Advancing Rural PA's Outdoor Recreation Sector
The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship has been selected as a Host Community for the Economic Recovery Corps (ERC), an opportunity made possible by the Economic Development Administration.
The PA Wilds Center's project, "Advancing Rural PA's Outdoor Recreation Sector," seeks to accelerate job creation and increase connectivity, awareness, participation, community engagement, and capacity for outdoor recreation entrepreneurship communities of rural PA.
As a Host Community, PA Wilds Center went through a competitive process to be matched with an ERC Fellow who will be placed with the nonprofit for a 30-month period to implement the project beginning in early 2024.
Project Overview
Meet Our Fellow
PA Wilds Center is thrilled to introduce Marc Wilken, the Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) Fellow matched with our community to support the Advancing Rural PA's Outdoor Recreation Sector project.
With over 500 host applications, PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship was selected to participate in the first ERC cohort alongside 65 other host sites and fellows leading innovative projects. Officially starting in February 2024, the 65 ERC Fellows and Hosts will come together as a nationwide network of diverse practitioners and leaders with the passion, skills, and vision to advance new ways of doing economic development that promote transformative change and lead to a more just, equitable, and sustainable economy for all.
Hailing from the Philadelphia area, Marc is excited to deploy his program development background to create vibrant communities through the outdoors. As a nature enthusiast and environmental advocate, he hopes to see the natural assets of the PA Wilds region help build more resilient ecosystems that can flourish, and position the people and places across the PA Wilds to thrive.
The ERC Program has the potential to shift the practice of economic development nationwide in an unprecedented manner. Marc will play a pivotal role in deepening our partner networks at a critical growth period and evolving our regional systems in a way that was truly transformational for rural communities, hitting all five of the intended outcomes: accelerated job creation; increased connectivity; increased awareness and participation; increased community engagement; and increased capacity.
Marc will be living and working in our region for the next 2.5 years, so please give him a warm welcome to our area! Read about Marc's background and learn more about the project they will be helping us with: Economic Recovery Corps Fellows
Learn more about the ERC program and the various projects across the US and stay up to date on the ERC's happenings by signing up for updates at www.iedconline.org/ERC_Updates.