With Interstate 80 crossing the heart of this exquisite area, all the towns and villages that call this county home have fantastic access to destinations across the United States. The Clarion County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) is the county’s lead economic development organization and recently became the county’s Destination Marketing Organization (DMO). The nonprofit is taking advantage of the county’s abundant natural assets and is fostering a community that draws business owners, residents, and visitors alike. Aspiring business owners, welcomed from larger metropoles across the country, are able to enjoy the affordable cost of business set-up and the enviable lifestyle afforded across its breathtaking rural areas.

As the lead economic development organization for Clarion County, Pennsylvania, the marketing team is tasked with bolstering the region’s economic prosperity. As such, it leverages the area’s strengths as an ideal tourist destination for those who appreciate the stunning natural environment and laidback pace. With a large part of the economy based on businesses serving the tourism sector, people here are as warm as they are hospitable, welcoming visitors from around the country and beyond for decades.

Once a visitor herself, Tourism Director Hind Karns and her family often took a break from their hectic corporate lives in Dubai to escape to this region where her husband spent his childhood. On one such holiday, the family fell in love with a home in Foxburg, a charming town on the Allegheny River, about 23 miles southwest of the county seat, Clarion. Enchanted by the region since her first visit, Karns could not have imagined that she would one day find herself in the enviable position of marketing the area and its beauty to the rest of the world.

As an entrepreneur, Karns is excited about the county’s future. “There are so many opportunities here for entrepreneurs,” she says.

The driver behind the CCEDC’s current work is to develop programs that not only hit the ground running but bring about valuable and permanent change. “We’re in the business of attracting people—because in today’s world, jobs follow people,” says Jarred Heuer, CCEDC Executive Director. “Our strategy positions Clarion County as a destination for entrepreneurs, digital nomads, individuals and families seeking a better quality of life. Through thoughtful placemaking—revitalizing our downtowns, enhancing outdoor recreation, and fostering vibrant community spaces—we create an environment where people want to live and invest.”

With this community-centric approach, the CCEDC seeks to attract opportunities that have a genuine civic interest. This, in turn, positions the county as a natural magnet for new economic opportunities and businesses that share its hardworking values.

In 2024, the organization launched the county’s first regional main street program, seeking to build consensus among local stakeholders and identify improvement projects in five downtowns across the county. Building on this initiative and drawing on resources like its relationship with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the CCEDC advocated for the creation of a state program called “Main Street Matters,” a program that helps fund main street revitalization programs including enterprise improvement, façade upgrades, and more.

“In order to cultivate and revitalize our downtowns, which feeds into tourism, our regional main street program offers Clarion County’s business corridors the opportunity to work together,” says Heuer.

Passionate about the area’s outstanding potential as an even more popular tourist destination than it already is, the team is committed to doing its best to promote the industry consciously by retaining the area’s charm, its calm, and its pristine rivers and forests. In the process, it fully intends to maintain the small-town values, local character, and historic aspects that have created the ambiance of this wonderful place—all while adding a touch of modernity to its amenities for the benefit of the local economy and the communities and people that call Clarion County home.

Therefore, rather than engaging in an aggressive development strategy, the DMO’s commitment is clear in its focus on preservation, protecting the character and charm of the region while updating its offerings. “We don’t want to build high-rises; we want to build sustainable progress for the local community,” Karns confirms. In the process, protecting the area from over-saturation through tourism is a priority. To achieve these two goals in tandem means that the development team takes the conscious management of resources across the county seriously. “We aim to grow economically while staying true to who we are. Balancing tradition and innovation, we welcome visionary ideas to carve out our place in the changing world, ensuring our future remains authentic and vibrant,” Karns adds.

Several local institutions have joined the mission, creating a range of programs to support successful outcomes. Built on a solid backbone of historic industries such as steel, coal, lumber, and oil, a phenomenal amount of wealth was brought to the area in its heyday, offering the county beautiful historic infrastructure. Some of these buildings include historic libraries, homes, churches, tunnels, and bridges.

One of its prettiest towns, Foxburg, is known as the area’s resort town, with a winery, historic buildings, a very rare and historic organ and a superb art gallery in a lovely old red brick building featuring fine art, woven fabrics, basketry, artisan jewelry, and more. “The natural assets in this region are amazing. People have to experience it for themselves,” Karns says of the exquisite landscapes that surround this picturesque village and the rest of the county.

It is also home to the Foxburg Country Club, which is the United States’ oldest golf course in continuous use. The club was first established by Joseph Mickle Fox, after whom the town was named—also known as the father of golf in America—following a fortuitous meeting with Tom Morris in St Andrews in Scotland. Originally leasing the land to the Foxburg Country Club, which welcomed its first players in 1887, Fox had, according to the club’s historic records, introduced the game to friends and associates on his estates playing with a set of clubs he was gifted by Morris.

Also not to be missed is Cook Forest, with its own fascinating history and some of the oldest trees in the country. Established in 1927, Cook Forest State Park was Pennsylvania’s first park created to protect a natural area. Now a National Natural Landmark, it preserves ancient trees, diverse wildlife, and the iconic “Forest Cathedral.” Once threatened by logging, it now thrives as a premier destination for hiking, paddling, and exploring nature. Decades of conservation efforts have safeguarded its beauty, ensuring future generations can enjoy its rich history and breathtaking landscapes.

The county seat, Clarion Borough, is known for its outstanding PennWest University and is the home of the Autumn Leaf Festival. As Western Pennsylvania’s second largest university, rendering well-rounded, successful professionals who actively contribute to the well-being of society is part of the institution’s nearly 200-year legacy. In addition, the county boasts a fine YMCA facility in Monroe Township. This facility offers residents access to outstanding wellness programs, modern equipment, a heated indoor swimming pool, childcare, and a full-size basketball court. Clarion Borough is also home to a multi-generational park that is currently under construction. Celebrating the ribbon cutting of the park’s playground just last year, the completed park will offer an ice-skating rink that doubles as a splash pad in summer, basketball and pickleball courts, and more.

Post-pandemic, three fabrication outfits moved into the county. Originally from Jackson, Ohio, Speyside Bourbon Cooperage set up a stave mill in Clarion Township, bringing over 50 jobs to the county in 2022. Lewis Lumber expanded to Clarion County from Tennessee and set up shop in Strattanville, Pennsylvania. The company imports hardwood lumber and sells it as a luxury commodity. Then there is Modern Living Solutions by Greystar in Knox, which designs and fabricates luxury modular pods used in the construction of apartment complexes.

Together, these three companies brought more than 300 new employment opportunities to the area. “For a rural area like ours, that’s tremendous,” Heuer says.

Clarion County’s story was not always so glamorous, however. As the geopolitics of the 1900s changed heavy industry, the county’s small towns suffered heavy depopulation, significantly changing the economic profile of the region. Positioning current sources of prosperity against this backdrop of sudden past economic downturns—which put a number of manufacturers out of commission over time—recent trends are certainly positive for those skilled in these industries. As a result, there is also a large focus on encouraging small and medium-sized manufacturing outfits that would allow the community to better mitigate any future downturns—firstly by bringing down the numbers of possible job losses at any one time and at the same time having enough industry in place to allow for maximum employee absorption in the event of another slump.

“Entrepreneurs are natural risk-takers… We want to position Clarion County as a landing spot for people who are searching for new opportunities,” Heuer says, highlighting that the area remains ideal for manufacturing. As a former New Yorker, he is especially aware of the county’s economic potential. The DMO is therefore also committed to attracting private investment while wisely investing in public works as part of its development strategy. Lauding entrepreneurs—and especially local ones—for their determination and courage, the organization is in full support of stimulating its local economy by making it easy for businesses to set up shop here to help turn its downtown areas into sought-after, socially conscious tourist destinations.

With the area’s property market attractive to those with families in search of good schools alongside robust accessibility, moving here is perfectly doable and also practical for those who prefer remote employment over entrepreneurship while pursuing a more intentional lifestyle. And easy access from everywhere in the county to its main artery means easy access to the facilities and institutions in neighboring areas.

Of course, reimagining the county’s identity means recasting its future. As such, the county may have much work ahead, but it has a few draw cards in its favor. “I think we are on the verge of a new cycle of invention,” says Karns.

With a new tourism website, and backed by trustworthy local infrastructure, exquisite natural surroundings, and a history of tenacity, Clarion County is well-positioned to achieve its goals. By undertaking such long-term creative and innovative endeavors, this DMO knows that taking meaningful action in the right direction every day will get it to where it envisions its future.

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“It’s been a big undertaking,” she says. “Our economic development has changed over the past decade. We had to regroup and find our niche while still being productive and bringing new dollars to the county.”

With its new Tourism Director, Mary Jo Milford, appointed late last year, the organization also used the opportunity to develop a new website and branding. “We’re gearing up for our first full year with that plan behind us and that infrastructure,” Seary continues. Moreover, sights are set on marketing this lovely region internationally.

For over a century, the county has been home to Punxsutawney Phil, a position that can only be filled by an honorary groundhog, in the town of Punxsutawney, around 80 miles from Pittsburgh. On February 2 each year, as the first rays of the sun hit the landscape, Phil is pulled from his burrow to predict the end of winter or the arrival of spring. The festivities are rounded out with a party at Gobbler’s Knob.

While it is widely understood to be more superstition than hard science, Punxsutawney Phil has become such a part of the local psyche that Groundhog Day inspired the 1993 film by the same name. The film was so popular that a sequel was released earlier this year. “It’s a fun, quirky festival, an all-night celebration [that lasts] until 7 a.m. when they pull Phil out of his little enclosure. People get really into it,” Seary says. Complete with a regular Governor’s visit, a live band, fireworks, and free entry, this popular shindig tends to be well attended.

Jefferson County is also home to well over 100 sites of archeological significance to Indigenous First Peoples. These sites have been excavated with the help of the Jefferson County History Center in Brookville, which is an invaluable resource to the area that offers educational events and activities as well as fascinating exhibits. It also offers locals the opportunity to get involved in local history and its preservation through volunteering. The Coolspring Power Museum, meanwhile, features some of the world’s earliest internal combustion engines.

The county shares its access to Cook Forest State Park with Clarion County and is also home to Clear Creek State Park, with its famous Beartown Rocks hiking trail that takes visitors to a “rock city” dating back to the last ice age. For those not in the mood for hiking, an easy stroll from the Corbett Road parking lot also gets you to this breathtaking outcrop of rocks. Founded in 2017, Brookville’s Laurel Festival gives locals a chance to gather over eight days celebrating the flowering of the Mountain Laurel. And Brockway is home to the county’s most picturesque Fourth of July celebrations.

The county’s fairground in Brookville is a hub of activity all year-round with wonderful gatherings like wine tastings, horse shows, monster truck shows, and all sorts of family-friendly events, all culminating in the biggest event of the year when producers and performers from across Jefferson flock together for the county fair during the third week in July. In addition, the Hazen Flea Market in Brookville acts as the Warsaw Township Volunteer Fire Company’s main fundraiser, welcoming visitors on selected dates, typically from May to October. Offering everything from antiques to curios and quality apparel, it is historically known as the largest flea market East of the Mississippi.

For city folk who are feeling a tad claustrophobic where they currently are, the county’s population count of around 43,000 makes the area anything but overcrowded. Situated close to several large cities, Jefferson County offers the perfect balance between peaceful country living and easy access to urban amenities. “We have a beautiful state forest here in Jefferson County. It has some of the oldest living trees in the United States. It’s an outdoorsman’s paradise out here,” Seary says, adding that there is something to suit everyone’s tastes in this rural area. Indeed, with myriad outdoor activities to keep everyone in the family engaged and active, this fascinating place has a lot going for it.

As an economic development authority, the DMO lends support in securing state and federal grants to boost local community well-being and the economy. “Our doors are always open to have conversations [with businesses that want to come here],” says Seary. Jefferson County Development Council’s loan program lends $100,000 with a fixed three percent interest rate aimed at small and medium enterprises, while other local loan providers lend varying amounts. And businesses here benefit from Seary’s expertise in finding and securing grants, grant-writing, and access to local government departments.

As such, the county invites those in industry to come and explore the possibilities it provides—not only in terms of incentives but also in skilled labor. With its local trades school, Jefferson County-Dubois Area Vocational-Technical School (Jeff Tech), focused on teaching machining, welding, and other manufacturing skills, the area is blessed with young workers ready to reach the next level in their development. “Every year, these kids [are graduating] and they’re looking for jobs. So, any industry that plays to our local trades school would do well here for certain,” Seary says.

“If you are a laborer, a machinist, someone in the blue-collar field, there are high-paying jobs here where you could start tomorrow,” she shares. As Interstate 80 conveniently cuts through the center of the county with six exits, logistics become a cinch for enterprises transporting goods across the country. Two of its main towns also offer access to railway transportation.

Indeed, the county’s existing industry is doing well, and three of its more recent arrivals are especially flourishing. One of these is the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Project in collaboration with Cresco Yeltrah, which received permission to trade in 2017 and has met with success. “We’re very blessed to have that here in Jefferson County,” says Seary. “They’re a top employer.” The Legacy Truck Center is another enterprise that has brought a significant number of new jobs to the region since it opened in 2019.

Penn Highlands Healthcare has also substantially added to the local economy by consolidating a number of individually operating healthcare operations, ranging from hospitals to senior living facilities, under the management of a single brand. With its new community medical facility in Brookville and extensive upgrades and improvements to existing outfits, Penn Highlands Healthcare remains a large investor in the county.

Looking at the DMO’s goals for the county, Seary and her team are resolute in their vision. Set on driving a thriving economy with community at the heart of all its efforts, the organization is taking aim at fully occupied commercial properties, bustling main streets, and growing and updating housing developments.

With so much to offer, seeing the area’s tourism sector grow exponentially is also a priority. And, with such a warm sense of hospitality, the spirit of welcoming people here is not simply business as usual, Seary tells me. “We hope you visit,” she says, “but we also hope you stay.”

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Residents have access to all that the greater metro area has to offer, while enjoying nature in their own backyards. “Quality of life right now for employees is so important—being able to access recreational opportunities and to get outside and enjoy the outdoors, but also to live in a community where not everything feels hurried,” Suydam says. “We still have the great advantage of knowing our neighbors; we talk to our neighbors. You go to the grocery store, and you run into people you know. And I think that for businesses, that’s important in that you are building relationships outside of just your initial clients. You’re continuing to see the people you’re doing business with [and] you’re growing those relationships because it is a small-town feel.”

This small-town camaraderie can be seen in the spirit of cooperation that permeates the county. “In our community, we really are collaborative,” Suydam says. “We work really closely with many different partners.” The Chamber’s relationships include those within the business world as well as with the United Way, the district attorney, the school system, and government agencies. “We get the right people at the right table to make big things happen,” says Suydam.

This collaboration extends throughout Pennsylvania and beyond. “We’re always able to help connect to resources that a business might need at a state or federal level,” she says. “We’re always [ready] to explore those opportunities and what that might look like.”

The Youth Opportunities Uncovered (YOU) leadership program is a prime example of a collaborative initiative making a positive impact throughout the county. In partnership with the school system, the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce program identifies students who have “amazing leadership qualities, but they’re not going to be the first one to raise their hand or speak up,” says Suydam. “And what I love about this program is it gives teachers the opportunity to say, ‘this student is showing some real positive qualities as a leader, and I know that they will thrive if given additional opportunity, but that student is never going to self-select.’”

The five-session program teaches leadership and goal setting and offers mentoring opportunities and hands-on learning, including a tour of the Procter & Gamble facilities, Wyoming County’s largest employer.

YOU encourages students to utilize the opportunities gained from the program to support the community in the future. “It really is about showing them the opportunity here in Wyoming County,” Suydam says. “Sometimes kids think they have to leave rural communities to be successful. Many of the adults they talk to in the program are very successful people who live and work right here in Wyoming County. So part of the program’s mission is really making sure they understand you don’t have to leave.”

The Wyoming County Heart & Soul community study is another successful collaborative effort. “That is a community action plan initiated through storytelling,” Suydam tells us. “We went out and surveyed over a thousand people in our county and talked to them about what their aspirations are, what they love about living here, and what their hopes are for our county.”

The findings revealed that, “regardless of where you were in the county or who you were talking to,” the area’s natural resources were highly valued. Local leaders have been quick to respond. “We continue to nurture and find opportunities to build our nature assets here in Wyoming County,” Suydam says. “We want our community to stay rural. We care about our agricultural roots and that we have a lot of green space and open areas.”

To be sure, this paradise offers a wealth of recreational opportunities. Fishing, kayaking, and canoeing on the Susquehanna River are popular pastimes. Hiking trails are abundant throughout the county. And there is a new state park to enjoy, thanks to the commitment of locals to preserve the land.

“Wyoming County did not have a state park, but a small group of community leaders started really taking care of a preserved area and knew that, long-term, they couldn’t always do it and that it really needed state funding,” Suydam says. “So, they advocated and eventually got that land designated as a state park.” Nestled along the banks of the Susquehanna River, Vosburg Neck State Park is an ideal spot for hiking, picnicking, boating, and wildlife watching. Wyoming County’s Miller Mountain, which boasts stunning views and opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, birdwatching, fishing, and hunting, was recently designated as part of Pinchot State Forest.

In another collaborative effort, the community has brought a much-needed healthcare facility to Wyoming County. “We’re constantly advocating for each other,” Suydam says, “and I think that was shown in our community coming together to fund and build the Wyoming County Healthcare Center.”

When the local hospital closed its doors after decades of being “a staple in the community,” locals were left without access to much-needed healthcare. “Our nearest hospital is 45 minutes away from our county seat,” Suydam explains. “45 minutes may not sound like much if you’re going for a routine test, but if you are in a car accident and in critical condition and need to travel by ambulance to the nearest hospital and that’s 45 minutes away, that’s a long ride. The Wyoming County Healthcare Center was born out of that crisis,” she says.

“The building was purchased by a private businessman in our area who worked with his family foundation and founded the center, and it has grown to what we like to call a medical mall.” Now, locals have access to a variety of services, from occupational healthcare to dialysis. “And all of these different organizations are independent organizations; they hadn’t normally collaborated. So, what this businessman was able to do is to say, ‘hey, we have this building, we’ve covered your long-term risk of needing to replace the roof and remodel, update the building. We need you to come in and provide your services.’ He’s been able to rent out the building to many different service providers as opposed to one hospital system taking on all of that burden.”

Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce’s above-and-beyond efforts recently earned it Pennsylvania’s Small Chamber of the Year award. Not content to rest on their laurels, the team is already planning the next project to keep the community strong. “We are working on a really exciting workforce development initiative,” Suydam shares. “It takes individuals who are unemployed or underemployed and helps them to identify their barriers in the workplace and then upskills them by working with an educational partner… There’s a gap in skill level sometimes, in rural communities. We can help identifying what those barriers have been for them and helping them to connect with a workforce agency that will assist with those barriers.”

This support includes training in life skills “outside of the job, things like financial planning,” she adds. The program specifically focuses on high-demand careers that are currently hiring in Wyoming County.

As the Chamber works to support the community and lay the groundwork for the future, the team is committed to preserving what makes Wyoming County a great place to live and work. “We care about our small-town feel for our communities,” Suydam says. With local leaders dedicated to preserving that close-knit and collaborative local culture, Wyoming County’s old hometown spirit, while welcoming new opportunities, is here to stay.

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