Award nominations due by April 7

The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc. (PA Wilds Center) is pleased to announce that Brass 16823 inside Titan Park in Bellefonte, Centre County, will be the location for the 2024 PA Wilds Dinner & Awards. Planned for Thursday, July 24, this special event is the premier networking opportunity in the Pennsylvania Wilds. 

Once a brass manufacturing plant, Brass 16823 is a new and unique event venue that will make for a stunning historical backdrop, perfect for celebrating innovation and creative reuse during the Center’s annual dinner. The program will take place in the former manufacturing space, with high windows allowing in plenty of natural light and showcasing pieces of its industrial history.

Held by PA Wilds Center and the PA Wilds Planning Team, the dinner provides a chance to recognize the Champions of the PA Wilds Award winners and get an update on the effort to grow the region’s outdoor recreation economy. The Champion Awards celebrate individuals, organizations, communities and businesses that are making a positive impact in the PA Wilds region by helping to grow and sustainably develop the outdoor recreation economy and nature tourism in the PA Wilds. Their efforts help create jobs, diversify local economies, inspire stewardship and improve quality of life. 

The nomination period is still open for the PA Wilds Champion Awards. There are nine award categories open for public nomination at www.PAWildsCenter.org/nominate. Nominations made by end of day April 7 will be considered for this year’s awards.

ABOUT THE VENUE

Titan Park, home to Brass 16823, stands as a testament to over a century of innovation, adaptation, and revitalization. The venue is a living piece of industrial history transformed into a modern business and event hub. The roots of Titan Park trace back to 1915, when the Alpha Metal Company began operations near McCoy’s Dam in Bellefonte, producing large-diameter brass rods. Since then, the space has changed hands multiple times and eventually became a wire and rod production facility. Production ceased in 2008, but it has continued to serve as a vital part of Centre County’s business community. In 2012, the area was rebranded as Titan Park and given new life as an industrial campus that is home to several businesses, including a brewery, marketplace, and the Brass 16823 venue space. 

The venue’s name pays homage to its brass manufacturing legacy and the Bellefonte zip code. In early 2024, Brass 16823 opened the first of its three event spaces – the Tool and Die Shop. This massive 13,000-square-foot venue, with a capacity to host up to 750 people, combines industrial charm with modern amenities. By the end of the year, two additional spaces were unveiled: the Forge Warehouse and the Diecast Room. The raw, industrial aesthetic – featuring reclaimed materials and architectural details from its manufacturing past – provides a versatile canvas for creativity.

“The history and reinvention of Brass 16823 speaks directly to the PA Wilds Center’s values of supporting businesses in sustainable and innovative ways,” said Abbi Peters, COO of the PA Wilds Center. “It’s inspiring to see how a formerly abandoned manufacturing plant can find new life as a beautiful revenue, honoring its past while looking towards a bright future.”

During an open call for venue hosts in 2024, Brass 16823 submitted a proposal to host the 2025 dinner at the renovated space. A member of the Wilds Cooperative of PA network, Brass 16823 was selected as a fitting location for the dinner and ceremony to be held this year for several reasons. In addition to its historic charm and adaptive reuse story – which speak to the values of the PA Wilds effort, this venue is large enough to accommodate the large event while also showcasing additional local businesses through catering and related event services. It will be the first time the PA Wilds Dinner is held in Centre County.

NOMINATE A CHAMPION BY APRIL 7

Nominations are still being accepted for 2025 Champion of the PA Wild Awards, which include Artisan of the Year, Best Brand Ambassador, Business of the Year, Conservation Stewardship, Event of the Year, Great Design, Great Places, Inspiring Youth, and Outstanding Leader Awards. Nominations for these awards can be made at PAWildsCenter.org/nominate. 

The deadline for 2025 award nominations is April 7, 2025. Award winners will be announced by early June. 

Learn more at PAWildsCenter.org/programs-and-services/awards-dinner.