What is Tidioute Heart & Soul?

Tidioute Heart & Soul is a two-year planning process grant award that empowers people to shape the future of their communities,  improve local decision-making by getting the opinions of everyone who lives, works, and plays in Tidioute.  Using storytelling, residents work together to identify what matters most to the community, prioritize potential activities, and identify how those activities can be implemented.

The key to the process is learning what matters most to the community. Communities work to understand the demographics of their community and tailor engagement opportunities to get residents involved in planning for the future - especially those who don’t typically participate in the public processes. Residents learn how to gather stories from one another, which becomes the basis for articulating a community’s shared values and developing a unique action plan. As a result, communities become more connected, innovative, competitive, and strong.

Tidioute applied for and has been named a 2021 Heart & Soul Community.  We received a $12,500 grant from Pennsylvania Humanities Council for the first year of this process. From a grant-making perspective, the period of performance is March 1, 2021, through August 31, 2022. We expect to award a second $12,500 grant in March 2022 and for the entire process to be completed by March 31, 2023.

In Tidioute, the timing of this project is particularly appropriate because a volunteer revitalization planning group recently assembled that will now fold their efforts into Tidioute Heart & Soul. Partners for this project include the Tidioute Borough Council, the Tidioute Community Charter School, and the Pennsylvania State Championship Fishing Tournament. We believe Tidioute is particularly well-positioned to execute this project because of these key partnerships and established volunteer base, and a history of community organizing in the face of challenges. The community rallied to help create a charter school when their high school was closed; they opened a health center when other healthcare options were lacking. Now they face dwindling tourism because of COVID, the closure of the only bank in town, and the lack of a supermarket. Tidioute residents recognize that these challenges require a broader, creative approach to revitalization, which is why they have embraced the Heart & Soul process.

PHC signed a contract with Tidioute for $12,500 and wrote an award letter that shows our commitment to up to $25,000 in cash support over two years, plus training and technical assistance valued at $50,000 over two years. In-kind support from the community includes volunteer project coordination.   

Want to join the volunteer effort and help plan for the future of Tidioute?  Your opinion matters! 

Tidioute Heart & Soul volunteers meet quarterly and we would love to have you join us. Our meetings are held on the third Thursday of February, May, August, and November at 6:30 pm at Buccardo's Restaurant and more.   All you have to do is live, work, or play in Tidioute to join.  Not a permanent resident?  That's ok, we want to hear from you too.  All are welcome in the Tidioute Area so come tell us what you love about Tidioute, Pa. and help us plan for the future!