events for the facility.

The national and regional organizers, she said, imposed attendance restrictions allowing the convention center to remain compliant with COVID-19 restrictions.

Hosting the events also brought overnight visitors to the area, she said.

Authority Chairman Richard Karcher and Vice Chairman Jamie VanBuren recognized the center’s increase in revenue as a sign of improvement as the pandemic eases with more people gaining protection through vaccinations.

“You can just sort of feel it beginning to change,” Karcher said.

As for whether the convention center will end 2021 in the black — something it regularly achieved until the 2020 fiscal year because of the pandemic — neither Karcher nor VanBuren were ready to offer a firm prediction.

“We’ll know more in July,” VanBuren said.

Something that could interfere, Karcher said, is the ability to find enough staff, a problem many employers are currently facing as pandemic relief remains available.

Chef Tom Schilling, who continues to serve as the center’s interim operations manager, told the authority he is turning to the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center to identify potential event staff.

“Labor is hard to find,” Schilling said.

Still, the convention center anticipates being ready this year to host at least six weddings, each with more than 200 guests, Saltzburg said.

It also anticipates hosting the Pennsylvania Dairy Princess competition again in the fall, an event the convention center was able to book and host in 2020 after setting up a tent in the parking lot that met COVID-19 requirements for outdoor events.

Saltzburg also advised the authority of a new event scheduled for two weeks in July, when U.S. Olympian and Penn State All American Ken Chertow sets up his Gold Medal Wrestling Camp. All ages of youths, both boys and girls, can sign up to participate in his camps with small-group and personalized instruction.

Solicitor David P. Andrews also advised the authority that the state’s occupancy restrictions on the convention center, related to COVID-19, are being lifted as of May 31.

Under the state’s current COVID-19 restrictions, Schilling said the center is limited to operating at 50% capacity and with sufficient room for 6 feet of distance between guests.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.