WESTFIELD - The Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association, Inc. announced that it has hired Ray H. Wigel to serve in the position as manager for the Grape Discovery Center to be opened in Westfield.
"Ray brings a lot of skills and experience in tourism to this effort. He has worked as Director of Communications with the Niagara Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau, as Director of Operations with Old Fort Niagara, Youngstown, N.Y. and with other tourism venues in Western New York," David Momberger, Vice President and Building and Operations Chair for the Association, said.
Momberger noted that the Grape Discovery Center is anticipating a grand opening next spring and is also working for a 'soft opening' this fall as grape product venders, local artists, craftsmen, specialty foods, wineries, tourism officials and others are engaged in the Center's preparation for opening. The center hopes to feature both locally made and grape themed products, giving visitors opportunity to take home a flavor of the Lake Erie Concord Grape Region. The exhibits and displays will highlight the region's 150-year heritage of the grape industry.
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Dave Momberger, on left, Vice President, Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association, welcomes the new manager for the Grape Discovery Center, Ray H. Wigle
The Association has recently selected a firm to assist in the design and production of exhibits and displays for that part of the Grape Discovery Center. These will be ready for the spring grand opening.
The Grape Discovery Center is located at 8305 West Main Road (Route 20) just west of the Village of Westfield and centrally located amongst the 30,000 acres of grapes stretching from the town of Harborcreek in Erie County, Pennsylvania, to the towns of Hanover and Brant in Chautauqua and Erie Counties, New York.
The Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting grape products, wine, tourism and associated industries of the region and local economic development.
