The promise of bargains at the Tanger Factory Outlet Center in South Strabane will attract more people to Washington County who will then, it is hoped, spend some of their money at established malls, shops, restaurants and hotels.

Outlet visitors may even stretch their visit to a daylong or two-day trek to take in some of the county's other attractions, such as the race track, casino, Washington Wild Things, Pennsylvania Trolley Museum and covered bridges.

Those are the predictions and hopes of Washington County elected officials, redevelopment and tourism officials and people who make their living in the retail and service industries.

"You expect Tanger to help all of Washington County, including tourism," said Bill McGowen, executive director of the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Washington. "The outlets will be a real destination."

The outlet center already has attracted overnight guests to the year-old Hampton Inn & Suites on Racetrack Road, across the street from the outlets and next door to The Meadows Racetrack and Casino.

"It's been a very nice summer. We've had guests who are corporate people involved in the outlet shops," said Lisa Bak, director of sales at the Hampton Inn. "We are very excited."

The casino has boosted occupancy at the Holiday Inn Meadow Lands, said Sandy Wilson, director of sales and marketing at the hotel, which is also on Racetrack Road. The hotel staff is expecting to get another boost from outlet shoppers checking into the facility, which was built in 1970 and renovated in 2006.

The Hampton Inn and the Holiday Inn, both in North Strabane -- Racetrack Road separates North Strabane and South Strabane -- have offered casino packages to guests, including some free play at the casino. Both plan to offer outlet shopping packages as well.

The Hampton Inn, for instance, will offer coupon books for extra savings at the outlet center.

"Washington County is the place to be in southwest Pennsylvania," said Jeff Kotula, president of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. "We are certainly becoming a destination point. We are hoping people who come to the Tanger Outlets will stay for two days and visit other retail shops and tourist attractions. Tanger is the impetus to come but then there is so much more to see in Washington County."

Mr. Kotula said he thinks the outlets will complement other malls and shops.

"We've already gotten one new chamber member" from the outlet shops, said Mr. Kotula, whose organization has extended the welcome mat to operators of the outlet shops.

The Washington Crown Center welcomes Tanger because "it will bring more shoppers to the area," said Carole DeAngelo, general manager of the mall on Interstate 70 in North Franklin Township, about 9 miles from the outlets.

"Tanger will truly benefit the community because it will draw from the entire Tristate area," Ms. DeAngelo said. "At Washington Crown Center, we have been getting people from West Virginia and Ohio for years" and that should only increase when the outlets open.

"We will reap the benefits of Tanger but it's up to all of us to try to capitalize on Tanger," she said. "We want to capitalize on our exiting customers and local customers who are loyal to Washington County" and attract new ones.

South Strabane "historically has been a focus for development because of Interstate[s] 70 and 79," said Robert Koman, South Strabane supervisors' chairman. The township has about 8,000 residents, the property tax is 6 mills and the local wage tax is 1 percent, with half of that going to the Trinity Area School District. There's also a three-quarter mill mercantile tax, and a $47 yearly local services tax. The school district property tax is 103 mills.

"South Strabane hasn't had a tax increase for many years and I don't think we'll be needing one anytime soon," said Mr. Koman, who said local officials aren't sure, yet, how much tax revenue will be generated.

Three years ago redevelopment officials estimated the Tanger outlets would generate $12 million over 20 years for Washington County, South Strabane and the Trinity schools, Mr. McGowen said. Tanger has predicted the project will generate $1.2 million per year in property taxes.

While more development is planned and expected in Washington County, "we are very happy to have a lot of development while still retaining a lot of beautiful green space and family farms," Mr. McGowen said.