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WV Nonprofit Assoc. and Philanthropy WV to hold annual advocacy training

11.25.19

Join the WV Nonprofit Association and Philanthropy WV for their annual Policy Institute to educate and connect foundations and nonprofits on the best ways to work with West Virginia’s government leaders to improve quality of life for West Virginians.

This year’s program includes a meeting of the Impact Commission, how to develop a policy framework at your organization, and a discussion of current issues including NIP tax credit funding.

Representatives from the following offices plan to attend: Senator Capito’s office, Senator Manchin’s office, the Governor’s office, the WV Secretary of State’s office, the WV Treasurer’s office, the WV Attorney General’s office, and more.

The Policy Institute will take place:

December 6, 2019
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Charleston Capitol Complex
WVNPA/Philanthropy Members: $40
Nonmembers: $25

Find more information and register today »

Registration closes Wednesday, November 27!

New Martinsville creates unique way to support shopping local

11.25.19

BY ARIN SHATTO, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AMERICORPS VISTA, THE HUB

New Martinsville is in the heart of Wetzel County, and their local Chamber of Commerce has partnered to create a unique strategy, called Chamber Cash, that encourages community members to support local businesses and foster a more connected business community.

For their initiative, Chamber Cash works similarly to a gift certificate, holding a value of $25 that can be used at 27 participating local businesses in the area to date. Holders of the certificate can then choose to re-sell Chamber Cash to customers through raffles or prizes, spend it at another local business, or turn it into the Chamber and receive $23.75 in cash. The remaining $1.75 is used to cover program fees so that the initiative can continue.

The Wetzel County Chamber Marketing Director and Administrative Aid Brian Rogers said that this endeavor has gained significant momentum in recent months. He attributes this to building community awareness about the Chamber Cash program, getting buy-in from local merchants, and engaging local restaurants.

The day following Thanksgiving, there will be a $300 giveaway of Wetzel County Chamber Cash for community members to engage in the annual Black Friday excitement! Participants who return six receipts back to the Chamber will be entered into a drawing to receive an additional $150 in Chamber Cash.

It is clear that New Martinsville and Wetzel County are making strides to cultivate a stronger community through local business support and investment.

They have outlined business support and collaboration as a goal they are focusing on through their participation in the Blueprint Communities program, hosted by The Hub and Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.

If this story has inspired you and you’d like to learn more, or adapt this initiative to work in your community, click here to find out more.

“Matewan’s best days are ahead of us” – WV community looking to the future

11.25.19

BY KENZIE NEW, PRESERVE WV AMERICORPS AND WEST VIRGINIA MINE WARS MUSEUM

This next year is gearing up to be a big one in Matewan. From redevelopment of their Historic Lock Up and City Hall, to an expansion of the Mine Wars Museum, the 100 Year Anniversary of the Battle of Matewan, and the purchase and redevelopment of the historic Nenni buildings downtown, many have been hard at work pouring their efforts and passion into this town.

Organizations, residents, and committed community members are in high-gear prepping for May 16, 2020—the official date of the commemoration of the 100 Year Anniversary of the Battle of Matewan.

A wide array of individuals and groups are working together to make the Centennial all that it can be. The Matewan Drama Group, organizers at the Historic Jail, West Virginia Mine Wars Museum, Matewan Convention of Visitors Bureau, UMWA Local 1440, and Appalachian Lost and Found Museum are banding together to get the job done, representing the same unifying spirit that union miners had in 1920.

As resident and community organizer David Hatfield puts it, “Matewan’s best days are ahead of us.” There’s a lot of new energy and momentum building up in town.

Folks at Matewan’s Historic Lock-Up and City Hall continue to repurpose a 1908 building in the town’s historic district, just in time for the big day. Community members Francine Jones, Pat Brown, Roddie Swafford, along with Fresh Start and members of the Matewan Methodist Church have worked tirelessly to save the structure, and recently installed a new roof, HVAC, windows and doors, sidewalk, walls, replaced the old stone, and put on a fresh coat of paint. Truly amazing work!

Matewan CVB Director, Juan Joyce, says that he’s “really excited to see people come together to work for a common cause in 2020.”

In addition to this renovated structure, the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum is expanding its interpretive space and moving into a larger location, right across the street in a new multi-use building owned by UMWA Local 1440!

Another set of buildings ripe for renovation are the Nenni buildings that were recently purchased by Coalfield Development. The redeveloped buildings will serve as Coalfield’s southern West Virginia headquarters: allowing them to better serve Mingo and McDowell Counties through social enterprise development and support; personal, professional and academic development; and additional real estate projects.

Claudette Karr with Coalfield Development says about the project:

“What excites me the most is the fact of the building will be mixed use – not only is this benefiting individuals in the community with a higher education certification, it also gives trail riders a space to take breaks and utilize an additional bit of lodging that complements the existing places in town.”

Head on over to Matewan and follow these organizations on Facebook to be a part of this exciting time!

Taking power back – 100 Days in Appalachia is seeking West Virginians who want to share their stories

11.18.19

BY JAKE LYNCH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EDITOR, 100 DAYS IN APPALACHIA

100 Days in Appalachia, the media organization based at West Virginia University, is looking for people from all over Appalachia interested in talking to national news outlets about life in their community and the issues that are important to them.

Ahead of the 2020 election we are bringing together, for the first time, a group of Appalachian people of all backgrounds and walks of life that will help the rest of America better understand what is really happening here.

We’re calling it the “Appalachian Advisors Network,” and our goal is to help national and international news outlets better understand what is happening in your communities.

Visit www.100daysinappalachia.com/2019/10/13/appalachian-advisors-network/ to learn more.

By their own admission, America’s major national news outlets did a terrible job of understanding and reporting on what was happening in Appalachia and how the people here feeling ahead of the 2016 election.

After the election, there was a lot of earnest remorse and promises to do better. But by and large newsrooms on the east and west coast, and overseas, have done very little since then to actually improve their reporting on Appalachia.

So, we’re going to help them.

We’re not looking for Mayors and CEOs and the kinds of people that journalists usually contact for comment.

We’re looking for workers, grandparents, students, volunteers – the people that don’t usually get a chance to shape media coverage of a community but whose feelings and insights are an important representation of that community.

Participants will receive a small stipend.

By being a part of the Appalachian Advisory Network you’ll help make sure that our national media doesn’t just cover this region with lazy stereotypes and assumptions.

You’ll be able to speak to reporters and tell them what’s really happening on your streets and in your communities, who you are and what you feel about your state and your country and all those big questions that we aren’t always asked, here.

If you’re interested, visit www.100daysinappalachia.com/2019/10/13/appalachian-advisors-network/ to learn more and submit your name.

—

Jake Lynch is a Community Engagement Editor for 100 Days in Appalachia.

Fairmont News: What can communities do about vacant and abandoned buildings?

11.18.19

BY ANDREA SALINA FLEMING FOR FAIRMONT NEWS

Many communities around West Virginia, including Fairmont, are struggling to identify a solution to their vacant and abandoned buildings, which, over time, can become havens for drug activity and unsafe for neighboring properties. Our elected leaders are realizing there are major barriers to revitalizing downtown areas such as main street shopping districts and low-income neighborhoods that contain an abundance of these types of structures. The price tag may look appealing to purchase these buildings, but the renovation costs can far exceed a renovation budget.

Vacant and abandoned buildings have become not only a common problem, but a serious one — so serious that some local governments around West Virginia threaten fines if owners allow their unused buildings to fall into disrepair or become safety hazards. Other states have implemented laws to combat blight…

Read the full story on The Fairmont News site »

WV Explorer: WV tourism outpaces national growth by 58 percent

11.18.19

*A paddler in an inflatable kayak challenges the Dries of the New River. (Photo courtesy* Adventures on the Gorge)

BY DAVID SIBRAY FOR WV EXPLORER

Governor Jim Justice announced today that West Virginia’s tourism industry grew for the second consecutive year in 2018. The two-year growth trend reverses years of decline and outpaces national growth by 58 percent, he said.

The finding comes from yearly economic impact research released just on the heels of the industry’s annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism. The research shows traveler spending in West Virginia grew at a rate of 6.5 percent totaling $4.55 billion in 2018…

Read the full story on the WV Explorer website »

Woot! Congratulations to these leaders in WV philanthropy

11.18.19

2020 West Virginia Spirit of Philanthropy Award Winners (via Philanthropy WV)

BY EMMA PEPPER, DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS, THE HUB

Philanthropy West Virginia recently announced the 13th annual West Virginia Spirit of Philanthropy Awards. The awards were presented at Philanthropy West Virginia’s 26^th Annual Members Meeting & Conference in Parkersburg, WV at The Blennerhassett Hotel. The awards program was sponsored by Encova Insurance.

Congratulations to these awardees:

Critical Impact Award: For transforming the vision and focus of Huntington, WV’s future, the Foundation for the Tri-State Community & the Huntington America’s Best Communities Collaborative Team. FSTC and Huntington has used their passion, drive, and results-oriented work ethic to win the national America’s Best Communities Award and use it to launch new vision and action around Huntington’s future.
Volunteer Leadership Award: The 2019 honoree is Jean Clark for her personal philanthropic giving and leadership in community philanthropy and numerous causes in Preston and Monongalia Counties. Jean is a dynamo of energy, ideas, and action to grow North Central WV’s greatest opportunity which is the growth of Your Community Foundation of North Central WV.
Lifetime Volunteer Leadership Award: C.J. Kaiser is being honored for his longtime commitment to the Upper Ohio Valley community. Serving on the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley’s Board of Directors for 28 years, Mr. Kaiser is a driving force behind the Community Foundation of the Ohio Valley’s growth from a $1.4 Million organization in 1991 to over $60 Million in 2019. Mr. Kaiser is both a donor and advisor to many individuals who engage in personal philanthropy through the community foundation. Kaiser’s vision, dedication, and commitment has built a better CFOV as well as a stronger future for the Upper Ohio Valley.
Inaugural Corporate Responsibility Leader Award: Philanthropy WV created the Corporate Responsibility Leader Award in 2019 to inspire, encourage, and recognize companies of all sizes who are partners in West Virginia’s communities through giving, volunteering, and in-kind investments. The Corporate Responsibility Leader Award recognizes those companies who personify best community engagement practices for a stronger West Virginia. Dominion Energy and Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation received the inaugural award.
Staff Leadership Award: Making the amazing things happen is just one of the accomplishments of the 2019 Staff Leadership Award recipient, Tamara Mullins. Ms. Mullins gives a full-time heart and work-ethic to a part-time role as Executive Director of the Nicholas County Community Foundation. Mullins has worked on numerous projects and community education initiatives to bring together partners to grow the local philanthropy assets for Nicholas County’s future.
Lifetime Staff Leadership Award: For nearly twenty years, Sheri Ryder has strengthened, supported, and humbly served The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation and the Kanawha Valley Community as the Senior Program Officer of the foundation. Her leadership, impact, and creativity has fostered greater nonprofit partnerships, enhanced grantmaking, and implemented new strategies for the benefit of her community.

Washington Post: Ohio high school photographers crafted a stunning account of their lives

11.12.19

Partial image of the cover of the “The All-American Town,” a zine created by a group of Ohio high school students. Head to the story on *The Washington Post* site to see the images! (Provided by Kennedy Rhodes/Rural Arts Collaborative, Bellaire High School to *The Washington Post*)

BY KENNETH DICKERMAN AND THE STUDENTS OF BELLAIRE HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

For years now, Instagram has been touted in photography circles as a great way to discover new talent in the field. But I’ll be honest with you, although I love the platform and am an avid user of it, as a longtime photo editor I haven’t found it a particularly fruitful source of new work. At times, I have contemplated abandoning the platform altogether (along with pretty much all other social media). But every now and then, a gem pops up that makes me reconsider. That’s just what happened one morning a couple of months ago…

See the photos plus read the story on The Washington Post site »

Want to share your opinion on broadband internet in the state? Take this survey now.

11.12.19

The West Virginia Broadband Enhancement Council is developing the 2020-2025 State Broadband Plan and is requesting people respond to a brief survey regarding broadband and related issues in West Virginia.

Responses are requested by November 29, 2019.

The 2020-2025 State Broadband Plan will build upon current broadband initiatives and incorporate input from residential and business users, community organizations, educators, local governments, internet service providers and other stakeholders.

The survey should take 5 to 10 minutes to complete.

Click this link to take the survey:

http://wvbroadband.maps.arcgis.com/apps/GeoForm/index.html?appid=5ed62242fa5e492a8a0ef421817b0d8d

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact CarolAnn Williams in the West Virginia Development Office at 304-957-2024 or CarolAnn.Williams@wv.gov.

Spots going fast for Small Communities, BIG Solutions conference

11.12.19

Conference attendees via The Alliance for the Economic Development of Southern West Virginia Facebook page

BY EMMA PEPPER, DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS, THE HUB

Spots are going fast for the Small Communities, BIG Solutions conference. The event looks at economic and community innovation in Southern West Virginia and is hosted by the Alliance for Economic Development of Southern West Virginia, West Virginia Community Development Hub and Coalfield Development.

Small Communities, BIG Solutions will be held at BridgeValley’s Advanced Technology Center, located at the West Virginia Regional Technology Park in South Charleston, on Monday, November 18, 2019.

Find more information and register for the event »

The second annual conference will be an opportunity to share best practices, discuss southern West Virginia successes, explore opportunities that exist in the region and develop new connections and partnerships. A wide array of topics will be discussed by state, federal, community, educational and industry leaders. Some discussion topics include: southern West Virginia’s successes and opportunities; Addiction, Recovery and Reentry; Workforce Development; Education; and Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Find more information and register for the event »