CURWENSVILLE – Clearfield, Elk and Jefferson Counties are in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands of Appalachia in North Central PA. Unemployment has been a chronic problem facing this region for decades. Now times are even harder. Regional communities lag behind the rest of the nation in many measures of well-being, including income, education and population growth.
The PA Wilds Greenways Partnership is a new organization in Clearfield, Elk and Jefferson counties that is focused on turning this trend around for the better by seizing opportunities for recreational and tourism development based on the region’s Rails to Trails systems.
A public informational meeting will be presented on April 14 at the Curwensville Area High School Library at 7 p.m. For those who cannot make the event in person, a free high-quality webTV video stream will be provided.
The Partnership proposes to create jobs and sustainable economic growth by building a regional trail system that connects the communities of Clearfield, Elk and Jefferson counties and invites tourists to the area who like to hike and bike in the PA Wilds.
Rich Levine of DuBois, a spokesperson for the Partnership, will give the presentation on the 14 and will ask for public input to help make the envisioning process as vibrant and focused as possible. The presentation will revolve around the future of the Curwensville region and the proposed Anderson Creek Conservation Area and how locals can make the most of the assets this area holds.
Levine says, “The PA Wilds Greenways Partnership will act boldly, swiftly and responsibly to submit an economic stimulus proposal to the federal government and other private and public funding sources to build a regional trail system in Clearfield, Elk and Jefferson counties.”
Sam Ettaro of Curwensville supports the idea fully and has committed to spearheading the first Partnership Chapter to serve the Curwensville-Anderson Creek Area. Ettaro also serves on Curwensville Borough Council where he will present this plan to the rest of Council in hopes of gaining their full support.
“This is the sort of development that has true potential to turn our regional economy around for the better,” said Ettaro.
He added that experience has proven that this is a model that works, “For those who have traveled around the state and visited beautiful little towns such as Jim Thorpe, it’s obvious that the Curwensville area has all of the basic assets necessary on which to build on such successful models. Other towns who have a rich history in traditional industry have turned around economically and culturally through seizing on effective marketing of that history-related draw, while looking to modern and clean development focused on health, family and community. They’ve done it, and so can we.”
Levin’s plan is a very good start, Ettaro believes, and he likes Levine’s vision of planting the seed of this Partnership in Curwensville and having this area be the hub of this regional development plan.
The event on the 14 is the inaugural public presentation of this plan and Mr. Levine hopes to duplicate this effort across the entire PA Wilds community to community, town to town, village to village through subsequent live events and future webcasts. Each presentation will be focused upon the assets of the host community and will offer ideas on which the local people can build.
“We already have some shining examples of small towns within our region that have had great success through their efforts to become a dynamic ‘Trail Town’. It’s our hope that the people of Curwensville will seize this unique moment in time, learn from those who have created successful models and will be an active and vibrant member of this Partnership.” said Levine.
Ettaro mentioned the draw of this sort of development has very broad appeal and can be utilized as a means to attract youth to stay in this area and take part in entrepreneurial development within this unique and growing economic sector. He has also asked Mr. Levine to visit the IT Academy at Jeff Tech where he is an instructor to discuss the plan for the DuBois-Reynoldsville trail and how young people can benefit greatly from being involved. That presentation takes place earlier in the day on the 14 at the high school in Reynoldsville.
“We hear a lot of talk in these parts that we have to create jobs and bring opportunity here ‘for our kids’ so they stop leaving and will stay. This is true, we need to have that focus, but in order to truly inspire them to stick around and put their talents to work for their local community, we must offer opportunities that speak to them, their friends, and their culture. This plan offers a proven formula that young entrepreneurs can follow, financial support that they can draw from and real opportunity to make good money through innovative startup ideas.”
Doors at the Curwensville Library will be open to the public at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14 for members of the community who wish to learn more in person. For those who cannot make the event in person, Ettaro is providing a high quality webTV stream which can be viewed for free by anyone with a standard DSL or cable modem or similar high-speed web connection. The video player will also feature a live chat room where interested parties can ask questions of Mr. Levine in real time.
Both men wish to thank the Curwensville High School for supporting this event by providing the venue and for the support of their Technology Department for providing the internet access necessary for the webcast. Video from the live event will be available immediately on the Partnership’s website.
The public can learn more about the Partnership and watch the live event by clicking here.