Hardin County Tourist & Convention Bureau

According to recorded minutes, the second meeting of the HCTCB was held on October 29, 1996.  The tourism bureau was formed as a committee of the Chamber of Commerce with Shari Allen as acting director.

The code of regulations was officially adopted on November 21, 1996. and TCB was incorporated on November 25, 1996. The last recorded minutes of TCB were on June 8, 2006.

The tourism bureau was funded primarily through the bed tax. The county approved implementing a 3% bed tax, which took effect December 24, 1996. In February of 1997, the bureau asked Kenton City Council to enact a 3% tax in the city to fund tourism as well.  Council approved the tax and the final reading was scheduled for May 1, 1997.  At the April meeting, Mayor Clay Flinn decided that the city would keep 1.5% of the tax.  Over the years, the city contributed some of the money to tourism in the form of rent payments, brochure printing and other projects.  In the fall of 2006, Kenton City Council voted to give that half of the bed tax to Square Repair.

Additional funds were generated with the sale of Bicentennial signs.  Judi Ludwig secured the right to be the exclusive producer of these metal signs and they were all manufactured in Kenton at Scioto Sign Company between December of 2001 and the end of 2004.  Total of signs shipped from 12/1/01 through 10/1/03 was 8,971.  There were 4060 one foot, 3651 two foot, 986 three foot and 274 five foot. 

On September 1, 2006 TCB merged with the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce, Hardin County Economic Development Council and Square Repair (the downtown Kenton revitalization group).  These organizations formed the Hardin County Chamber and Business Alliance.

 Directors included: