Trending
The City of Williamsport and Saint Marys were selected to host remote workers as part of 2024 Wilds Are Working Initiative.
The program gives remote workers the chance to apply for an opportunity to test out living in two new Pennsylvania Wilds' communities.
Williamsport is considered a gateway to the Pennsylvania Wilds.
"We are extremely excited to be a host community for the Wilds Are Working program," said city Mayor Derek Slaughter. " I fully believe that participants in this program will realize the amazing opportunities Williamsport and the surrounding area has to offer -- outdoor recreation, arts and culture, and fine dining to name only a few. As remote workers consider where to live, we hope this program shines a light on Williamsport that will allow us to fill industry needs while simultaneously growing our tax base. I have no doubt the participants will enjoy all of the amenities in and around Williamsport and I hope they will consider making Williamsport their home."
Each community has a Community Lead Organization (CLO) spearheading the effort at the ground level. The
Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce is the CLO for Williamsport.
"The Chamber is pleased to see that our application was accepted to have Williamsport as a host community for the Wilds Are Working program conducted by the Pennsylvania Wilds Center," said Jason Fink, president/CEO of the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce. We see this as another tool to utilize in our efforts to grow the local population base. This initiative will provide us with valuable insight as to what remote workers are seeking when considering where to live. It also will assist in our efforts to promote Williamsport and Lycoming County for those seeking new places to live with the available onsite employment opportunities here in the community."
The Wilds Are Working: A Remote Lifestyle Experience initiative is in its third year of the three-year grant-funded program.
This project seeks to help address the issue of outmigration in rural areas by marketing PA Wilds communities as great places to live and work by providing important feedback loops to participating communities about the needs and desires of the modern workforce.
Funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission through Ben Franklin Technology Partners, the program was designed and is administered by the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc., a nonprofit whose mission is to integrate conservation and economic development in a way that strengthens and inspires communities of the Pennsylvania Wilds.
Originally piloted in summer 2022 in the PA Wilds communities of Bellefonte and Kane, the initiative allows remote workers to live, work, volunteer, and explore all that the rural region has to offer.
The program had a successful second year in 2023, with the communities of Emporium and Warren hosting remote workers.
Participants can come from anywhere in the world, as long as they have a sense of adventure and the ability to work remotely.
Williamsport, the seat of Lycoming County, will host remote workers in July. It is the largest city in the PA Wilds region, with a population of nearly 28,000. Perhaps best known as being the birthplace of Little League baseball, the Williamsport area also has a rich heritage tied to the lumber industry and is home to two
institutions of higher education (Pennsylvania College of Technology and Lycoming College), the Crosscutters minor draft league baseball team and more than a dozen local breweries. The West Branch Susquehanna River runs through Williamsport, offering beautiful views along the riverwalk and ample water recreation, and the renowned Pine Creek Rail Trail and PA Grand Canyon are just down the road.
"The first two years of The Wilds Are Working really showcased the diversity of what our region has to offer,
especially to remote workers who value outdoor recreation and a sense of community," said Abbi Peters, Chief Operations Officer at the PA Wilds Center. "The past host communities were able to draw from the experience,
Lodging accommodations are covered for remote workers during the experience. In addition, the workers receive a living stipend which can only be spent at local businesses as a way to inject more dollars locally into the region throughout the initiative. The stipends are provided in the form of a digital gift card (Shop the PA Wilds gift card), only redeemable at participating businesses within the Wilds region.
A component of this initiative is a placemaking effort called "Picture Yourself Here." This project enables the participating communities to choose whether to install inspirational window wraps in downtown storefronts or produce a marketing video to help people picture themselves there.
The window wraps and the video ultimately help position the communities as part of the PA Wilds region while also building important connections between the downtowns and nearby outdoor spaces.