Silas Chamberlin, Phd Email & Phone Number

I'm passionate about work at the intersection of economic development and the environment. My second book, Wild Profits: Exploring America's $1 Trillion Outdoor Recreation Economy, is under contract with Island Press.I'm honored to work as Chief Strategy Officer and VP of economic and community development at the York County Economic Alliance, a position in which I serve as executive director of the Redevelopment Authority of the County of York and oversee economic financing, business attraction, entrepreneurship, and workforce development initiatives throughout York County. In 2020, I led the creation of York County's new 10-year economic development plan, which ultimately convened 1,000+ stakeholders to cast a bold vision for people-focused and place-based economic development. I founded and oversee the York County Trail Towns program—now active in 7 communities—and lead development of the $75 million Codorus Greenway, the largest green infrastructure project in the City of York’s history.I chaired the YoCo Strong Recovery Task Force, which advised York County on the allocation of $132 million in federal recovery funds and currently chair the YoCo Fiber Broadband Task Force, which is advancing a $27 million investment in countywide broadband expansion.My team recently launched the BLOOM Empowerment Center, which offers a suite of services aimed at increasing the number of York County businesses owned by women and people of color. BLOOM has attracted $6.7 million for grants and loans, which will be distributed via a newly-formed CDFI.I previously served as CEO of Downtown Inc, executive director of Schuylkill River National Heritage Area, and in regional leadership roles with the PA DCNR and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.I hold a PhD in environmental history from Lehigh University and certificate in commercial real estate development from Cornell University. Yale University Press published my first book On the Trail: A History of American Hiking, in 2016. I am a past chair of the PA Humanities Council, current member of the PA Downtown Center's board, and serve as Chairman and a Governor’s appointee to PA’s Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council. I've also served on the national board of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.Locally, I serve on the boards of the Lancaster Conservancy and York County History Center and as an appointed director of the York County Rail Trail Authority.In 2023, I founded Firefly Outdoor + Economics to provide consulting services related to the outdoor economy.