My name is Jordan McCown, and this summer I had the privilege of interning with the Chamber’s Be Here program. I attend Edinboro University, where I major in communications with minors in marketing and psychology.

Growing up in the Philadelphia area, I was accustomed to the fast pace of city life and never really understood the appeal of small-town living. After attending school in Edinboro, I began to appreciate a slower lifestyle and often heard friends talk about the close-knit communities they grew up in.

When I was offered this internship, I jumped at the opportunity to experience that way of life for myself.

Throughout the summer, I traveled across Venango County, interviewing local residents and business owners. Along the way, I came to appreciate not only the area’s beauty but also the genuine connections between the people who live here.

One moment especially stood out while touring Oil City’s South Side with Be Here Project Manager Ashley Zaccari when she stopped to chat with a man we passed on the sidewalk. I asked how she knew him, and she replied, “I don’t, I just saw him while I was hiking this weekend.”

That simple interaction said so much about this community. Where I’m from, people tend to keep to themselves. Here, neighbors take the time to acknowledge one another and build meaningful connections.

I was equally impressed by the way local businesses support each other. Rather than viewing one another as competitors, they collaborate, host events together, and find ways to help the entire community succeed.

I’ll carry with me the lessons I learned about the value of connection, collaboration, and community. Venango County has shown me that those qualities can make a place feel like home.

Jordan McCown, Be Here Program Intern

This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s August 2026 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.