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Blair County will host the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania's annual trade show and conference for the first time in 2028.
Commissioners attending this year's event in Erie voted Tuesday to schedule their 2028 event at the Blair County Convention Center, based on a submitted proposal and after Commissioner Amy Webster presented the group with an invitation.
"I told them that we have a great convention center with lots of room," Webster said about the speech she made Tuesday morning to about 120 commissioners. "And I said there's a hotel on the premises and several others in the area."
Webster said she also mentioned Blair County attractions because the attendees often bring family to the early August event.
"I envision family activities at DelGrosso Park, visits to the Railroaders Memorial Museum and Horseshoe Curve or other attractions," Webster said. "I'd like to arrange for all attendees to enjoy a Curve game and maybe a dinner and casino night at The Casino at Lakemont Park."
CCAP representative John Buffone said this will be a first-time location for the association's annual trade show and conference.
This year's four-day event opened Sunday and concluded Wednesday at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie.
Prior locations have included facilities and hotels in Lancaster, Hershey, Harrisburg, Seven Springs and Gettysburg.
Buffone said the annual conference typically draws about 500 participants from at least 75% of the state's counties. The conference includes speakers, workshops, exhibits and networking opportunities, he said.
Convention Center Executive Director and Chef Tom Schilling said he was excited and pleased to learn of CCAP's decision.
Like other large events at the convention center, Schilling said CCAP will make use of the facility's upper and lower floors.
"It will be a premier event," he said.
Several weeks ago, Schilling and Explore Altoona Executive Director Mark Ickes met with a CCAP event planner who came to the convention center to see the facility, its amenities and nearby venues.
Schilling said that visit went well.
"It wasn't just the convention center that landed this event, but the community itself," Schilling said Wednesday. "We spoke highly of our local attractions because they're an important factor for a group like this."
Webster said she thinks the conference will be an economic boost for the area, not only during the conference but also in encouraging people to return.
"I believe this will afford many opportunities for Blair County businesses to be part of this event and to showcase our beautiful area," Webster said.
Former Blair County commissioner John Eichelberger said he and former Commissioner Donna Gority, when they were commissioners and active in CCAP, tried a couple of times to interest CCAP in scheduling a conference at the convention center.
The convention center, which opened in May 2001, was promoted as a place that would keep events from leaving Blair County to look for larger accommodations and would attract new events to the area.
Eichelberger said the efforts he and Gority made weren't successful because at that time, other venues were offering lower prices.
"Donna and I did the best we could," Eichelberger said. "But we weren't competitive, price-wise, at that time."
In July 2022, the convention center hosted conferences for two other statewide governmental association groups. The Pennsylvania Sheriffs Association and the Pennsylvania Association of County Controllers both booked multi-day conferences at the center. Their schedules also included time for travel in the county and local activities.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.