Jess Leibson
Hometown:
Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Connect: LinkedIn
Jess is excited to help find solutions for the persistent poverty that impacts residents in her home state of Ohio. By quantifying the value of nature and outdoor recreation in communities, she believes this can equip stakeholders with a funding justification for land preservation as well as inform them on nature’s measurable community impact.
ERC Project
Project Title:
Appalachian Ohio’s Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Economy
Host Community or Region:
S and SE Ohio
Host Organization:
Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia (ORCA)
Appalachian Ohio’s utilization of outdoor recreation to strategically grow and diversify the region's economy is led by Outdoor Recreational Council of Appalachia (ORCA) aiming to accelerate and deliver economic, social, health, and environmental impacts of outdoor recreation economies through infrastructure investments and regional planning. ORCA is a council of governments encompassing Appalachian Ohio County Partners across 17 counties in the south and southeast. By developing a web-based visitor platform, it seeks to support rural outdoor recreation economies, enhance entrepreneurial ecosystems, and contribute to long-term regional economic sustainability. The ERC Fellow will review strategic plans, analyze development models, and engage with economic development professionals. The fellow will also work to integrate sustainable outdoor recreation development with the region's renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and workforce development efforts to support long-term sustainability, accelerate growth, and diversify the region’s economy. The project will result in a sustainable economic development report, highlighting successes, challenges, and unrealized opportunities.
Interested in supporting this project or learning more? Contact the ERC program team here.
