HOLLIDAYSBURG — Allegheny Township supervisors offered unanimous support Thursday for the proposed decertification of Explore Altoona as the county’s tourism promotion agency.

The votes cast by supervisors David Burchfield Jr., Fred N. Imler II and Arthur Martino put the county on the edge of meeting a state law requiring decertification to have support from municipalities representing 65% of a county’s population.

About three hours later, Hollidaysburg Borough Council passed a resolution in support of decertification — thereby exceeding the required 65%.

Other municipalities that have supported decertification — to be the subject of a forthcoming public hearing to be convened by commissioners — are Altoona, Logan Township, Frankstown Township, Antis Township, Duncansville and Tunnelhill.

In Allegheny Township, supervisors engaged in no discussion prior to voting, but all three indicated that they were familiar with the subject that commissioners initiated last year as a way to expand how the county’s bed tax revenue is used.

While Explore Altoona, as the county’s designated TPA, currently uses its portion of the bed tax revenue to market the county, commissioners Dave Kessling and Amy Webster have voiced support for assigning the TPA designation to the Blair Alliance for Business and Economic Development.

The Alliance — formed by a merger of the Altoona Blair County Development Corp. and the Blair County Chamber of Commerce — would be expected to follow through on the commissioners desire to see bed tax revenue used for marketing the county and for the development of outdoor recreational assets.

Burchfield, who chairs the supervisors’ board, tried to describe his supportive vote by referring to the change it offers.

“Maybe we’ll just try a new pair of shoes,” Burchfield said.

Imler said his support for decertification reflects discussions with others in food and restaurant businesses who aren’t satisfied with current efforts.

“I don’t think it’s being marketed in the appropriate manner,” Imler said. “There’s a lot of people in the food business, and their restaurants or eating establishments are never shown on Explore Altoona materials.”

Martino said his vote reflects support for the recommended TPA.

“From what I’ve seen and read,” Martino said, “I have faith that the new committee will do a more effective job at advertising.”

Explore Altoona Executive Director Mark Ickes, who addressed supervisors before they voted, pointed out that he attended their meeting in October with reports containing praise for ongoing marketing efforts.

“Double down on what you’re doing,” Ickes said in reading from one of the reports. “Altoona is a small but mighty destination poised for growth.”

The report, he added, included no recommendation for changing directions.

While Kessling was among those in the meeting audience, he didn’t offer any comments prior to the vote and supervisors didn’t ask him for any.

Ickes also took issue with what he called the latest of five or six different reasons commissioners have offered in support for decertifying Explore Altoona. While they’ve suggested that rail trail development can attract visitors and encourage them to settle in Blair County, Ickes offered some history about the Great Allegheny Passage in Somerset County. Referred to as the Gap, it’s the longest rail trail east of the Mississippi River.

“Within the 20-year period in which the Gap has blossomed, even though tourism spending is up, Somerset County’s population has not seen any increase,” Ickes said. “In fact, the county has seen an approximate 10 percent decline.”

The U.S. Census Bureau shows Blair County’s population dropped from 129,144 in 2000 to 127,089 in 2010 and to 122,822 in 2020.