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Potter County Commissioner Receives National Leadership Award for Arts-Driven Youth Retention Initiative
Commissioner Paul Heimel’s community revitalization approach recognized at National Association of Counties’ 90th anniversary celebration
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 14, 2025) – Commissioner Paul Heimel of Potter County, Pennsylvania, will receive the Public Leadership in the Arts Award at the 2025 National Association of Counties’ (NACo) Annual Conference, recognizing his community-driven approach to addressing rural population decline through strategic arts and culture investment.
The national award, presented by NACo and Americans for the Arts (AFTA), celebrates county elected officials who use the creative economy for community development. Commissioner Heimel’s work offers a replicable model for rural communities nationwide facing similar demographic challenges.
Since 2000, Potter County’s population has declined from 18,000 to under 16,000 – an 11% decrease driven largely by youth outmigration. Rather than accepting this trend, Heimel spearheaded the revival of the Potter County Council on the Arts, building a coalition of schools, organizations, artists, and county leadership.
“Having a vibrant arts and culture environment can be a deal-breaker for a rural county looking to attract and retain young people,” said Commissioner Heimel. “But this doesn’t ‘just happen.’ It takes strategic planning and buy-in from a broad range of stakeholders. Once they recognize the potential return on investment – particularly when it comes to community and economic development – they’re eager to come aboard.”
The community-driven approach has generated significant momentum and widespread support across Potter County. The newly independent Potter County Creative Council (PC3) has secured major funding and launched initiatives including:
- Major grant wins: Creative Counties Placemaking Challenge selection and four-year, $100,000 Creative Communities Initiative grant from Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
- Strategic partnerships: Collaboration with Penn State University community development specialists for strategic planning and partnerships with Pennsylvania Lumber Museum for arts-based activities
- Community concerts: Grammy-nominated recording artists with local high school students as opening acts
- Youth engagement: Weekly writers’ workshops and mini-grants for youth-focused artisan classes
- Heritage connections: Modern approach to arts and culture led by community advocates like Art Metzger, a former school teacher who helped establish Potter County’s original arts council, agricultural partnerships and professional mentorship opportunities for youth
The approach has attracted widespread community support, with residents expressing excitement about preserving and building on their community’s creative character.
“The arts can be a powerful tool for strengthening counties across America,” said National Association of Counties Executive Director Matthew Chase. “Commissioner Heimel’s leadership demonstrates that investments in arts and culture can contribute to an engaged, thriving community residents are proud to call home. We congratulate Commissioner Heimel for this well-deserved recognition.”
“Commissioner Heimel is a great example of what can happen when local priorities shape national policy,” said Erin Harkey, CEO of Americans for the Arts. “His work shows why federal arts funding is so important — it’s not about creating dependency; it’s about giving people the tools they need to build and sustain creativity in their own communities. That’s the kind of model we should be investing in across the country.”
Potter County’s approach demonstrates how strategic state and federal investment can activate local capacity, with Heimel facilitating stakeholder engagement before stepping back as PC3 achieved independent nonprofit status.
“We need to be thinking about national policy in totality – not just about the funding, but how it impacts people’s lives,” Harkey noted. “Commissioner Heimel’s work shows how modest state and federal investment, combined with determined local leadership and community engagement, creates the kind of vibrant places where families want to build their futures.”
Having facilitated the “hand-off” of PC3 to its own board of directors as a self-sufficient nonprofit, Commissioner Heimel is continuing his engagement as a volunteer assisting with marketing and media relations while serving as an advisor.
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About the National Association of Counties
The National Association of Counties, celebrating its 90th year, builds healthy, safe and vibrant counties across America. The Public Leadership in the Arts Award recognizes county elected officials who demonstrate exceptional leadership in using arts and culture for community development.
About Americans for the Arts
Americans for the Arts (AFTA) is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization empowering Local Arts Agencies (LAAs) to become powerful community catalysts—driving both economic growth and social connection. Through its national network, trusted research, and advocacy resources, AFTA transforms local arts and culture victories into industry-wide advancement. Its commitment to professional development and connection opportunities ignites innovation across the arts sector. As a 501©(3) organization, AFTA focuses on research, education, and capacity-building, while its advocacy affiliate, the Arts Action Fund, advances direct political advocacy as a 501©(4). Discover the full scope of AFTA’s transformative work, and learn about the grassroots political impact of its affiliated Arts Action Fund, at AmericansForTheArts.org.