Editor’s Note: The PA Wilds Partner Opportunities blog is a new monthly roundup of opportunities and resources that are offered by partners of the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship. Featured blog content supports Pennsylvania Wilds communities, small businesses and organizations. Regionally focused and time sensitive grant opportunities, technical assistance programs and professional development workshops are examples of the types of resources and opportunities that will be included in this monthly blog. Typically published the second week of each month, this series serves as a real time supplement to the annually produced PA Wilds Resource Guides, available at WildsCoPA.org/business-resources.

 

Below and Above: Storing Carbon in the Pennsylvania Landscape

Host: Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council
Date: Part one (Below) – Thursday, September 21 from noon to 1:30 p.m., Part two (Above) – Tuesday, October 17 from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual speaker series. Register here for part one. Register here for part two.

This two-part webinar series explores opportunities to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions through underground carbon storage and aboveground carbon sequestration. Learn how technology- and nature-based solutions can play a significant role in mitigating atmospheric CO2 emissions and climate change. Panelists will address environmental and economic considerations for public and private landowners. Each webinar will conclude with a Q&A session and discussion. This webinar series is free and open to the public.

 

Developing and Strengthening Rural Capacity: Overcoming Barriers to Meet in the Middle

Host: Rural Rise
Date: Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 2 p.m.
Location: Virtual speaker series – register here

The opportunity to access transformational federal infrastructure investments has opened a window for struggling rural communities, but many are structurally unprepared to take advantage. Attendees will learn how key regional and statewide initiatives are merging bottom-up and top-down rural innovations to accelerate progress, leverage limited rural resources, maximize impacts, and capture lessons for what works in expanding community-driven rural prosperity. Register for this virtual series to join Jerry Kenney from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation, Rachael Maddock-Hughes from Sequoia Consulting, and Kelty Garbee from Texas Rural Funders for a discussion about Developing and Strengthening Rural Capacity.

 

Driving Forward: EV Charging Station Partnership Event

Host: North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission
Date: Wednesday, September 27, 2023 from 1 until 3 p.m.
Location: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers – 1400 Leonard Street, Clearfield PA 16830 (Microsoft Teams meeting also provided as an alternative attendance option)

This informative event will feature presentations on EV charging basics, existing infrastructure in the region and funding opportunities. Interactive discussions will be conducted to further evaluate gaps, opportunities and challenges, and provide businesses a chance to interact with supporting organizations that can help plan and implement new charging infrastructure across the region. Register today! In-person attendance is recommended.

 

Listening session: Chat about local issues with Spotlight PA at Root Bar in Kane

Host: Spotlight PA
Date: Drop by anytime between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 29
Location: Root Bar, 63 N. Fraley St., Kane (Coffee paid for by Spotlight PA!)

Spotlight PA is dedicated to producing nonpartisan accountability and public-service journalism about the Pennsylvania government, urgent statewide issues, and the most pressing matters facing our local communities. They have extended Spotlight PA’s award-winning journalism through the creation of our first regional bureau, based in State College, which brings more reporting resources to important issues in north-central Pennsylvania, including McKean County. Spotlight PA wants to hear from local leaders and residents like you about what stories have gone untold and what issues need attention. This will help inform their coverage as they welcome their new rural affairs reporter, Marley Parish.

 

2023 PA Route 6 Educational Workshop, Annual Meeting & Do 6 Awards Program in Corry

Host: The PA Route 6 Alliance
Date: Thursday and Friday, October 5-6
Location: Corry, Erie County, PA

The event kicks off with the Educational Workshop on Thursday, October 5th in Corry. Special guests and speakers include Melinda Meyer from Preservation Erie, Bill Callahan from Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Association, Abbi Peters from The PA Wilds Center, Sam Pearson from Pennsylvania Downtown Center, and Erie County business professionals. On Friday, October 6th, the Annual Meeting and presentation of the “Do 6” awards will be hosted at The Fork and Barrel Restaurant in Corry. PA Route 6 Alliance will recognize projects and accomplishments, provide updates on current initiatives. Register for one or both days of the 2023 PA Route 6 Educational Workshop & Annual Meeting.

 

Digital Coach for Google available in Kane

Host: The Kane Area Chamber of Commerce
Date: Wednesday and Thursday, October 18 and 19
Location: Six&Kane (63 N. Fraley Street, Kane 16735)

The Kane Area Chamber of Commerce arranged for Pennsylvania’s Digital Coach for Google Joshua Miller to come to Kane on October 18 and 19 and lead FREE coaching sessions and group workshops at Six&Kane. Participants can sign up for any or all of the scheduled Grow with Google workshops. They will also have the opportunity to schedule a one-on-one session to discuss any questions they might have with their business and Google’s services. There is no cost for any of these sessions! One-on-one sessions will be scheduled on a first come, first serve basis. Register by emailing the Google Digital Coach Joshua Miller directly at [email protected].

 

Session Proposals Open for 2024 Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference

Host: WeConservePA
Date: Deadline to submit is Wednesday, October 25. Conference on April 3-5, 2023.
Location: Wind Creek in Bethlehem (77 Wind Creek Blvd, Bethlehem, PA 18015)

WeConservePA is accepting session proposals for the 2024 Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference on April 3-5 in Bethlehem. The conference typically attracts 300 to 350 people representing land trusts, state agencies, trail groups, municipalities, and parks and recreation departments. Topics of interest include land protection, conservation easements, conservation law, tax issues, stewardship, resource management, land use planning, climate change, forestry, farmland preservation, habitat protection, fundraising, outreach, communications, DEIJ, access, trails, and more. The deadline to submit a proposal is Wednesday, October 25.

 

Recruiting for 1-hour focus groups and interviews with Northeast and Central PA residents about media/events

Host: The Institute & WVIA Public Media
Date: Interview at your convenience
Location: Virtual interview, must be resident of Northeastern and Central PA

The Institute & WVIA Public Media are seeking residents of Northeastern & Central Pennsylvania to complete a 60 minute virtual or phone interview or participate in a small focus group. The conversation will cover how you get information on current events, local media, and issues in your community. The responses will be confidential and used for this research only. Participants selected for discussion who complete the interview will receive a $20 gas or grocery gift card. Register for your interview here.

 

Paid participants needed for research study on rural public libraries

Host: Penn West University
Date: 30-minute to 1-hour recorded virtual interview at your convenience
Location: Virtual interview, Zoom link will be provided after contacting Dr. Li.

Do you own a small business? Are you planning to start your own small business? Are you looking for a job? Are you a representative for your local community-based organization? If you answer yes to any of these questions, and you are a resident (ages 18 to 75) in a rural community of Pennsylvania, you may be eligible to participate in a research study funded by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania that could improve library resources, programs, and services for you. Each participant will be compensated $25 Amazon Gift Card. Please contact Principal Investigator, Xiaofeng Li, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, Pennsylvania Western University, 814-393-2447, [email protected]

 

Submit your resources!

Organizations offering resources or opportunities for small businesses, nonprofits and communities in the PA Wilds are invited to submit information for potential inclusion in next month’s Partner Opportunities blog, which is posted to PAWildsCenter.org and shared in the PA Wilds Center’s monthly e-newsletter. The blog and e-blast are typically shared the second week of the month. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. the last Friday of month for consideration. SUBMIT RESOURCES

 

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