Published: May 09, 2008 02:11 pm            

FRIDAY: Officials break ground on $2.4 million tourism center (2:11 p.m.)

The new $2.4 million Niagara USA Visitor Center is billed to be many things — a hub of information showcasing countywide attractions, administrative offices for the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. and a place to buy “one-of-a-kind” souvenirs.

But mainly, it’s meant to send a message that Niagara Falls is embracing its transformation into a full-blown tourism and hospitality industry.

“This was the one major missing amenity,” NTCC President John Percy said Friday morning during the ceremonial groundbreaking for the construction of the new center at 10 Rainbow Blvd. “For far too long one of the premier tourism destinations in the world did not have a permanent visitor center. Niagara Falls and all of Niagara County will finally have such a facility that will make us all proud.”

Close to 100 people attended the ceremony in front of the existing tourism center, which will be demolished when construction begins later this summer. The new 8,400-square-foot building will have an all-glass facade and is designed by Foit-Albert Associates. The interior space will feature a state-of-the-art visitor information center, complete with trained staff members, historic photos, computers with Internet access and interactive displays that will highlight things such as the area’s fine dining, attractions and entertainment.

It also will house NTCC’s administrative offices, which are currently located at the Seneca Office Building.

The old visitors center is only 1,800 square feet and was converted from the old Artisan’s Alley location in 2005.

“It was not built to be a visitor’s center,” Percy said.

Funding for the $2.4 million project is primarily coming from a $1.04 million grant from the federal Transportation Enhancement Program, administered by the state Department of Transportation. USA Niagara, which sponsored the grant application, also committed a portion of NTCC’s required non-federal matching funds for the project.

Additional funding came from State Sen. George Maziarz and Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte, Percy said.

Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster stressed the need for a new center, saying “there’s been a paradigm shift in Niagara Falls about the way we think about tourism.”

“We get plenty of visitors to the city already, but we need them to stay here longer,” Dyster added. “Providing additional information is key to longer stays.”

While the project has been lauded by city, county and state officials, one component of the visitor’s center — a proposed souvenir shop — may actually hurt some businesses in the downtown district.

“I haven’t looked into that possibility, but certainly if we’re using public dollars (for this project) we don’t want to compete with private business,” Dyster said.

However, Percy said the items sold within the visitor’s center will be one-of-a-kind souvenirs representing the different attractions throughout the county, including Lewiston and Lockport. The store also will carry a line of items with the NTCC logo.

“We will not be selling any competing products whatsoever,” he said. “Our agency is not here to compete with other (souvenir) businesses.”

Construction is expected to be completed by next year’s tourism season. In the meantime, services will still be provided at the older center until it’s demolished. After that, NTCC will be setting up a mobile center somewhere in the downtown area. Locations are still be considered, Percy said.

Contact reporter Rick Forgioneat 282-2311, ext. 2257.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.