Gibson County Hosts Japanese Groups

PRINCETON, Ind. — A wave of Japanese visitors will journey to Gibson

County in September. As part of the international Friendship City program, three groups of Japanese guests will be welcomed in Princeton; kicking off events between Gibson County/The City of Princeton and Tahara City, Japan.

First, Tahara City's, Tahara International Association (TIA), will arrive with 15 delegates on September 19. TIA members will participate in festivit ies associated with Princeton's annual Heritage Days Festival hosted by the Gibson County Chamber of Commerce. In addition, TIA members will be attending a dedication of Princeton's Bicentennial Park by

Princeton Mayor Bob Hurst. Bicentennial Park is currently under constructed in downtown Princeton and made possible with funding from the Stellar Communities Grant; which was awarded to Princeton in 2012 by then Indiana Lt. Governor, Becky Skillman. The TIA delegation will participate in festival activities and operate a booth with information on

Tahara City before traveling to Georgetown, Kentucky on the 21st.

On Thursday, September 25, 2014, ten students and three teachers from Tahara City will arrive for a stay that will last through Tuesday, September 30. The students will be made-up of six boys and four girls. Also, one female and two male teachers will make the trek. The students and teachers will stay with host families located throughout Gibson County. Anyone interested in hosting a student should contact GCEDC.

Also on September 25th, four officials from Tahara City government will arrive and visit with the mayor of Princeton and other Gibson County officials.

GCEDC is coordinating the activities and home stays.

In June, seven students, one teacher and eight business representative from Gibson County traveled to Tahara City; furthering the relationship between the two communities located half a world away.

Source: Gibson County Economic Development Corp.