Photos courtesy of Rosie Marketing

PA Wilds Center honored with WCCBI’s 2024 Investment in the Community Award

WARREN, PA – The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship was honored for the Pennsylvania Wilds to be recognized with the 2024 Investment in the Community Award from the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry (WCCBI).

The award was presented at WCCBI’s Celebration of Excellence event on October 24 at the Timber Haven Event Center at Cable Hollow Golf Course.

“The Investment in the Community Award is incredibly meaningful because it recognizes and celebrates businesses or organizations that have made significant contributions in our community,” said Savannah Casey, Director of Operations of WCCBI. “It highlights those who go above and beyond to make a difference and leaves a lasting legacy by inspiring future generations.”

The Investment in the Community Award is presented to a business or organization that makes a significant impact in the Warren County community. The nominees should have a demonstrated history of making a positive impact, which could include volunteer work, charitable contributions or other forms of community service. The nominees may also be recognized for innovative approaches to address community needs or for developing unique programs or initiatives. Nominees are recognized for their leadership skills and ability to mobilize others to work towards common goals. Lastly, the nominee’s work may be evaluated based on long-term sustainability and impact in the Warren County community.

“The PA Wilds was an exceptional candidate for an Investment in the Community Award,” said Casey. “The organization promotes responsible tourism practices, minimizing the negative impact on the environment while maximizing the benefits for local communities. Additionally, the PA Wilds Center actively supports conservation efforts, promotes the region’s unique natural and cultural assets, and works closely with local businesses, organizations, and residents to ensure that the region’s development benefits the entire community. The organization’s efforts have contributed to the revitalization of rural communities (including Warren County), attracting new businesses (with the Wilds Cooperative of PA initiative), and improving quality of life for residents within the footprint of the PA Wilds region.”

Beth Pellegrino, Vice Chair of the PA Wilds Center’s Board of Directors, attended the WCCBI Celebration of Excellence awards banquet on behalf of the nonprofit.

Ta Enos, Founder and CEO of the PA Wilds Center, said the award represents the teamwork and collaboration that have happened over the years. “The community of Warren has been a pleasure to partner with over the years, and we are proud to invest in the people, businesses, organizations, and community spirit there,” she said. “The PA Wilds Center appreciates this award and looks forward to continuing to serve our mission of marrying conservation and economic development in a way that strengthens and inspires communities throughout the PA Wilds.”

Since the PA Wilds Center was founded in 2013, the Center has invested in Warren County and its residents. One of the most recent and visible examples is Warren serving as a host community during the Wilds Are Working: A Remote Lifestyle Experience project year 2023. Four individuals and their families stayed in Warren for one month as part of a grant-funded initiative that allowed selected remote workers to live, work, volunteer, and explore all that the rural region has to offer. WCCBI served as the Community Lead Organization who implemented the program on the ground, while the Center provided tools, resources and support to make the program possible.

Investments directly into Warren County during the Wilds Are Working program included about $15,000 to cover lodging costs, stipends for the participants to spend at local small businesses, and window wraps that were placed in storefronts to brighten downtown and make connections to the outdoor assets nearby.

“We were so appreciative of the PA Wilds during the Wilds Are Working Initiative and for all the guidance and support that Ta gives to any of our redevelopment projects, like the Riverfront,” said Casey.

Entrepreneurs and organizations throughout Warren County also benefit from the PA Wilds Center’s Wilds Cooperative of PA (WCO) network. Approximately 50 businesses and organizations in Warren County are participating in the free WCO network, two of whom sell products on the PA Wilds Marketplace at ShopThePAWilds.com, and seven of whom sell products at PA Wilds Conservation Shops.

In addition, the PA Wilds Planning Team recently supported the installation of bike racks in downtown Warren as part of the effort to support bicycle tourism along PA Route 6 in the PA Wilds.

“As a resident of Warren County myself, I’m proud to say that our investments have made a difference here,” said Enos. “It’s inspiring to see the things that are happening in Warren and other places throughout the PA Wilds region, and we vow to do our part in helping the region continue to be a wonderful place to live and work.”

Other 2024 Celebration of Excellence Award recipients include:

• Community Service Award – Hal and Mary Conarro
• Investment in the Community Award – Blueberry Hill Golf Course
• Excellence in Business Award – A&B Heating
• Excellence in Business Award – Jefferson DeFrees Family Center
• Excellence in Business Award – Prudential Financial, Tim Holter
• WCCI Milestone Award (10 years) – ICYY Ink
• WCCBI Milestone Award (15 years) – Scott Electric
• WCCBI Milestone Award (40 years) – Warren-Forest Higher Education Council
• WCCBI Milestone Award (60 years) – Miracle Mountain Ranch
• WCCBI Milestone Award (85 years) – Burns & Burns Insurance
• WCCBI Milestone Award (100 years) – ACE Hardware
• WCCBI Milestone Award (100 years) – United Fund of Warren County
• WCCBI Milestone Award (100 years) – Jamestown/Warren Cycle Shop
• WCCBI Milestone Award (105 years) – Warren’s Hometown Market

 

ABOUT THE PA WILDS

The Pennsylvania Wilds is a 13-county region that includes the counties of Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Warren, and northern Centre. The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc., is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to integrate conservation and economic development in a way that inspires the communities of the Pennsylvania Wilds. The PA Wilds Center promotes the region and its 2+ million acres of public lands as a premier outdoor recreation destination as a way to diversify local economies, inspire stewardship, attract investment, retain population and improve quality of life. The PA Wilds Center’s core programs seek to help businesses leverage the PA Wilds brand and connect with new market opportunities, including: the Wilds Cooperative of PA, a network of more than 575 place-based businesses and organizations, and the PA Wilds Conservation Shop, a retail outlet primarily featuring products sourced from the WCO. For more information on the PA Wilds Center, visit www.PAWildsCenter.org. To learn more about the WCO, visit www.WildsCoPA.org. Explore the PA Wilds at www.PAWilds.com. Find regionally made products at www.ShopThePAWilds.com. 

 

Media Contact

Britt Madera | Communications Manager

PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc.

[email protected] | 570-948-1051