As part of our work with the Appalachian Climate Technology Now (ACT Now) Coalition, the West Virginia Community Development Hub (The Hub) is working alongside six communities over two years as part of the Community and Business Resilience Initiative’s (CBRI) Accelerate WV program. Wayne, the Fairfield neighborhood of Huntington, the West Side of Charleston, Princeton, Webster County, and Ronceverte will be participating in the program and working as teams to push their communities forward. This Accelerate WV blog post series will formally introduce our communities as they explore their hopes for the work they are preparing to do as part of the program.
Webster County, like many communities in West Virginia, are focusing on economic development and tourism to boost its towns. As an Accelerate WV community, Webster County’s team is thrilled about the possibilities being part of the program to push their county forward in their effort to boost their economy in the wake of the decline of the timber and coal industries.
“We heard about the Accelerate program through our partnership and friendship with WV Hive. They had recently had lunch with myself and another community leader where they encouraged us in submitting our community for this program,” recalls Alex Fliegel, the Director of the Webster County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and Accelerate WV community team member. “We hope that as part of the Accelerate WV program we can continue to move the county in the right direction through economic development and tourism.”
Fliegel understands the allure of area with its outdoor recreational opportunities that illustrate how West Virginia is truly Wild and Wonderful. The area offers a setting in the natural beauty that visitors to the Mountain State have come to love and admire.
“Webster County is one of the most beautiful places in the country. From its lush landscape, abundant wildlife, fresh water streams, and breathtaking mountains,” says Fliegel. “The bones of Webster County are good, we just need a little push to bring them back to life.”
Engaged residents of Webster County have been working together to make their area attractive to tourists and neighbors. With this in mind, the team members knew that all part of Webster County needed to be included on the team to truly push the work forward on a countywide level.
“It was important for us to have a team that spreads to every corner of the borders of Webster County,” explains Fliegel. “Our team is built of movers and shakers in their respective fields: representatives of the County Commissioner, a Mayor, EDA director, Tourism director, Webster Springs Main Street, Family Resource Network, and business owners. This group understands the needs of the community as well as the potential.”
While the work gets underway for Accelerate WV, Fliegel wants all of Webster County’s residents to know that work is happening to make the communities better and there is more work to come.