The ACT NOW (Appalachian Climate Technologies) Coalition led by Coalfield Development Corporation consists of more than 20 public and private partners working to expand emerging climate resilient sectors of the local economy.
The WV Community & Business Resilience Initiative (CBRI) will support the growth of a WV climate technology cluster through working with communities and local businesses to provide multi-layered community-based programs, small business trainings, and technical assistance to help create sustainability practices, green business strategies, and economic resilience readiness plans.
The initiative builds a 3-prong approach that serves as the foundation for successful economic diversification:
Through community coaching and planning, site development, and business development services, CBRI is creating conditions for the workforce, business, and industry growth in the ACT NOW region. The WV Community Development Hub will ground CBRI in community resilience program planning with the launch of Accelerate WV. As part of the ACT Now Coalition, Advantage Valley, AFV Educate, The WV Brownfields Centers at WVU and Marshall University, The WV Hive, and the WV Community Development Hub (The Hub) are collaborating to create this strategic approach to increase the economic resilience of businesses and communities in Southern West Virginia. This work was made possible through the support of the US Economic Development Administration, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and the Just Transition Fund, a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.”
Accelerate WV is a long-term planning program that works with a defined set of local leaders to set actionable Economic Resilience Plans for local development, complete pre-development for at least 1 substantial green development project to revitalize the local business district, and access private and federal funding.
Communities participating in the Accelerate WV program will have access to local, regional and national technical experts for planning, implementation, and funding support, will build new local community expertise and develop a long-term diverse local leadership team, and will establish sustained partnerships for long-term development.
Additionally, Accelerate WV communities will have access to additional technical support and expertise through ACT Now project partners. These partners will support the work of Accelerate WV communities by connecting local leaders with sustainable mine land development, workforce development, and energy efficiency services for local buildings.
The Accelerate WV program supports community leaders who are wanting to work together as a team to make a lasting impact on the economic well-being and quality of life for their fellow residents.
By targeting 16 distressed communities with planning and redevelopment services and providing entrepreneurship and business development opportunities the project will promote community development by focusing on economic resiliency throughout the 21-county target region – Boone, Cabell, Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Putnam, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne, Webster, Wyoming.
If selected, communities will receive:
Eligible applicants are any county, city municipality, neighborhood, community or nonprofit organization located in the 21 County ACT NOW region of southern WV, which includes the following counties:
Boone, Cabell, Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Putnam, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne, Webster, Wyoming
Team Composition
Teams must have at least 7-10 members and must include:
Strong team diversity includes cross-sector partnerships (e.g., local elected officials, representatives from nonprofits, community development organizations, city or local government representatives, real estate professionals, property/building owners). A maximum of two representatives from a given organization are allowed to participate on a team. Each team member will be required to sign a letter of commitment prior to the final selection announcement.
Keep these characteristics in mind when recruiting team members:
Selection Criteria
A review panel will evaluate submissions for final approval. Applications will be evaluated on several criteria, including:
Important Dates
For additional information about the Accelerate WV project, please contact Alecia Allen, Community Development Programs Coordinator (304) 881-7736 | a.allen@wvhub.org).
We have community and economic development experts on-call to support West Virginian recipients of POWER funding. The Hub’s WV POWER Coaches are independent contractors working through The Hub and coaching conversations are confidential.
Learn more about coaching for current grantees, meet the coaches, and get connected »
At the 2021 WV POWER Summit, recipients and teams working on Appalachian Regional Commission POWER projects in the Mountain State connected with peers, stakeholders, and funders; learned new skills; and built resilience for their work.
Three groups of panelists spoke to key topics current and prospective POWER grantees face: planning a successful POWER application; strategies to kickstart success when launching a project; and how to successfully sustain a project once it is in progress.
You can view recordings of the discussions online. View the panels here »
The Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to grow and diversify West Virginia’s economy. It is rare that our state sees such a significant funding opportunity that is specifically devoted to trying new approaches to build up and diversify the economies of rural communities.
In 2016, a group of people approached our team at The Hub when they noticed that West Virginia groups were not taking advantage of this funding opportunity. At the time, just $800,000 in POWER funding was invested into West Virginia communities.
Through bringing groups together, talking about collaborative strategies, how to take advantage of this opportunity, and raising visibility generally, our team working in partnership with many other groups was able to increase that investment to $35.4 million the following year.
Since that time, we have tested and refined our services to help ensure a steady stream of federal funding for innovative community and economy development is flowing into West Virginia communities.
If you have questions, are interested in accessing services, or want to be plugged into The Hub’s WV ARC POWER Initiative, please contact Stephanie Tyree at s.tyree@wvhub.org.
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.
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 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.
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 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 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.
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.
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 Crawford Holdings, LLC 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 Unleash Tygart, Inc participated in Opportunity Appalachia, receiving technical assistance to support a community development project located in an Opportunity Zone.
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.
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.A growing number of towns across the state are putting themselves on the “growth map.” Princeton, Richwood, Elkins, New Martinsville, Parsons, Petersburg, White Sulphur Springs, and so many more communities we have worked with are all putting in thousands of hours of volunteer work. This commitment has helped local leaders improve their communities. These improvements can be seen increasingly through the growth of local economic and business development in each of these towns.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. Your determination in the face of difficult work and far-off successes is something to applaud yourself for, and celebrate together.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 2023!In Continued Accompaniment,
