FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2024
CONTACT: Candace Hillyard
www.paroute6.com
Pennsylvania Route 6 Alliance
Received a $585,000 Community Conservation Partnerships Program Grant Award from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Pennsylvania Route 6 Alliance is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $585,000 by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) through the competitive C2P2 (Community Conservation Partnerships Program) grant. This significant funding will support a wide array of vital initiatives across the PA Route 6 Heritage Corridor and beyond, continuing the longstanding and valued partnership between DCNR and the Pennsylvania Route 6 Alliance.
- Update the Management Action Plan for the Pennsylvania Route 6 Heritage Area, ensuring that it aligns with current needs and opportunities.
- Facilitate the Façade and Signage Improvement Program in the Pocono Mountain region, enhancing the visual appeal and vibrancy of the area’s historic downtowns.
- Develop Bicycle Tourism Assets along the Route 6 corridor, continuing efforts to make the region a prime destination for cyclists.
- Support Tourism Promotion and Marketing Campaigns, helping to further market Pennsylvania Route 6 as a premier heritage tourism destination.
- Provide Technical Assistance to PA Route 6 Heritage Communities, including support for the PA Heart & Soul Program, which works with local residents to identify and preserve the core values of their communities.
- Promote the PA Route 6 Artisan Trail, showcasing the talent and creativity of local artisans and contributing to the region’s cultural and economic vitality.
Pennsylvania Route 6 Alliance, in collaboration with our partners, strives to make this unique corridor a well-maintained, thriving destination that fosters community pride, enhances tourism, and creates new opportunities for sustainable growth.
“We are incredibly grateful to DCNR for their continued partnership and unwavering support of our efforts to enhance and preserve the unique cultural, natural, and historical resources along the Pennsylvania Route 6 corridor,” said Candace Hillyard, executive director. “This funding will allow us to continue strengthening the corridor, preserving its rich heritage, and ensuring that it remains a thriving destination for visitors and residents alike.”
“Pennsylvania’s local parks, trails, and natural areas create many opportunities to be active outdoors. They define our communities and make them places where people want to live, work and play,” said Tom Ford, director of DCNR’s Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. “Our grants help our local partners meet the vision they have for their communities and regions.”
DCNR is the primary source of state support for Pennsylvania recreation, parks, and conservation initiatives. Grant funding from DCNR assists hundreds of communities and organizations across Pennsylvania to plan, acquire, and develop recreation and park facilities, create trails, and conserve open space.
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 partners along the corridor.
The PA Route 6 Heritage Communities program is a program of 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.
