The residents of Montgomery and Smithers started the Cultivate West Virginia program during one of the most challenging times in the history of our great state. Through it all, residents have shown perseverance and resilience as they gave it their all to make positive change in their communities.
We have witnessed triumphs and challenges together, but most of all, we have seen the pride-in-place and love that residents have for these communities.
We are honored to graduate these two communities from the Cultivate West Virginia program and look forward to continuing to walk alongside residents as they make transformational changes in their towns.
Positive momentum for many great community projects began in these very moments! These projects are created and led by the community members themselves. Residents identify challenges unique to their communities and offer solutions to address them. The result is a series of projects that both serve the diverse needs of residents and also create momentum for local community and economy building efforts.
Montgomery and Smithers residents received their funding for community projects at this awards ceremony in March of 2021.
Working with $40,000 in seed funding invested by The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation and the West Virginia Community Development Hub, the residents of Montgomery and Smithers:
Here are just a few of many examples of great things that happened (and are still ongoing!) in Montgomery and Smithers as a result:
“The Cultivate Program has provided a spark to new projects. If it weren’t for the Cultivate Program, the community would not have engaged in efforts to leverage funds for the purchase and installation of the electronic message board. Team members recognized through working with others across the area that there is a large need to communicate the good and important events and programs that are already happening, to spark engagement in those, and to build excitement and participation to create more.” – Allison Smith
“The art camp showed the students how to macrame and they loved it! They were already discussing the other crafts they were going to make with this new skill. The Zentangles showed them a new way to meditate and find some quiet in their lives.” – Kasandra Parrish
“These simple grants have been amazing in helping increase interest and beautification of our community!” – Wanda King
“Cultivate WV has helped bring a new business to a small rural community in need of positivity.” – Hannah Kincaid
“Projects spiffing up the community not only begins to involve more local people in the projects, but builds community pride and sense of belonging, which in turn can be reflected by residents in their efforts to improve their own properties and literally feel like inviting more outsiders, friends, family and other outsiders, to visit, spend money, invest or even move here, all of which play a part in our economic redevelopment.” – Beach Vickers
“The mural gives our community a sense of pride and hope for a brighter future and a new landmark and welcome sign to our community.” – Bernice Deakins
In July 2021, residents gathered outside the Smithers Gateway Center for the monthly First Fridays Farmers Market and to celebrate the unveiling of the community’s new Urban Walking Trail. These projects and more represent the pride and collaborative spirit of Montgomery and Smithers.
“The community members of Smithers and Montgomery are passionate, committed people who are making change in their community every day. There may be two municipalities, but they truly stand behind their motto of one community. Thank you for inviting me in as your community coach and for teaching me a few things along the way!”
– Amanda Workman-Scott
“One of the best parts about coaching in Montgomery and Smithers was the two communities’ commitment to one another as they journeyed through a constantly evolving process over the past year. Watching projects get to the finish line and exceed the project teams’ expectations while also energizing residents was very rewarding. It always felt like these emerging leaders were there for one another and for their project teams.”
– Jenny Totten
The local efforts to build communities and economies happening in Montgomery and Smithers are so remarkable that the team at the West Virginia Community Development Hub is shining a light on this story as a model that rural towns across the nation can use to learn and grow.
Montgomery and Smithers are one of five groups selected to be a part of the first Redefined West Virginia Community Case Studies. Residents are redefining rural collaboration and cooperation.
Congratulations to the communities of Montgomery and Smithers on their awards of 20 mini-grants in The Hub’s Cultivate WV program!
When the backbone of a community suffers, it takes creative thought and a willingness to take a risk on innovative approaches to keep moving forward.
We are excited to announce the towns of Montgomery and Smithers will be participating in The Hub’s Cultivate West Virginia program!
If you are a resident in Montgomery or Smithers and want to get involved, if you are interested in
becoming a Cultivate Community, or if you are funder that is interested in learning more about
the program, contact program lead Amanda Workman Scott at [email protected].
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,