Blair County asks municipalities to consider decertifying Explore Altoona

Borough Manager Ethan told Hollidaysburg Borough Council that Blair County commissioners have asked municipalities to consider a resolution to decertify Explore Altoona as the county's tourism promotion agency and that the request will appear on Hollidaysburg’s March agenda.

The item matters because Explore Altoona serves as the county’s tourism promotion organization; a county-led decertification would require municipal responses across Blair County and could shift who promotes local tourism and how funds are directed. Ethan said the commissioners sent a formal request and supporting letters to municipalities earlier in the week and that the borough did not receive the materials in time to include them on the current meeting agenda.

Council did not take any formal vote on the request during the meeting. Ethan said he would forward the resolution and supporting letters to council members ahead of the March discussion so the borough can consider whether to adopt a similar resolution. No council member made a motion or voted on the matter at this meeting.

The transcript did not include text of the county resolution or identify which municipalities have endorsed the commissioners’ position. Ethan’s remarks were limited to notifying council of the commissioners’ outreach and the plan to add the item to March’s agenda for consideration.