29 communities, small businesses get new signs with help from PA Wilds
Posted: April 11, 2010
The Pennsylvania Wilds Planning Team is pleased to announce that awards have been granted in the Pennsylvania Wilds Business Signage Program and the Pennsylvania Wilds Community Signage Program, and that new signs are beginning to go up across the region. At least one community or business sign was awarded to every county in the Pennsylvania Wilds.
The program provided up to $1,000 to business owners to upgrade existing business signage, and up to $3,000 to communities to construct welcome signage. The program was funded by $25,000 in grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation of Natural Resources, and $25,000 from the Department of Community and Economic Development.
"The primary goal is to help people improve the look and feel of their communities," said Pennsylvania Wilds Community Outreach Specialist Sam MacDonald. "Great business and welcome signage can make communities more inviting to locals and visitors alike."
"We were thrilled with the response to the program," MacDonald added. "We received 63 applications in total, requesting more than $110,000 in funding. We think that we selected a strong group that illustrates all the things that great signage can do. We also worked very hard to use this process to educate people about resources that already exist, especially the Pennsylvania Wilds Design Guide and websites like www.pawildsresources.org. We didn’t design the signs. The businesses and communities did, and we couldn't be more pleased with the creative and innovative ideas they have developed."
The following businesses were awarded signage grants: Copy Katz/Endeavor News; Black Moshannon Lodge; Bells & Whistles; St. Charles Café; Winkler Gallery of Art; Darlene’s; Summit Motel; Grant’s Pass; Wapiti Woods; Old Charm Bed & Breakfast; Riverside Campground; Firestone Forge; Blackwell Church; Tioga Central Railroad; and J. Lauren Interior Design.
The following entities were awarded community signage grants: Sylvan Heritage Council (Emporium, Cameron County); New Bethlehem Borough; Coalport Borough; Renovo Borough; Benezette; Johnsonburg Borough; St. Mary's Chamber of Commerce; Jones Township; Forest County; Punxsutawney Chamber of Commerce; Lafayette Township; Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau; Clarendon Borough; Sheffield Township.
The community welcome signs will all incorporate the Pennsylvania Wilds logo in some way, so be on the lookout for them! Anyone who would like more information about the program should contact Pennsylvania Wilds community outreach specialist Sam MacDonald at smacdonald@pawilds.com. Elected officials and media members are especially urged to get in touch.
Grow your tourism business with free social networking sites.
Website development workshops specifically targeting tourism businesses in the Pennsylvania Wilds are now scheduled for Warren, Clearfield and Lycoming counties. The workshops are free but space is limited so don’t delay signing up for what one recent participant called "the best use of tax dollars" she'd experienced in a long time.
Individuals who attend will be shown examples of tourism business websites from around the PA Wilds region that have gotten real results, and hear what these small business owners have to say about building an effective website, costs and more. In the second half of the workshop, PennTAP will explain basic website layout, search engine optimization and why these things are critical if you want a successful website.
Outfitters, guides, liveries, artisans, restaurants, stores, lodges and other tourism businesses that want to improve their web presence are encouraged to attend.
Presentations scheduled include:
Clearfield County
April 13, 2-4 p.m.
Leonard Street Multi-Service Center, Room 131
600 Leonard Street
Clearfield, PA 16830
Lycoming County
May 13, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
River Valley Room
Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce
100 West 3rd Street
Williamsport, PA 17701-6418
Warren County
May 19, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Host provides snacks provided)
Ruff Acres Fine Arts & Antiques
600 North Main Street
Russell, PA 16345
A complete brochure, including registration information, can be found under "Hot Topics" on the www.pawildsresources.org homepage. Or you can register by contacting Donna Yale at dyale@psu.edu or 570.596.3585.
