The Hub is excited to announce Cohort 2 of the Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities (BRECC) Action Challenge! In partnership with the National Association of Counties (NACo) three of our Hub coaches will support five coal-impacted communities in developing economic diversification strategies over the course of a year. Cohort 2’s communities include Forest County, PA; Grant County, WV; Greater Peoria Region, IL; Monroe County, GA; and Somerset County, PA.
Forest County, PA: Cynthia Crytzer is the Borough Manager for Tionesta in Forest County. She describes the County as a “must-see destination in North Western Pennsylvania” with numerous outdoor recreation activities and “beautiful scenery, warm and inviting people, and fun festivals and events.” Forest is also designated a distressed county and economically disadvantaged community. Crytzer says that in applying to BRECC, “Our goal is to effect a positive economic change by bringing business and development opportunities to our community. The Action Challenge provides us with guidance to make that happen.”
Forest County has assembled a team of diverse expertise ranging from economic development directors, to school superintendents and educators, to outdoor recreation professionals. Just as they hope to learn from one another, Crytzer says, “We are looking forward to learning from our counterparts across the country–what has worked for them might work for Forest County. We are also hoping to create an actionable economic development plan and learn how to implement that plan successfully.”
Grant County, WV: Carla Kaposy serves as the Executive Director of the Grant County Community & Visitors Bureau. She says, “Our community is special because we have very friendly people, great outdoor recreation, and are just a short drive from D.C. and Northern Virginia.” While Kaposy and Grant County have been engaged with The Hub through HubCAP, the Challenge offers them the opportunity to engage with other coal-impacted communities across the country. Like Crytzer, Kaposy says, “I am looking forward to collaborating with other communities to discuss challenges and ideas.”
Greater Peoria Region, IL: Kathleen Brown is the Director of Rural Outreach and Development for Greater Peoria Economic Development Council (EDC). Brown states that throughout her years of economic development work, she has “focused on stakeholder-defined outcomes and building community,” both in theory and practice. She says what is appealing about Greater Peoria’s counties is that it’s an “innovative region with a qualified and diverse workforce.”
Three impending coal power plant closures in their Economic Development District and a neighboring closure have led the EDC to explore economic diversification opportunities–and ultimately to join the Challenge. Because they serve five counties in Central Illinois, Brown explains that the team hopes to create “a community-specific economic diversification plan that will inform local and regional economic development strategies.”
Monroe County, GA: Tammy Selman is the Grants Specialist for the County Board of Commissioners and moved to Monroe in the fourth grade. “I taught middle school math and English here for approximately 10 years before moving away for six years. My family returned back to Monroe County in 2017, and I retired with the Georgia Department of Education in 2021.” Of her community, she says, “While Monroe continues to experience significant growth, it still very much has a small-town appeal…think Friday Night Lights.”
Like many coal-impacted communities, the steady closure of coal-fired power plants motivated the Monroe team to think creatively about economic diversification. Units of Plant Scherer are shutting down or are scheduled to do so, and the plant is the largest contributor to the county’s tax revenue. “This significant shortage of funds has placed an economic burden on the county. All of this while our county also continues to experience significant population growth,” says Selman. Through BRECC, the Monroe team hopes to “grow any and all networks related to economic development, community affairs and financial support.”
Somerset County, PA: “I have served as a Somerset County Commissioner for twenty years, now starting my sixth and final term,” says Pamela Tokar-Ickes. She, like her parents, grew up in the county and returned to raise her own family after college. Tokar-Ickes firmly believes that the best is yet to come for Somerset. She also believes that the county offers some of the best right now: “It retains a small town atmosphere where residents still care about their neighbors, but we literally play host to the world at our wonderful hiking and biking trails, the Flight 93 National Memorial and our four-season resorts.”
“BRECC provides us with the opportunity to develop a shared local vision while introducing us to other communities in transition,” explains Tokar-Ickes. “With a new economic development agency in the lead, and a new generation of leaders, this process will enable us to work with national experts and coaches to better define our objectives and craft a strategic plan for the future.”
If you want to learn more about The Hub’s teams from Cohort 1 of the BRECC Action Challenge, you can read some of their stories here.
Greater Peoria, Illinois is part of The Hub’s second Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities (BRECC) cohort and the team is getting
Emma Byrne, Director of Impact We at The Hub are thrilled to announce the newest addition to our team, Emma Byrne. Emma
The West Side neighborhood of Charleston participated in the recent West Side Health Fair in Charleston. Lined up along the Kanawha River
Our work is made possible thanks to incredible partnerships with other community development organizations across the state. From local economic development authorities (EDAs) to state level nonprofits working to uplift communities, all of our partners are crucial in making West Virginia the best it can possibly be by working together.One partner that made our work truly profound this year is Coalfield Development. For years, Coalfield Development has worked to rebuild Appalachian communities by inspiring the courage to grow, activating the creativity to innovate, and cultivating communities of opportunity in central Appalachia.We are proud to be part of Coalfield Development’s ACT Now Coalition, a broad network of organizations working hand-in-hand to uplift communities throughout Southern West Virginia. The ACT Now Coalition is infusing more than $63 million into programs to help communities using business development, building revitalization, and so much more.The Hub is leading the Community and Business Resilience Initiative as part of the larger ACT Now Coalition to bring other partners with us to build up community and business resilience in the Coalition’s footprint.“For decades, we’ve known the economy of southern West Virginia needs diversification. Some progress has been made on this goal, but not nearly enough,” Brandon Dennison, CEO of Coalfield Development, said about the ACT Now Coalition. “ACT Now constitutes a tangible opportunity to take a major leap forward in this generational challenge to become a vibrant, growing, diversified economy. In the wake of continued coal-job losses, nothing could be more important for our region.”Our partnership with Coalfield Development is giving us a chance to take our work to new communities and to build upon our years of experience. Working alongside Coalfield Development in this large undertaking to bring $63.8 million to communities in Southern West Virginia is validation that the work happening to uplift West Virginia communities continues to grow.
The Hub works alongside communities across West Virginia coaching community teams as they come together to make transformative changes in their towns. In 2022, one town stands out for its continued work and unwavering commitment to making its community a place where people want to live, work, play, and visit.Petersburg, located in Grant County at the northernmost point of the Mon Forest, is filled with community members who want to make their town a destination. Not only have businesses opened, and stayed open, the town has transformed the way they present to the world through rebranding and outdoor recreational development.As part of the HubCAP IV program, Petersburg utilized its technical assistance to push forward with projects to bring transformative change to its community. Part of the work Petersburg worked towards was creating plans to pave a hike and bike trail that runs along the Petersburg dike. The proposed trail will run approximately three miles along the Petersburg dike and will include multiple entrances for walkers and bikers. The group secured a $25,000 grant from Senator Hamilton, which was matched locally by the City of Petersburg, the County Commission, and the Board of Education, each adding an equal share to bring the total to $50,000.This year, Petersburg witnessed a major upgrade to one of the town’s most iconic and historic structures: The Hermitage Inn. The hotel, which dates back to 1841, has been renovated and once again welcomes guests to stay the night and have a nice dinner in the restaurant.The Hermitage Inn is the first project initiated and completed as part of the Downtown Appalachia: Revitalizing Recreational Economies (DARRE) program. Seeing the old hotel returned to its majesty has been an incredible development for Petersburg adding another jewel to the downtown area.Seeing Hub communities come together to create transformative change thrills us. Community members are the subject matter experts on what their towns need. Our commitment to accompaniment and walking alongside communities as they do the hard work guides us in our work. Celebrating their victories with them gives us a moment to uplift those making the work happen.
Since 2018, The Hub has been working diligently to bring Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into our work. For years, the organization has been working internally to expand on one of our core values: “We believe diversity creates strength.”We believe that now is a time when we must work from the ground up to commit to long-term efforts to build power through leadership development, programmatic strategies, and partnerships that commit to building power and advancing racial equity.Looking back at our organizational history, we acknowledge that our work in rural communities with populations of less than 15,000 has not reached a diverse cross-section of people in West Virginia. Because of this, we began to ask, “Who isn’t here?” when examining our involvement in communities. The social unrest in 2020 led us to examine our role in white supremacy, ableism, classism, and gender discrimination, and the ways we have perpetuated unjust systems in our communities and across West Virginia.Since 2020, our equity journey has included a staff racial equity learning series, making internal commitments to increasing our hiring and retainment of diverse staff including creating full-time Racial Equity Fellowship and VISTA positions, committing to increased coaching for rural communities of color across the state, and tackling the inherent challenges of advancing equity across the community development field within a highly rural, majority white state where Black and brown leadership has been historically marginalized and under-invested.Our belief in the power of local people to see the value and the potential of their place, and of each other, is at the core of our belief in the potential we have to build power in West Virginia to advance racial equity, inclusion, and accessibility while disrupting systems that have historically excluded some communities.We are committed to engaging in conversations to uplift communities and leaders of color to move from talk to action on why race matters in West Virginia as we work to disrupt these systems. We will support investment in Black-led organizations and rural Black leadership. And we are committed to driving public and private investments into these spaces, both organizational and geographic.
A core team led by Unleash Tygart, Inc participated in Opportunity Appalachia, receiving technical assistance to support a community development project located in an Opportunity Zone.
Core teams led by Thundercloud, Inc. and the City of Huntington participated in Opportunity Appalachia, receiving technical assistance to support community development projects located in Opportunity Zones.
A core team led by Crawford Holdings, LLC participated in Opportunity Appalachia, receiving technical assistance to support a community development project located in an Opportunity Zone.
Residents participated in round 4 of The Hub’s capstone Communities of Achievement program with a focus on building local recreational economies.
Residents participated in round 4 of The Hub’s capstone Communities of Achievement program with a focus on building local recreational economies.
Residents participated in round 4 of The Hub’s capstone Communities of Achievement program with a focus on building local recreational economies.
Residents participated in round 4 of The Hub’s capstone Communities of Achievement program with a focus on building local recreational economies.
Residents participated in round 4 of The Hub’s capstone Communities of Achievement program with a focus on building local recreational economies.
A core team led by Woodlands Development Group also participated in Opportunity Appalachia, receiving technical assistance to support a community development project located in an Opportunity Zone.
Residents participated in round 4 of The Hub’s capstone Communities of Achievement program with a focus on building local recreational economies. Read their community case study.
Residents participated in the Blueprint Communities* program to engage their neighbors and co-create strategic plans for their future.
Residents participated in the Blueprint Communities* program to engage their neighbors and co-create strategic plans for their future. Read their community case study.
Residents participated in the Blueprint Communities* program to engage their neighbors and co-create strategic plans for their future. Watch their community documentary.
Residents participated in the Blueprint Communities* program to engage their neighbors and co-create strategic plans for their future. Read their community case study.
Residents participated in the Blueprint Communities* program to engage their neighbors and co-create strategic plans for their future.
Residents participated in the Blueprint Communities* program to engage their neighbors and co-create strategic plans for their future.
Residents participated in the Cultivate WV program to kickstart community and economy building. Read their community case study.
Residents participated in the Cultivate WV program to kickstart community and economy building. Read their community case study.
It has been a year of abundant opportunities and partnerships across the state, and a year that has pushed all of us to work harder, faster, and smarter – together.At The Hub, we say that “the work works when you put in the work.” This means that our approach to community-based development, and individual leadership development, really does transform local communities, especially when we all work together for the same goal, and stay committed to working together for the long haul.In 2023, we continued to be amazed at the local leadership, drive and innovation we saw in communities throughout the state that are building locally-driven development from the ground up. Our network of community leaders, partners and opportunities keeps growing and shows no signs of slowing in 2024!
We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone for being part of the larger Hub community as we reflect on this year’s deep impact in West Virginia communities through our work. We are thrilled to have champions who believe in our mission that every community in West Virginia can achieve economic growth when they are supported with the tools and training they need to lead and spark positive change.
We believe strongly in the fact that putting in the work yourself to improve your neighborhood, your town, and our state is where true transformational change happens. With strategic partners and thought leaders like you in the work with us, we continue to be able to walk alongside community teams as they do the work to uplift their communities.Thank you to all of the community teams and leaders who are brave enough to keep showing up every day, and putting in thousands of hours of volunteer time to support your communities and the entire state. Your determination in the face of difficult work and far-off successes is something to applaud yourself for – and to celebrate.Whether you’re volunteering on the ground in your community, sharing our stories of hope with your friends and neighbors, or attending a virtual event with The Hub, your participation in our work is what keeps it going. Thank you for all your work and support this past year, and we are excited to continue in the work with you in 2024!In Continued Accompaniment,