HOLLIDAYSBURG — With an affirmative vote from Hollidaysburg Borough Council, Blair County commissioners hit the statutorily required population threshold to proceed with the decertification of Explore Altoona, the county’s designated tourism promotion agency.

The council passed a motion of support for the decertification process during a Thursday night meeting after hearing from supporters of both Explore Altoona and the decertification effort. It was unanimously approved with abstentions from members Clay Gingrich and William Kitt. Council President Sean Burke was absent.

The commissioners have pursued decertification alongside the Blair Alliance since fall 2024, intending to repurpose the bed tax revenue that is currently allocated to Explore Altoona to create a new recreation authority to develop new outdoor assets.

With the motion from Hollidaysburg, the commissioners have met the 65% of total county population minimum set by Act 18 of 2016 to move forward with the next step toward decertification — a public hearing prior to a final vote by the commissioners.

DelGrosso’s Park President/CEO Carl Crider Jr. spoke in support of the TPA, citing how his company’s long-standing partnership with the organization has benefited his business.

And while Explore Altoona has worked extensively with DelGrosso’s in the past, they also devote considerable time and resources marketing other assets in the region, and Blair County as a whole, he said.

According to Crider, Explore Altoona has collaborated with the county in the past, such as when they signed a memorandum of understanding to divert a portion of their bed tax income to support the Altoona Curve in making MLB-required upgrades to their ballpark.

This demonstrated Explore Altoona’s willingness to work with the county on common goals, Crider said.

The fundamental disagreement underlying the decertification effort is about where the bed tax funding should be used, Crider said.

Crider said that Explore Altoona has done “a hell of a job” in their efforts to promote the county and its assets, and asked the board to consider supporting the organization.

Commissioner Amy Webster attended on behalf of the commissioners and laid out their vision for the potential trail authority.

According to Webster, the commissioners hope to utilize the new trail authority to connect existing trails and parks in the area.

This authority would also take over the county-wide marketing duties of Explore Altoona while developing new assets and applying for state grants.

The state has lots of grant programs available for outdoor asset development, Webster said, so the new trail authority could provide the organizational capacity necessary to secure these funds for projects in Blair County.

Surrounding counties such as Cambria, Centre and Huntingdon have all invested in outdoor recreational assets in recent years, and Blair County is currently “missing out” on a similar opportunity, she said.

Hollidaysburg is uniquely positioned to reap rewards from investment in outdoor assets, Webster said, since the 9/11 Memorial Trail runs through the borough.

Council member Walter Kalista said that the new trail authority could offer “substantial opportunities for trail development that would benefit the community and residents.”

Council Vice President Brady Leahey agreed with Kalista, saying that this investment could be wonderful for the community, and the newly improved assets would draw people to the area and benefit existing residents.