Athens County, Ohio

it’s taking a tour of the university campus or biking along a scenic trail, there’s always adventure waiting in Athens County. “Our population is around 66,000,” reports Kate Perani, Project Specialist at the Athens County Economic Development Council. “The City of Athens is our largest community. Its downtown area, which we call uptown, connects with Ohio University. We also have a few other communities including the city of Nelsonville, and eight incorporated villages, and other unincorporated communities.” Jessie Powers, Executive Director for the Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia (ORCA), adds, “Uptown has brick streets, a remnant of the once flourishing brick industry here. Coal and clay mining were prevalent and there were many brick manufacturers in this area; many of our state routes even have brick underneath. Natural beauty is abundant here, and we have lot of outdoor recreation assets too. There are around 45 state parks in Southeast Ohio and in Athens we’re roughly 30 minutes from Old Man’s Cave in the Hocking Hills. We have rivers and creeks worth paddling, places for climbing and bouldering, and hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails too.” Powers’ role at ORCA involves advancing asset- based economic development and diversification in rural Appalachian Ohio. The goal of this ATHENS COUNTY , OHIO newly created council of governments is to sustainably develop the area’s existing outdoor recreation opportunities to deliver economic, social, environmental, and healthy lifestyle benefits to Ohioans. She explains, “Our vision is to expand throughout the region to ensure we’re developing world-class outdoor recreation assets connected to appropriate infrastructure, and activating them to enable business/job creation and youth engagement.” Currently, ORCA is working on the Baileys Trail System, which covers about 9,000 acres in the Wayne National Forest. Once completed, it will offer 88 miles of trails for cyclists, hikers,