Email the name of the agency to  tbrant@pawilds.com and we'll add it to the list. Please put “glossary” in the subject line.

AREA LOAN ORGANIZATIONS (ALOs): Area Loan Organizations are non-profit economic development organizations certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to package loan applications, evaluate and approve loans, and administer those loans under the Small Business First loan program. Click here to find the ALO near you.

APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION (ARC): The Appalachian Regional Commission is a federal-state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life. Appalachia, as defined in the legislation from which the Appalachian Regional Commission derives its authority, is a 205,000-square-mile region that follows the spine of the Appalachian Mountains from southern New York to northern Mississippi. It includes all of West Virginia and parts of 12 other states, including Pennsylvania. About 23.6 million people live in the 420 counties of the Appalachian Region; 42 percent of the Region's population is rural, compared with 20 percent of the national population. Many community development projects in the PA Wilds are funded by ARC. Funds generally run through Local Development Districts (LDDs — see definition, below). To learn more, go to: www.arc.gov.

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS (IDCs): These organizations can package Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority loans, which are low-interest loans that primarily target manufacturing and industrial companies; research and development; agricultural processors; or firms establishing a national or regional headquarters; or computer/clerical operation centers that result in the creation or retention of jobs. Some IDCs also offer loan or assistance programs for small businesses (we've listed such programs in our Programs Database). To see what IDCs serve your area, click here.

LOCAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS (LDDs): To ensure that funds are used effectively and efficiently, and to strengthen local participation, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC — see above) works with states to support a network of multi-county planning and development organizations called Local Development Districts. The LDDs' most important role is to identify priority needs of local communities. Based on these needs, the LDDs work with their board members and other local citizens to develop plans for their communities' economic development, to target and meet the most pressing needs, and to build community unity and leadership. Click here to learn what LDD serves your county.

LUMBER HERITAGE REGION (LHR): Designated in 2001, LHR is the largest of the state’s 12 heritage areas with 15 counties. LHR works collaboratively with partners in the region to produce quality products and enhance existing assets that will enrich the visitor’s experience and impact the quality of life of local citizens. In addition to its interpretive work, LHR is working to enhance the economic development of the region. One opportunity for such impact is the completion of a strategic plan that outlines strategies to build on the wood industries’ existing assets and to create partnerships that will grow demand for products produced from Pennsylvania hardwoods. LHR funds projects through a grant process. For-profit businesses are not eligible for the grants. To learn more about LHR, visit them online at www.lumberheritage.org.

MAIN STREET PROGRAMS: Main Street is a comprehensive, community-based revitalization approach, developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1980. Communities across the country apply its four key components (design, promotion, organization, economic restructuring) with great success to revitalize their downtowns. The five-year program encourages revitalization by leveraging private dollars and requiring ongoing, local support evidenced by the establishment of an organization and documented financial commitment from the community. Several communities in the PA Wilds have Main Street programs. To view a list of participating municipalities or to learn more visit the Pennsylvania Downtown Center at  http://www.padowntown.org/programs/mainstreet/default.asp.

PENNSYLVANIA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS (www.pasbdc.org): These organizations provide educational programs and no-cost, confidential consulting services to entrepreneurs looking to start or grow a business. Management consulting services provided by a professional staff emphasize education and guidance in finding practical solutions to business problems. SBDC consultants work with entrepreneurs one-to-one to help test new business ideas, shape business plans, or investigate funding opportunities. Services cover a range of topics relevant to small business owners, including in-depth services for environmental management, international business, government marketing, and technology commercialization. There are 18 university-based centers in Pennsylvania with more than 100 outreach locations. SBDCs are often the first stop for entrepreneurs. Click here to find the SBDC serving your area.

ROUTE 6 HERITAGE CORPORATION: The PA Route 6 Heritage Corporation is part of the Pennsylvania Heritage Areas Program. Each Heritage Park highlights sites, people, traditions and events special to the region to give visitors a taste of what Pennsylvania's heritage is all about. The PA Route 6 Heritage Corporation is unique because it connects four heritage regions including: The Oil Heritage Region, The Lumber Heritage Region, The Endless Mountains Heritage Region, and the Lackawanna Valley Heritage Region. Pennsylvania Route 6 encompasses eleven counties and stretches over 400 miles across Northern Pennsylvania, passing through each county seat and countless quaint towns and villages along the way. In 1925, Route 6 in Pennsylvania was incorporated into a highway system that connects the U.S. from coast to coast. It runs from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Long Beach, California and is still one of the nation’s longest highways. The portion of Route 6 that runs through Northern Pennsylvania has been designated "one of America's most scenic drives" by National Geographic. To learn more about PA Route 6, go to: http://www.paroute6.com.

TOURISM PROMOTION AGENCY (TPAs): Each county has a designated Tourism Promotion Agency (often called visitors bureaus or associations). The goal of these organizations is to increase overnight stays and attract new visitors. Eight TPAs serve the 12 counties of the PA Wilds. Those serving a single county are designated via resolution adopted by the Board of County Commissioners (the resolution must have concurrence by various county subdivisions, representing over 50 percent of the total county population). TPAs are typically funded through a mixture of state and local funds, membership dues and advertising revenue. Tourism businesses often join these organizations because they can get the word out about your business for a low membership cost. Aside from being listed in marketing materials the TPA produces in-house (booklets, brochures, maps), TPAs in the PA Wilds also provide information to the state tourism office and to regional promotion agencies, such as the PA Wilds Tourism Marketing Corp and the Route 6 Tourist Association. Click here to find the TPA serving your area.