Non-Profit River Group Receives Another Donation
Armstrong County Tourist Bureau Board of Directors Chair Jack Bennett (left) and Tourist Bureau Director Kevin Andrews (right) present Allegheny River Development Corporation President Linda Hemmes with the donation Friday. (submitted photo)
by Jonathan Weaver
The Allegheny River Development Corporation (ARDC) has received another donation towards the operation of the locks.
The Armstrong County Tourist Bureau presented ARDC President Linda Hemmes with a check for $2,500 on Friday, January 23.
The funding will go toward the ARDC’s goal of $40,000 in matching funds required to initiate a $120,000 grant from PennDOT.
At the Tourist Bureau’s Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, January 20th, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to help support the ARDC’s goal with a donation of $2,500. The money was taken out of the Armstrong County Tourist
Bureau’s operating funds which come from a three percent hotel tax earmarked for tourism.
Hemmes said she found out about the donation earlier last week, but was still as ecstatic during the check presentation Friday.
“I’m just thrilled,” Hemmes said. “It’s a huge vote of confidence and support in what we’re doing. Since tourism is our Number 1 industry, and I think it was a good investment in the future of this county.”
County Tourism Director Kevin Andrews said he was very happy to be helping ARDC in their efforts.
“It is money well spent,” Andrews said. “The river is a huge asset to our county, especially for tourism. We are looking forward to seeing the boats using the locks this summer.”
Alle-Kiski Strong Chamber Vice-President of Events Lynda Pozzuto said there were boaters from many different areas participating in the chamber’s Boaters Poker Run this past August.
“There was one individual who traveled all the way from below Pittsburgh to participate,” Pozzuto said. “They started travelling by boat two days in advance.”
Earlier this month, Kittanning Borough Council pledged to donate $1,000 toward the fundraising effort.
Hemmes said she was “very, very happy with how (the fundraiser) is going so far” and projected that non-profit leaders would be able to meet their goal by the end of April.
“Every time (Treasurer) Josh (Starr) goes to the mailbox, we’re feeling happier,” Hemmes said. “Things are looking up and becoming much more positive – I’m really excited.”
During a public meeting in December, Starr estimated about $15,000 of the $40,000 local match had been raised so far – mostly through funds raised during a summer pontoon boat raffle.
Nearly 2,000 hours of operation are tentatively planned for 2015 – beginning hopefully the weekend of April 25-26 and the next 26 weekends thereafter until the end of October.
The tentative operating dates also include the three day Fourth of July Weekend, the three-day Labor Day Weekend, night operations for all the Arts on the Allegheny concerts in Kittanning Riverfront Park and 18 hours Thursday and Friday during the Fort Armstrong Folk Festival.
Local News | jweaver January 26, 2015
By jorn jensen, January 26, 2015 @ 10:20 PM
This is good news. We need the river ‘active’ for tourism, so this is money wisely invested.