From Laughter to Leadership: How XL Fest Became a Blueprint for Belonging
What does it look like to grow something real—without losing the reason you started?
For James Tierney, co-founder of Happy Valley Improv, the answer came to life during XL Fest 2024. Eighty-one improvisers from across the country came to Central Pennsylvania expecting laughs. What they found instead was something deeper: hospitality that felt intentional, experiences that felt personal, and a weekend that felt more like a family reunion than a performance schedule.
It’s Common Sense: Connecting the Dots for Happy Valley’s Future
There’s something stirring in Happy Valley—and it’s not just economic development or the next phase of Penn State’s growth. It’s deeper. You can feel it in the questions people are asking. About leadership. About what kind of community we want to build—for ourselves and for the generations coming up behind us.
Providing Happy Valley professionals with high-quality childcare
By Sarah Taylor At Daybridge Child Development Center, the mission is clear: to provide high-quality early childhood education that fosters growth and development in a nurturing environment. In recent years, childcare has become increasingly inaccessible for many working parents, with some finding themselves on waitlists even before their child is born. Recognizing this gap, Daybridge […]
Philipsburg: The little borough that could
by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger The small borough of Philipsburg is making strides toward a better future, thanks to a group of volunteers whose eyes are set upon preserving the peaceful area while at the same time promoting growth. Eric Rusnak, president of the Philipsburg Revitalization Corporation (PRC), said that people sometimes leave the area, only to […]
Why move to a disaster zone when you could live well in Happy Valley?
By Carmen P. Bilén Over the Covid-19 pandemic, northern-residing Americans flocked to southern and southwest states like Florida, Texas and Arizona. While these states may offer more consistent sunshine and warm weather, these destination states are also frequently plagued by devastating and costly weather-related disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires. Why move to one of […]
When big city downtowns are in trouble, how is State College thriving?
By Cara Aungst “Workers no longer need to be downtown because companies no longer need to be downtown. And with that in mind, we have to be honest with ourselves and ask, ‘Why should anyone want to come to downtown?’” This jarring statement was not made about State College, but rather downtown Pittsburgh, in Pittsburgh […]
“People leave here with a smile”: Here’s why more organizers are planning their events in Happy Valley
By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger Photo: Happy Valley Adventure Bureau Event planners are positively enamored with the State College area, according to Dave Gerdes, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. He cites the convenience of Happy Valley’s central (and picturesque) location, the wealth of cultural opportunities, and the high energy from […]
Boomerangs combat brain drain, plus advice for winning talent over larger cities
By Holly Riddle Photo: The Corner Room “Having experienced another city, I came to realize that Happy Valley is a true gem,” Katelyn Stark said of her move back to the area to take a job at Restek in human resources following a stint on the West Coast. “I grew up in State College and […]
Climb Nittany growing as a top Happy Valley destination for recreation
By Timothy Kelly Some of the Climb Nittany community. Photos provided, collage by T. Kelly In the latter half of the last decade, Josh Helke, owner of Philipsburg-based climbing gear company Organic Climbing, reached out to the owners of the Vertical Adventures climbing gym (now 5.Life, based in Columbus, OH) and suggested that State College […]
