Venango County celebrated an exciting milestone during this year’s Oil Heritage Festival as it was officially recognized as a designated Community Heart & Soul community through the Community Heart & Soul initiative, led nationally by the Orton Family Foundation partnering with PA Humanities.

The designation marks the successful completion of a three-year community engagement process led by the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce, during which hundreds of residents helped shape a shared vision for Venango’s future.

The resulting Venango Heart & Soul Action Plan is a resource for municipalities, nonprofits, businesses, schools, and community organizations. When pursuing grants, including many offered through PA Dept of Community & Economic Development (DCED), organizations are encouraged to reference Action Plan projects that align with their proposals to demonstrate documented community engagement and local support. The Action Plan is available to everyone and serves as a roadmap for turning community ideas into action.

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