Today, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $736,000 grant to the Pennsylvania Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship in Kane, Pennsylvania, to develop and grow the region’s tourism and outdoor recreation sectors.
This grant will produce six plans and a regional planning guide designed to support economic diversification in the region. This EDA investment will be matched with $184,000 in other funds.
“The Economic Development Administration works hand-in-hand with local communities to support their bottom-up, middle-out economic development strategies,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “The region around Kane is a highly desirable tourist destination thanks to its proximity to Allegheny National Forest. This project will support development of the outdoor recreation and tourism sectors while providing a model to support future expansion in rural communities.”
“The Pennsylvania Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship has worked for years to grow tourism and outdoor recreation in 13 counties in North Central Pennsylvania,” said Senator Bob Casey. “Their work showcases our state’s crowning natural resources and stimulates local economies, creating jobs for Pennsylvanians where they live. This economic development grant will help the PA Wilds to expand its work to strengthen the region’s outdoor recreation workforce and support rural economies.”
This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, and the Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission. EDA funds these organizations to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.
This project is funded under the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) initiative, through which EDA awards funds on a competitive basis to assist communities severely impacted by the declining use of coal. ACC projects support economic diversification, job creation, capital investment, workforce development, and re-employment opportunities.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.