Pennsylvania’s federal senators had some good news for the PA Wilds this week, a $736,000 grant to stimulate growth in the region’s tourism and outdoor recreation workforce.

On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., said, “The Pennsylvania Wilds has worked for years to grow tourism and outdoor recreation in 13 counties in North Central Pennsylvania. 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.”

His colleague, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., was pleased to be able to help the PA Wilds.

“As mayor of a former steel town, I saw first-hand how communities across Pennsylvania need the kind of economic investment this funding will provide,” said Fetterman. “This grant for the Pennsylvania wilds to expand their tourism and outdoor recreation workforces will be critical for the continuing success of the region and help spur economic development.”

The Pennsylvania Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship was thrilled with the news.

“Through the investment, the PA Wilds Center will develop six plans over the next three years: an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Governance Plan, Franchise Plan, Regional Marketing Plan, Licensing Plan, DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) Plan, and an update to 2007 PA Wilds Planning Study,” said Britt Madera, communications manager.

The grant from the Economic Development Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce will be matched with $1.5 million in local, state and other funds to help rural North Central Pennsylvania communities, including many coal communities, diversify their economies, create good-paying jobs and incentivize new investment.

She added that more information will be forthcoming in the days ahead.

The senators said this project is funded under the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) initiative, through which Economic Development Administration 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.