The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has announced the allocation of $5,218,900 in grants for various organizations and projects across the 13-county Pennsylvania Wilds Conservation Landscape region.
The grants, awarded through the Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2), aim to support sustainable growth in the region’s outdoor recreation and tourism sectors.
This funding was selected through a competitive statewide process and will aid in local efforts to advance tourism and outdoor recreation.
The grants support a range of initiatives, including funding for regional organizations that coordinate efforts in outdoor recreation, tourism, and heritage development.
According to a press release, the projects will assist with programs, partnerships, mini-grant programs, and capacity-building efforts in local communities. Specific projects will focus on stewardship, planning, and development of tourism, recreation, and heritage assets.
The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, a key regional player, received two grants totaling $406,000. These funds will help the Center support its coordination efforts for the PA Wilds programs and partner networks.
Additionally, the grants will fund projects such as establishing a bike rental and share operation in Marienville along the Knox-Kane Rail Trail and enhancing messaging about planned maintenance for the Kinzua Skywalk.
The PA Wilds Center is also working with local communities and Purple Lizard Maps to produce a series of visitor-oriented recreation maps for the region.
Ta Enos, CEO of the PA Wilds Center, praised the state’s ongoing investments in rural Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation and tourism sectors.
“DCNR has been a foundational investor in the regional effort to grow tourism and outdoor recreation since it began 20 years ago,” Enos said.
“The C2P2 program is one way they do that. Not only do they invest directly in our mission at the Center, they invest in all these incredible community-driven outdoor recreation and conservation projects, and in regional organizations that are helping to advance sustainable development in this sector.”
Data released this month by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) highlighted outdoor recreation’s significant contribution to the U.S. economy.
Outdoor recreation generated $1.2 trillion, or 2.3% of the country’s GDP, and supported 5 million jobs in 2023, up from $1.1 trillion in 2022.
Jessica (Wahl) Turner, president of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, commented on the economic impact, noting that outdoor recreation is an important contributor to job creation, small businesses, and public health.
Tourism in the PA Wilds region is also a significant economic driver, with the industry growing to a $1.9 billion sector in 2022.
Enos emphasized the role of tourism and outdoor recreation in improving rural communities, noting that they not only serve as economic engines but also enhance community vibrancy, helping to attract and retain population and workforce.
“We are really fortunate in PA to have programs like C2P2, that invest in outdoor recreation and conservation, and we are thrilled to see so many rural communities compete in it and benefit from it,” Enos added.
The C2P2 program is funded by a combination of state and federal sources, including the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, the Environmental Stewardship Fund, and the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.
This also includes the Pennsylvania Recreational Trails Program Fund, the USDA Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry Program, and the Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program.
Along with the PA Wilds Center, other regional organizations receiving grants include the Lumber Heritage Region, North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Pennsylvania Route 6 Alliance, and the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership.
These organizations are involved in various initiatives aimed at supporting heritage areas, tourism promotion, and outdoor recreation development across the region.
Meredith Hill, DCNR director for the PA Wilds Conservation Landscape Program, highlighted the importance of these grants in fostering regional collaboration and driving economic and environmental improvements.
“DCNR’s support of local efforts and partnerships through the C2P2 program, in concert with infrastructure investments in public lands and facilities, provide an important foundation for the PA Wilds landscape strategy,” Hill said.
