Discover Blair County

What Discover Blair County does

Discover Blair County is the officially designated destination marketing organization (DMO) for Blair County, Pennsylvania, operating as a private nonprofit 501(c)(6) headquartered in Altoona. The organization promotes, develops, supports, and markets tourism for the Allegheny Mountains region, serving four primary customer segments: leisure visitors and tourists (day-trippers and overnight guests seeking outdoor recreation, culinary experiences, and cultural attractions); meeting planners and group coordinators; talent attraction and relocation candidates via the Move to Blair County program; and local event organizers who participate in a sponsorship program funding external advertising campaigns targeting mid-Atlantic markets including Washington DC, Philadelphia/New York corridor, and Pittsburgh/Cleveland.

The organization's product ecosystem centers on the Discover Blair County website (discoverblaircounty.com) as the primary digital platform, supplemented by a free mail-order physical travel guide, a Flipsnack-hosted digital travel guide, an event calendar, lodging promotion across 15+ hotels and 7+ bed & breakfasts, meeting and event planning services, the sponsorship program, and the Alleghenies Tasting Trail mobile app. No proprietary technology is developed; the organization operates standard web, email, and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube). The organization does not charge consumers directly for its services.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed. As a nonprofit DMO, funding flows through sponsorship contributions from local event organizers (sponsorship levels set by the DBC Advisory Board based on visitor attraction effectiveness), chamber memberships via the parent Blair County Alliance, and likely governmental or lodging tax support. Since 2024, Discover Blair County has operated as one of three member entities under the Blair County Alliance for Business and Economic Growth, formed through the merger of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce (founded 1887, 1,000+ members) and the Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation (ABCD, founded 1946, 2,000+ projects facilitated, $2B+ in total project costs, 51 expansion projects in 2023 alone representing $29M in new investment and 157 new jobs created).

Name

Discover Blair County

Legal name

Blair County Alliance for Business and Economic Growth

Website

https://discoverblaircounty.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Discover Blair County is the official nonprofit destination marketing organization for Blair County, PA, promoting tourism, lodging, events, and relocation to leisure visitors, meeting planners, relocators, and local event organizers across the Allegheny Mountains region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Destination Marketing and Tourism Promotion

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Experiential & Cultural Programming (Tours, Activities, CSR/Voluntourism) (THAHADAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Local & City Guide Content Aggregators (MPACAKAJ)

Keywords

• Destination marketing services
• Regional tourism promotion
• Travel guide publishing
• Meeting planning services
• Relocation assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Altoona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship Program: DBC's sponsorship program financially supports events and programs that attract outside leisure or business visitors for overnight stays. Funding recipients use the sponsorship to augment advertising and promotional costs in primary mid-Atlantic markets.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Discover Blair County operates as Blair County, Pennsylvania's official destination marketing organization (DMO). It promotes the region's tourism, outdoor recreation, lodging, dining, arts, culture, sports, and meeting venues through its website, free travel guides, event sponsorship funding, meeting and event planning support, and a relocation assistance program for prospective residents.

Product overview

Discover Blair County is Blair County's official destination marketing organization operating a unified marketing website and service portfolio. The core offering is the Discover Blair County website (https://www.discoverblaircounty.com/) which serves as the primary platform for tourism promotion. The product ecosystem includes a free travel guide (available in both physical and digital formats via Flipsnack), a move-to-Blair-County relocation assistance program, an event sponsorship program targeting overnight visitors, lodging property promotion, and meeting/event planning services for corporate retreats and conferences. The organization also supports regional initiatives like the Alleghenies Tasting Trail mobile app for brewery and winery tourism. This is a marketing and tourism-focused organization, not a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Discover Blair County Website The official destination marketing website for Blair County, PA, promoting tourism, outdoor recreation, dining, arts, culture, sports events, and lodging. Serves as the primary digital platform for visitors and residents to discover attractions, plan trips, and access travel guides.
• Free Travel Guide A free physical and digital travel guide providing information about Blair County attractions, outdoor activities, dining, lodging, and events. Available for mail order or online viewing via the Flipsnack digital platform.
• Move to Blair County Program Relocation assistance service connecting individuals and families with employment opportunities, housing, schools, community groups, and quality of life information for those considering moving to Blair County.
• Sponsorship Program A financial sponsorship program that supports Blair County events and programs targeting leisure or business visitors who stay overnight in local lodging facilities. Sponsorship funding is intended to augment external advertising and promotional efforts in mid-Atlantic markets.
• Lodging Promotion Directory Promotion and showcase of Blair County hotels, bed & breakfasts, and vacation rentals including detailed listings with locations, contact information, amenities, and direct booking links.
• Meeting & Event Planning Services Corporate meeting, conference, and team building planning services in Blair County, leveraging mountain views, outdoor recreation, and small-town charm to create inspired business event experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 51 business expansion projects facilitated in 2023, creating 157 new jobs and retaining 320+ positions with $29 million in new investment
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Blair County Alliance for Business and Economic GrowthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Blair County Alliance is the parent organization consisting of three member entities: Discover Blair County (DMO), ABCD Corporation (economic development), and Blair County Chamber of Commerce. The Alliance was formed in 2024 through merger of the Chamber and ABCD to create a unified economic development and business support structure.
• Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation (ABCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABCD is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) certified economic development corporation. Founded in 1946, it has facilitated over 2,000 projects representing more than $2 billion in total project costs. ABCD provides financing programs, technical assistance, and business development services. It is a sister organization under the Blair County Alliance umbrella.
• Blair County Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1887, the Chamber is a membership association with more than 1,000 members. It promotes, informs, educates, and advocates for businesses and the community. The Chamber merged with ABCD in 2024 to form the Blair County Alliance.
• Alleghenies Tasting TrailminorGTM or Marketing PartnerA free app promoted by Discover Blair County for touring local breweries, wineries, and distilleries across Blair County and the Alleghenies region. Users earn points and prizes for visiting participating locations.
• Penn State AltoonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour-year Penn State campus located in Altoona, Blair County's largest city. The university is highlighted as a key asset and community partner for the region.
• Blair County GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlair County Commissioners (David Kessling, Amy Webster, Laura Burke) serve as ex-officio members of the Discover Blair County Advisory Board, providing government coordination and support.
• City of AltoonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Altoona Manager Chris McGuire serves as an advisory member. Altoona is Blair County's largest city and primary economic center.
• Blair Convention CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdjacent to Country Inn & Suites and Holiday Inn Express, the Blair County Convention Center hosts major events including Sci-Fi Valley Con and Setsucon. Featured on the DBC website as a key venue.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Visit Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh's citywide DMO, also part of DBC's target feeder market. Comparable as a PA destination marketing organization but operating at city scale with a substantially larger marketing budget and broader lodging/convention inventory.
• Visit Philadelphia: Philadelphia's official city DMO and a primary competition for mid-Atlantic drive-market leisure visitors. Comparable as a destination marketing organization but at major metropolitan scale, with a much larger content/tech stack and brand spend.
• VisitPA (Pennsylvania Tourism Office): The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's official statewide tourism marketing office. Comparable as a destination marketing organization but operating at state scale with a much larger budget and broader mandate, of which DBC is effectively a regional sub-affiliate.

Direct peers

• Brandywine Valley Tourism: Regional DMO for the Brandywine Valley straddling PA and Delaware. Comparable as a multi-county destination marketing organization promoting lodging, gardens, museums, and culinary assets to mid-Atlantic drive markets.
• Discover Lancaster: Lancaster County's official tourism marketing organization. Comparable regional PA DMO promoting a multi-segment visitor economy (culinary, history, shopping, Amish heritage) via website, social, and relocation/event services similar to DBC's portfolio.
• Hershey-Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau: Regional DMO for the Hershey-Harrisburg area of central Pennsylvania. Comparable to DBC as a fellow regional PA destination marketing organization promoting lodging, events, and attractions through similar mid-Atlantic drive-market channels.
• Visit Potter County / PA Wilds region: PA Wilds tourism marketing consortium covering rural northern Pennsylvania. Comparable to DBC as a rural PA destination marketing organization focused on outdoor recreation, heritage, and small-town experiences with limited lodging inventory.
• Visit Loudoun (Loudoun County, VA DMO): Destination marketing organization for Loudoun County, Virginia, a similar suburban-rural county in the Washington DC drive market. Comparable as a county-level DMO promoting wineries, breweries, outdoor recreation, and historic sites to the DC feeder market that DBC also targets.

Regional players

• Visit North Central Pennsylvania: Multi-county DMO serving north-central PA, adjacent to DBC's territory. Comparable as a regional PA destination marketing organization promoting outdoor recreation and small-town heritage but focused on a different sub-region of the state.
• Visit Erie (Erie County Tourism): PA-based regional DMO promoting Erie County as a tourism destination. Comparable in structure (regional PA DMO with website, lodging directory, events calendar, and meeting planning support) but serving a different geographic region with lake-based rather than mountain-based attractions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DiscoverBlairCounty
• Facebookfacebook.com/discoverblaircounty
• Instagraminstagram.com/discoverblaircounty

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Discover Blair County