Photo by Coalfield Development Corporation
Today was a huge day for West Virginia.
The Hub just received word that a number of our state’s most critical and innovative development projects will receive substantial federal funding support, through the Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative.
For those of you that haven’t been following the rollout of this POWER initiative, this is a coordinated funding package through the Economic Development Agency, the Department of Labor, the Small Business Administration and the Appalachian Regional Commission to assist communities negatively impacted by changes in the coal industry and power sector.
For West Virginia, POWER is a significant opportunity to foster new economic activity, build stronger communities, and create and attract the businesses and industries that will drive the state for decades to come.
It was great to hear some much-needed (and much-deserved) good news for Monroe County in the heart of the southern coalfields. POWER will provide $826,400 to extend public water services from the Town of Union to the UTC Aerospace Systems’ manufacturing plant, in order to meet its water demand. These are exactly the kinds of infrastructure investments that we believe are vitally important if West Virginia is to diversify its economic base by attracting new employers in sustainable, high tech industries.
The news today also shows us that POWER is eager to support our state’s bravest and most creative young entrepreneurs.
The Coalfield Development Corporation in Wayne County, which was founded in 2010 by Huntington’s Brandon Dennison, will receive $600,000 from the U.S. EDA to support increased agricultural production on surface mined sites, and provide job training, mentorship, and business incubation services throughout the region in order to help expand the local agriculture economy.
In all, West Virginia received five POWER grants. That’s great news, but there is an opportunity to do better.
The POWER process will see West Virginia competing against other coal-impacted communities in 12 states for a share of the total available funds. In this round announced today, Kentucky received 13 grant awards, and Ohio, 3. The states that are succeeding in attracting the most POWER investment are those that are getting organized, and encouraging their business and community leaders to collaborate and submit strategic, innovative grant applications.
That’s where The Hub comes in. A few months ago we organized a gathering in Hawks Nest of interested industry and community leaders and federal officials, to help West Virginia’s southern coalfield communities begin developing project ideas that aligned with what the POWER grantees were hoping to achieve.
It is recognized that this organizing is a critical role, and so today The Hub received a $100,000 grant to develop community-specific economic diversification plans for five communities in the southern part of the state. That work has already begun.
What happens next? Well, that largely depends on Congress. The federal agencies have designated a much larger pot of money for continued investments in coal-impacted communities, which they plan to rollout in 2016 and beyond. This will be called the “POWER Plus Plan.”
To bring this additional funding to our region for next year, we need Congressional support for the POWER Plus Plan. West Virginia Representatives and Senators have a chance to speak up for their constituents and secure significant federal funding for our community through the POWER Plus Plan, just like we have started to see with today’s POWER Initiative funding.
If you are interested in learning more about POWER, and the opportunities it presents from your industry, region or community, I’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with me at s.tyree@wvhub.org.
The Coal River Group has developed a Vision plan for the next 5 years. The plan proposes a program of economic development based on bringing recreation back to the 88 mile Coal Rivers. The CRG represents the entire 890 square mile four county Coal River Watershed.
We are looking for support and supporters to help us achieve our aggressive goals for bringing Kayak based tourists to the region along with camping centers and a host of related developments to expand the opportunities for our citizens both young and old to prosper as entrepreneurs and support for the many opportunities that can be created.
We hope we can be included in the funding and support by local and federal sources to make our vision a reality.
We would like to supply your group with our plan and other information. Thank you. Learn more at http://WWW.coalrivergroup or facebook at COAL RIVER GROUP, COAL RIVER WALHONDE WATER TRAIL, COAL RIVER KAYAK AND CANOE, TOUR DE COAL.
I would really like to be involved in securing funds for the town of Mt Hope. We are in desperate need of new water lines. This town losses 20% of its water to leaky water lines. Our economic plan, to build a cottage food industry and expand into Student Housing, will need an infrastructure overall. This program would help us tremendously. Thanks!