LOCK HAVEN — Two projects within Clinton County received a portion of $80,000 in Community Engagement Mini-Grants from the PA Wilds Center.

According to a release from PA Wilds, the funding was distributed to 20 organizations, with each recipient receiving $4,000 to support projects within the PA Wild’s 13-county region.

Projects awarded in Clinton County include funding for the Active Arts Corridor in the City of Lock Haven and to the Clinton County Economic Partnership as it prepares for the county to host the Pennsylvania Grinduro cycling race in July.

In Centre County, an award was given to The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle to showcase art from the PA Wilds.

“More than $740,000 was requested in funding from the 66 eligible organizations that applied — nearly 10 times the amount of funding we had to distribute. The 20 organizations that are being awarded requested more than $220,000 — nearly three times the amount available,” said Ta Enos, founder & CEO of the PA Wilds Center, the regional nonprofit leading the approach to elevate the outdoor recreation opportunities in the PA Wilds and helping local businesses leverage the iconic brand. “For us, this demonstrates the critical need and provides additional visibility on projects bubbling up across our region. We are proud to be able to invest in these important projects, though we know our contribution is only part of the financial puzzle for many of them.”

In addition to staff from PA Wilds Center, representatives from a number of partner organizations helped with reviewing mini-grant applications, including the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Elk County Council on the Arts (ECCOTA), Lumber Heritage Region (LHR), PA Route 6 Alliance, PA Wilds Planning Team and Susquehanna Greenway Partnership (SGP).

The panelists provided scores for each application across four specific areas: whether the application successfully demonstrated how the project supports PA Wilds Center’s mission within the Conservation Landscape, expands opportunities for and encourages civic engagement, offers a strong plan for increasing participation in communities and measuring outcomes and brings residents together by investing directly in community-driven projects that reflect local priorities and creativity.

All the reviewer scores were then aggregated for each applicant, providing their final score.

The 2026 PA Wilds Community Engagement Mini-Grants are made possible by funding support from the Trust for Civic Life, a national philanthropic grant-making collaborative that supports community-led efforts. The mini-grant application opened in January and closed on March 6. All funds must be expended by Nov. 30.

“PA Wilds Center competes fiercely to bring investment to rural Pa., including for mini-grant opportunities for local communities to support efforts that tie into regional strategies to grow the PA Wilds as an outdoor recreation destination and build momentum on the ground,” Enos continued. “We are really appreciative of our partnership with Trust for Civic Life on this offering. We will continue to seek out funding and look forward to being able to provide future rounds of mini-grants, which will be informed by this year’s program.”

Grant award recipients include: Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau (McKean County); Amoeba Media (Lycoming County); Art in the Wilds, Inc. (McKean County); Cameron County Chamber of Commerce (Cameron County); City of Lock Haven (Clinton County); Clinton County Economic Partnership (Clinton County); Cosmos’ Lounge (McKean County); Denton Hill Ski Patrol – Nordic (Potter County); East Brady Area Development Corporation (Clarion County); Heath Township Sportsmen’s Club (Jefferson County); Johnsonburg Community Trust (Elk County); Keystone Elk Country Alliance (Multi-County); Lane’s End Farm Creamery and The Scoop Shoppe (Jefferson County); Lumber Heritage Region of Pennsylvania, Inc. (Multi-County); Mechanistic Brewing (Clarion County); Northern Appalachian Discovery Museum (McKean County); PA Made (Elk County); Rail 66 Country Trail (Clarion County); The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle (Centre County); and Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry (Warren County)

The following offers a breakdown for the grants awarded within The Express’s coverage area:

City of Lock Haven – Active Arts Corridor

The Active Arts Corridor is a planned 1.75 mile route through the city that connects the Bald Eagle Valley Trail to many points of interest, including downtown businesses and the Commonwealth University-Lock Haven campus.

The share-the-road corridor will bridge arts and active transportation by providing a bicycle route surrounded by murals and art installations.

Since 2024, the city has been working to implement this project and has made strides in the overall aesthetic of the corridor.

In the next two years, the city hopes to gain funding to complete resurfacing of the corridor, infrastructure improvements and pavement markings.

In 2024, the city completed five murals with support from PA Creative Industries (PA Council on the Arts). Two more were completed in 2025.

The city will use the PA Wilds mini-grant funding to support additional murals and art installations in 2026.

Grant funds will be used to pay artists and/or cover material costs for the work. These improvements, coupled with the official connection to the Bald Eagle Valley Trail, will encourage use of the corridor and promote active lifestyles and new perspectives in the city.

Clinton County Economic Partnership – Grinduro PA

Grinduro PA is an internationally recognized gravel cycling event that will take place in Lock Haven, on Saturday, July 18.

Grinduro will bring hundreds of cyclists and visitors to the county, showcasing the region’s scenic gravel roads and outdoor recreation assets throughout Sproul State Forest in the PA Wilds.

Known for its unique and inclusive format, Grinduro blends challenging gravel riding with festive aid stations, live music and a celebratory post-ride atmosphere. The event includes four timed-race segments separated by untimed sections that allow riders to enjoy the landscape, socialize and experience local hospitality.

The 2026 event represents an exciting new chapter for the race as it relocates to Lock Haven and the surrounding Sproul State Forest area. In addition to creating a memorable cycling experience, the event will generate tourism-related economic activity by encouraging participants and spectators to stay overnight, dine locally and explore area attractions throughout the weekend.

A portion of the proceeds will also benefit Pennsylvania Interscholastic Mountain Biking, supporting youth cycling programs across the state. Grant funding will support event planning and community engagement.

The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle – Nature Meets Art, Showcasing Artisans of the PA Wilds

Nature Meets Art – Showcasing Artisans of the PA Wilds will be hosted at The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle (near Howard) and implemented in collaboration with the Bellefonte Art Museum, the Clinton County Arts Council and The Station Gallery and the PA Wilds Center.

The project will take place within the exhibit corridor of The Nature Inn and will not require any participant fees.

All community programming, including an artist open house and reception, will be free and open to the public.

Grant funding from the PA Wilds Center will help support materials and equipment related to the art exhibit installation and the artist reception, as well as marketing.