McDowell County residents and The Hub come together in Welch. Photo by The Hub.
A citizen-led effort to explore possible new economic opportunities in McDowell County continues to strengthen.
Turn McDowell Around, consisting of community leaders, business owners, elected officials and everyday citizens, received word last week that McDowell County had been selected as one of five communities in West Virginia’s southern coalfield region to receive hands-on coaching to help identify new ideas for local and regional businesses.
That coaching and assistance will be provided by us here at the West Virginia Community Development Hub – we’ve been supporting the Turn McDowell Around effort since March.
The next meeting of Turn McDowell Around will be at 6 p.m., Thursday June 23, at the National Guard Armory, 600 Stewart St, Welch. All citizens are encouraged to attend.
McDowell County, your community, needs you. This is not the time to be quiet, and keep good ideas to yourself. Everyone, from teachers, business owners, elected officials, young people and students, elders, parents, faith leaders, anyone, are welcome and encouraged to attend.
The Hub’s program helping communities in the southern coalfields is called the Innovation Acceleration Strategy (IAS), and it involves supporting local ideas for creating new economic opportunities, and helping the community get those ideas off the ground.
The other IAS communities are Alderson and Madison, and Lincoln and Wyoming counties.
Turn McDowell Around participants have created working groups to explore specific opportunities in the areas of local food and agriculture, tourism, arts and culture, technology, transportation, and health and wellness.
Each of the working groups is eager to attract new input and energy from any interested people around the county.
To get involved, just show up at the June 23 meeting, and join the working group that most interests you.
For more information, contact me!
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