From staff reports
A Clarion woman has launched “Welcome Home,” a new initiative to help newcomers to the town and/or region have all the information they need about the town, including Clarion’s Main Street businesses and other businesses and resources in the region.
Jennifer Fulmer Vinson, owner of “Fulmer House Books & Collectibles,” announced the new program last week.
Vinson said the underlying theme of the Welcome Home program is, “There’s No Place Like Clarion.”
“The idea for ‘Welcome Home’ is grounded in my own experience of moving back to Clarion 17 years ago,” said Vinson. “I would have appreciated some local information since many things had changed since I last lived here. I envision the ‘Welcome Home’ initiative as an updated ‘Welcome Wagon,’ where neighbors meet neighbors and provide them with information to become acquainted with the region and feel welcomed to be here.”
Vinson said she will work with her fellow local business owners and organizations to create a packet with a welcome letter from the mayor, providing them with helpful information, special offers and coupons. Vinson said she has received positive feedback from other Clarion businesses from their collective planning group, “Destination: Downtown Clarion” and looks forward to working with them to ensure there is broad representation.
Vinson said she is the Clarion story that she’s come to love and value.
“Having gone to high school and college here, I moved back after supporting my husband in his military career and deployments,” said Vinson. “As a family, we decided to raise our daughters here, and open a business with my parents.”
Vinson added, “I see first-hand where we are strong and where we need to grow. Right now, we have unique challenges. I understand the struggle local businesses are having as we all continue to manage through COVID. But I also see opportunity. As mayor, I will spearhead an open collaboration that we need in our town. I will listen to businesses, support their needs; and I’ll listen to our borough residents to proactively obtain new ideas and feedback to make Clarion better and more vibrant.
“‘Welcome Home’ will be an important initiative toward those goals.”
For more information, email jenforclarionmayor@gmail.com.
Editor’s note: Jennifer Fulmer Vinson is a candidate for Clarion Borough in the upcoming Nov. 2 election.