Artisans, retailers interested in joining Artisan Trail encouraged to attend free event
WILLIAMSPORT – Artists and retail shops interested in learning more about the Pennsylvania Wilds Artisan Trail are invited to attend a “Meet & Greet” event from 1 – 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23 at the Pajama Factory in Williamsport.
The PA Wilds Artisan Initiative is an effort to raise the visibility and profitability of artisans and arts-related businesses across the 12.5 counties of the Pennsylvania Wilds region.
At this event, PA Wilds Small Business Ombudsman Ta Brant will give an overview of the Artisan Initiative, including how artists and shops can use the „Made in the Pennsylvania Wilds? branding and the www.PAwildsArtisans.com Web site to their advantage. Jen Swain, executive director of Northern Tier Cultural Alliance, which manages the day-to-day operations of the PA Wilds Artisan Trail, will explain how artisans and retailers can apply to join the trail. A short question and answer session will follow.
After the presentation, guests are invited on a guided tour of the Pajama Factory, a complex of historic factory buildings built by the Lycoming Rubber Company, which over the years have been used to make pajamas and other items. Like many factory buildings across the country, the complex sat empty and blighted for many years until the current owners started rehabbing it into artist and retail space.
“The transformation that has taken place at the Pajama Factory is very inspiring and an excellent example of community revitalization in the Pennsylvania Wilds region,” said Meredith Hill, PA Wilds Director for the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which helps fund the Artisan Initiative. “We’re excited to team up with them for this event.”
Admission to the Meet & Greet is free but pre-registration is required in order to plan for space. To register, contact Jen Swain at jenn@ntculturalalliance.org or 570-265-7455 no later than Feb. 15. The Pajama Factory is located at 1307 Park Ave., Williamsport, PA 17701.
The Pennsylvania Wilds Initiative works to revitalize communities through strategic facility investments and sustainable tourism business development exemplified by projects like the PA Wilds Artisan Trail.
Funding for PA Wilds Artisan Trail is provided in part through grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission, and support from the Lumber Heritage Region made possible through PA DCNR?s Community Conservation and Partnership Grant Program.
For background information on the PA Wilds Artisan Initiative, please go to www.pawildsresources.org and click on “Artisans.”