How Tourism Fuels Economic Growth in Rural Livingston County

Take a listen to our Deputy Director of Economic Development, Maureen Wheeler, and Director of Tourism, Ashley Comeau, on an episode of Destination on the Left with Nicole Mahoney.

Ashley and Maureen share the strategic moves the department made to bring tourism under the same roof as economic development. They discuss business retention and expansion, building robust small destinations, and why visitor spending is critical for rural areas in the podcast.

Listen Here

What You Will Learn in This Episode

  • How Livingston County Economic Development (Grow LivCo) collaborates to build a stronger local economy.

  • Why visitor spending, even from a few towns over, is critical to sustaining small businesses and downtowns in rural areas.

  • How the Libation Loop became a flagship example of coopetition among local beverage businesses, and how it engaged both visitors and residents.

  • And more!

PressMaureen WheelerGrow LivCo2026