BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—During a presentation to the Economic Development Committee of the Bucyrus City Council on Thursday evening, Casie Grau, Director of the Crawford County Chamber of Commerce, delivered an optimistic fourth-quarter report on the activities and initiatives of the Bucyrus Tourism and Visitors Bureau.
Grau emphasized the bureau’s role as a private nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Bucyrus through various marketing channels. She described the bureau as an information hub that creates and hosts events designed to attract visitors to the area.
Funding for the bureau primarily comes from 50% of the tax collected by the city of Bucyrus from visitors staying in local hotels and motels. Additional revenues are generated through events organized by the bureau.
The director outlined the structure of the bureau, highlighting the tourism advisory council that convenes on the second Tuesday of each month. This council is comprised of those interested in economic development, including those with local tourist attractions. They discuss objectives and initiatives aimed at increasing the visibility of Bucyrus. Zyan Hickman, chairman of the Economic Development Committee, is a member of the council.
In 2024, the bureau launched its website, visitbucyrus.org, which serves as a landing page about Bucyrus. The page currently features information about last year’s Candlelight Christmas event. Grau announced plans for a more robust website in 2025 and noted that the bureau has partnered with ohio.org to participate in a marketing campaign titled “Ohio—Heart of It All.”
In the last quarter of 2024, the bureau participated in two significant events marketed through them, including a holiday event guide and a blog that highlighted Bucyrus as one of five charming towns in Ohio. Social media has also become a vital tool for marketing, with daily posts about local events, emphasizing events occurring over the weekend. The bureau maintains partnerships with various organizations, including the Crawford Partnership, and distributes a monthly newsletter that has grown to 2,300 subscribers.
Last year, the bureau further expanded its outreach by participating in the Fall Homemaker’s Convention at Pickwick Place, which brought together 75 women from across Ohio.
Grau announced that Becky Lutz has been appointed as the Assistant Director of the Chamber and will oversee the Tourism and Visitors Bureau in 2025.
Concluding her presentation, Grau invited the community to stop by the Bureau and ask any questions they like: “We want you to feel good about what we do because we feel good about what we do,” Grau said.