2026 PA Route 6 Educational Workshop, Annual Meeting, & Do 6 Awards

PA Route 6 Alliance Celebrates Successful 2026 Educational Workshop, Annual Meeting and “Do 6” Awards in Coudersport

The PA Route 6 Alliance successfully hosted its 2026 PA Route 6 Educational Workshop, Annual Meeting, and “Do 6” Awards Program September 9–11 in the Heritage Community of Coudersport, Pennsylvania. The three-day event brought together individuals, community leaders, businesses, organizations, and partners from across the 11-county PA Route 6 Heritage Corridor for educational programming, networking, community engagement, and celebration.

This year’s event featured a dynamic lineup of speakers and presenters, including Heidi Schlag, founder of Heritage Tourism Studio; Silas Chamberlain of Firefly Outdoor Economics; Samantha Pearson of the PA Downtown Center; Helena Kotala of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and David Landis from V2V Trails; Jenny Totten and Spencer Moss from Alchemy; Katie Forsythe of the Potter County Planning Commission; and PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Environmental Education Specialist Steve Werner. The workshop also featured representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), PA Downtown Center, PA Creative Communities, and a community panel featuring representatives from the communities of Corry, Mansfield, and Coudersport, along with additional community leaders and partners from across the Route 6 corridor.

The event kicked off on the evening of September 9 with woodfired pizza and a networking event at Frosty Hollow Bed and Breakfast followed by a special Dark Sky Program led by PA DCNR Environmental Education Specialist Steve Werner.

Educational programming continued September 10–11 at the historic Gunzburger Building along Route 6 in Coudersport. Workshops explored a range of topics focused on the event’s theme, “Planning for Stronger Communities,” including turning Route 6 into a connected visitor experience, active transportation and economic development, using digital data for planning purposes, successful community projects, bicycle tourism, and project funding. The community panel provided an opportunity to hear directly from local leaders about their experiences, challenges, partnerships, and successes in moving community initiatives from planning to implementation.

Attendees also participated in a variety of special activities throughout the event. Local historian Dave Castano led a guided tour of historic Coudersport. Attendees also visited the Coudersport Farmers Market for the kickoff of the PA Route 6 Alliance Makers Market at the Potter County Market Village. Presented in partnership with the PA Wilds, the Makers Market brought together 14 artisans and producers from communities along the PA Route 6 corridor and throughout the PA Wilds to showcase their work and connect with visitors.

Bike enthusiasts had the opportunity to bring their bicycles and participate in a group ride along the Coudersport Heritage Loop, part of the PA Route 6 Alliance’s Trans PA Cycle Tour, with Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Motorized recreation enthusiasts got out on the trails with the UTV’s provided by Denton Go.

The Annual Meeting and “Do 6” Awards Ceremony were held Thursday evening, September 10, at the Coudersport Golf Club. The program included updates on current PA Route 6 Alliance initiatives and recognized outstanding projects, individuals, organizations, and communities making a difference throughout the corridor. A special highlight of the evening was celebrating Port Allegany and Mansfield for completing the PA Heart & Soul program and becoming the next designated PA Heart & Soul Communities. Their completion marked an important milestone in each community’s ongoing efforts to engage residents, strengthen community connections, and use local voices and shared values to help shape their communities’ futures.

The evening concluded with the presentation of the “Do 6” Awards, honoring individuals, organizations, projects, and communities that exemplified the PA Route 6 Alliance’s mission to promote, preserve, and enhance the economic development and heritage resources of communities along the PA Route 6 corridor.

Following the Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony, attendees continued the conversation during a networking reception hosted at Gary’s Putter Golf and sponsored by Visit Potter Tioga.

“We were thrilled with the enthusiasm and energy surrounding this year’s Educational Workshop, Annual Meeting and ‘Do 6’ Awards,” said Candace Hillyard, Executive Director of the PA Route 6 Alliance. “The theme, ‘Starry Skies & Stronger Communities,’ truly came to life as we celebrated the people, partnerships, and projects making a difference across the Route 6 corridor. It was especially exciting to present six ‘Do 6’ Awards recognizing outstanding individuals, organizations, projects, and communities, along with a special recognition honoring Potter County Planning for its partnership and support in bringing this year’s event to Coudersport.

“We also celebrated the launch of the Potter County Market Village, the accomplishments of Port Allegany and Mansfield through PA Heart & Soul, and the incredible work happening throughout our corridor. We are grateful to everyone who helped make the event such a success and left our communities energized by the collaboration, creativity, and community spirit that continues to move Route 6 forward.”

The PA Route 6 Alliance extends its appreciation to the speakers, sponsors, community partners, volunteers, attendees, and the many individuals and organizations who contributed to the success of the 2026 event.

2026 “Do 6” Award Winners:

• Heritage Community of the Year – Milford
• Heritage Partnership Award – Edinboro Market
• Heritage Leadership Award – Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau
• Heritage Tourism Award – Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
• Artisan of the Year – Armenia Mountain Spirits/Greener Pastures Farm and Greenhouse
• Lifetime Achievement – Christine Tocki-Mulvey

Special Recognition for Outstanding Partnership and Service to the Pennsylvania Route 6 Corridor – Potter County Planning Department

For more information about the PA Route 6 Alliance and its programs, contact the Alliance at info@paroute6.com or 814-435-7706.

The PA Route 6 Alliance, a 501(c3) corporation, was established in 2003 to manage the PA Route 6 Heritage Corridor and to implement branding and marketing plans, community development programs and other planning efforts along the corridor. The Alliance includes representatives from all 11 counties, 9 convention and visitor bureaus, 4 heritage areas, local development districts, local business owners, Chambers of Commerce, and other interested parties along the corridor.

The PA Route 6 Heritage Communities program is a PA Route 6 Alliance, and PA Route 6 Heritage Corridor funded by the PA Heritage Area Program under the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.