Franklin's visitor center got some new cool bling

The Franklin Chamber of Commerce has a big sign above its doors that says "Visitor Center." Now, thanks to some grand from the DCNR and the National Park Service and several years worth of sweat equity from the Oil Region Alliance the visitor's center has a professional historic display to add to it's offerings.

ORA director John Phillips said he hopes this display gets people to spend a little time looking at the rich history of the area and also want to explore the town and area further. Phillips said it was a roughly $30,000 project and he really hopes the serves the community and its visitors well.

"We're trying to things to make the region better,"Phillips said. "We want to show people it's the most wonderful place to live."

Wednesday night a small gathering at the new visitor center display gave the ORA a chance to show off the work and thank those who put in the time. Phillips said the cost of running a stand alone visitor center is extensive, so partnerships like this one with he Franklin chamber make sense and benefit each other and the region. This is the fourth such project for the ORA with visitor center displays in Emlenton, Titusville and Oil City..

Franklin Chamber of Commerce director Jodi Baker Lewis said that the chamber is known to get 30 to 40 visitors on any given Saturday, so this new display is a welcomed addition to what she was already offering visitors. She thanked the ORA for the opportunity to showcase this new display.

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