This presentation was delivered at NADO's Annual Training Conference, held in Anchorage, Alaska on September 9-12, 2017. Every day, across the country in both rural and urban regions and communities, new businesses and industries are emerging on the economic development landscape. Entrepreneurs and small business owners are looking beyond traditional sectors and launching enterprises that are creating jobs and financial security for employees while also providing services and products that are, in some cases, a bit outside the box. This session will share examples of ways RDOs are working with renewable energy, cannabis, and recreation/tourism businesses in their regions. Emily Gojkovich, Economic Development Planner, Southwest NM COG, Silver City, NM Al Lerma, Director, Business Development and Innovation, Sonoma County EDB, Santa Rosa, CA Teri Provost, Program Analyst, SEDA-Council of Governments, Lewisburg, PA Jay Trusty, Executive Director, Southwest Regional Development Commission, Slayton, MN, Moderator

1. ARC POWER Project on AOAA
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Thisprojectfocusesona 5-county coal impacted regionincludingColumbia,Montour,Northumberland,
Snyder,andUnioncounties todevelopaneconomicdiversificationstrategy. Thisprojectwill focus
effortstomarketoutdoorrecreationandtourismas an economicengine toreplace aportionof the
economylostbythe coal impacts,as well aspromote the adaptive reuse of anoutdooradventure
facility whichisdeeplytiedtothe declineinthe coal industry. These five countiesare servedbySEDA-
COG, the Bucknell UniversitySmall BusinessDevelopmentCenterand twolocal tourismpromotion
agencies:the SusquehannaRiverValleyVisitorsBureauandthe ColumbiaMontourVisitors Bureau.
The decline incoal production,coupledwiththe closing/downsizingof twocoal firedpowerplantsinthe
area,have impactedthis5-countyregion. One plant,ownedbySunburyGeneration,locatedonthe
borderof SnyderandNorthumberlandCounty closeditsdoorsinMay2014 and laidoff 66 full time
employees. The secondcoal firedplant,ownedbyTalenEnergyislocatedinWashingtonville,Montour
Countyisswitchingfromcoal to a combinationof coal and natural gas and currentlyemploys
approximately200. In July2016 Talenannouncedtheywere planningtocut 29 jobsat the
Washingtonvillesite. Itis unclearat thistime if there will be additional layoffsatthissite astheyswitch
the plantoverto natural gas. Local powerplantswhich move fromcoal to natural gas require onlya
fractionof the employees,comparedtoa coal firedplant,tooperate andmaintaina natural gas fired
plant.
Thisprojectwill spotlightbusinessandentrepreneurial opportunities inandaroundthe Anthracite
OutdoorRecreationArea(AOAA),promote CentralPennsylvaniaasan AssetBasedEconomyandrealize
OutdoorRecreationandTourismas an EconomicEngine to revive the economy thatwasdamaged due
to reductionof jobsinthe coal industry andthe coal miningsupplychain.
The Anthracite OutdoorAdventure Area(AOAA)isanauthoritycreatedin2013 byNorthumberland
CountyCommissionerstoaddressthe issue of illegal ridersonthe county-ownedcoal landsbyproviding
a safe,regulatedridingareaanda betterexperience forvisitors. The AOAA hasa long-termleasetorun
the outdoorfacilityandprovidesleadershipandmaintenance tothousandsof acresof abandonedcoal
mine land.
A successful project - inwhichoriginallyARCparticipated - isutilizingthe 7,000 acres of abandonedcoal
mine landto create an off-roadparadise,the AnthraciteOutdoorAdventureArea(AOAA). Milesand
milesof trailswere createdspecificallyforenthusiastswhichoffermildtowildexperiences.Groupsand
individualstravel acrossthe country,traileringtheirvehicles,toparticipate ingroupeventsaswell asin
individualadventures. Since openingin2014, no active marketingbythe AOAA hasbeendone except
by wordof mouthandits recentlaunchof a website. The visionforthisnew projectbeginswith
expandingthatfacilityandpromotingitnationally.Increasedvisitorsneedplaces tostay, eatand repair
theirvehicleswhiletheyare here. The visitorswill alsoneedactivitiesforoff hoursandforthose in
theirfamilywhowouldprefernottoget muddy. Suchactivitiesinclude farmers’markets,wellnessspas,
musicfestivals,summercamps,nature education,birdwatching, boating,biking,hiking andgolf
courses.Those needsprovidecountless opportunitiesforlocal businesses,entrepreneurs,and
employees. Visitorsfrequently tryotherattractionsorparticipate inotheroutdooractivitieswhile here.
Throughoutthe 5-countyregionthere are a numberof outdoorrecreation/tourismactivitiesthatcan
serve asan economicenginewithinthe community.

2. ARC POWER Project on AOAA
Write-up for NADO Awards (Continued)
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Specifically,thisprojectinvolves:
 The constructionof a EMS/cell towertoprovide 911 and cellularcommunications/broadbandto
the Anthracite OutdoorAdventureArea.
 Designingandconstructing15 milesof new trailswithinthe AOAA facility.
 Developingin-facilitycampgroundinfrastructurethatwill create 6new jobsincludingan
OperationsManager,Maintenance,Reservationsand3-parttime customerservice
representatives;
 Thisprojectwouldprovide ‘access’ (marketing/advertising) tothe larger‘market’of outdoor
enthusiastsfornotonlythe AOAA butalsoall of the ancillaryservice companies(motels,
restaurants,gasstations,car washes,etc.) andto otherarea attractionswhichmightbe of
interesttothe visitors.
 Providingentrepreneurial activitiestoenable the populationtocapitalize onthe increase in
tourismprovidedbythe AOAA includingrestaurants,lodging,customfabricationshops,etc.
 Coordinatedmarketingbylocal touristagenciesfocusingonthe AOAA’soutdooractivities.
 Work withBloomsburgUniversitytoprovide researchonthe economicimpactsof the AOAA
and track the impactsof the AOAA withinthe 5-countyprojectregion.
Watch a videofrom www.aoaatrails.com toshowcase whatthe AOAA trailslookliketoday.