The Pennsylvania Wilds is a 13-county region that is home to the greatest concentration of public lands in the Commonwealth. The region includes the counties of Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Warren, and northern Centre. There are hundreds of communities that serve visitors and residents alike, and each community offers a rich history that is woven into the region’s story. These hamlets are the perfect launchpad for residents and travelers eager to connect with nature when work ends.
If you are a remote worker who is able to live anywhere, consider testing out living in the Pennsylvania Wilds! You can experience our communities and all that nature has to offer, all expenses paid.
The Wilds Are Working program allows remote workers to live in select communities for four weeks. Lodging is covered for the duration of the remote worker’s stay, and the remote worker receives a living stipend that can be spent at local small businesses.
The 2023 program features Emporium and Warren. Applications are due by May 3 at WildsAreWorking.com!
2023 Host Communities
Wilds Are Working Background
Funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission through Ben Franklin Technology Partners and administered by the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc., 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.
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. Participants could come from anywhere in the world, as long as they have a sense of adventure and the ability to work remotely.
Pictured below: the six remote workers who lived in Kane and the five remote workers who lived in Bellefonte for the 2022 Wilds Are Working pilot program.
More information on the genesis of the program can be found here.
Looking for a coworking facility in the Wilds?
There are plenty of quiet spots in the Wilds to focus on work – whether outdoors, in your home/lodge, or at an establishment in the community. But when you’re looking for a spot that feels separate from home, free of the coffee shop noise and daydreaming that may come with working outside, consider looking for a coworking space. Work alongside other professionals and gain access to shared office equipment and technology. Here are a few places to consider.
PA WILDS BIG IDEA CONTEST
In partnership with the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Ben Franklin Technology Partners is looking for innovators with BIG IDEAS located in the Allegheny National Forest & Surrounds — including Cameron, Elk, Forest, McKean, or Warren County, PA. Entrepreneurs who are developing or crafting a product, process, or innovation related to the maker economy, outdoors and recreation, forest products, manufacturing, and technology, are invited apply by April 18, 2023. Winning up to $50,000 will go a long way in helping you further develop your BIG IDEA and infuse your new startup with much-needed cash. In addition to the cash, the pitch experience you’ll gain, the business training offered, and the contacts you’ll make are just as valuable. Learn more here.
PA WILDS NETWORK
Businesses, nonprofits and communities located in the 13-county Pennsylvania Wilds region are invited to join the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania (WCO). Members are promoted on PAWilds.com, in addition to gaining access to branding and marketing resources, networking and professional development programs, opportunities to sell handmade products on the PA Wilds Marketplace and at PA Wilds Conservation Shops, and referrals to regional resource providers. Perhaps best of all, there are no annual membership dues. Learn more here.
