Category: Articles
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Bucks for Communities?
With the recent successful passing of the “Bucks for Brains” legislation this year, some folks were wondering: What would a “bucks for communities” program look like, and what impact would it have? It’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t agree that many of our communities, large and small, are suffering in terms of population loss,…
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Come Home to WV…and Fill Our Job Openings!
Quickly after Governor Manchin announced his “Come Home to WV” initiative, the Commerce Department has launched its initial effort to get the word out: WV has opportunities for both filling jobs and creating jobs. The web site www.hometowv.com is live and seeks to connect native West Virginians living outside the state with opportunities that exist…
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Ecommerce and the Power of New Money
One of the most important concepts in growing the economic base of a community is to help people understand the critical need to export products/services in order to draw in “new” money flow from outside the community. Too often, the entrepreneurs that we do cultivate think too much in terms of products or services that…
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Time to Break the Vicious Cycle
A Charleston Daily Mail article today highlighted the fact that West Virginia has never been above 44th in the nation when it comes to the income of the average citizen. For the last 25 years, West Virginia has ranked 48th or 49th in per capita income. Why can’t West Virginia’s economy break through? The article…
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Elkins Putting Their Quality of Place on Rails
With the American Mountain Theater and Scenic WV Rail Excursions, the Elkins area has experienced some exciting improvements in its “quality of place.” The important point about these investments is not only how it draws in tourism dollars (over 300 buses full of tourists are projected for 2008), but how it builds Elkins into a…
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Generation West Virginia – A New Era for Young Professionals in WV
Part of retaining any important demographic is to ensure there is a strong sense of community for them. Almost any region can be “home” if there are strong relationships in place. Towards that end, Generation West Virginia, a statewide coalition of young leaders and talent organizations, is launching their efforts with a special event April…
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Fayetteville and Oak Hill – Two Sides of the Wal-Mart Coin
The Washington Times recently documented the impact of Wal-Mart’s decision to leave Oak Hill and open up a larger “super center” in Fayetteville. The impact on Fayetteville’s city budget has been significant, but Oak Hill has developed a spunky attitude about filling the void. The town set some revenue aside in a rainy-day fund, aware…
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Community Development Training Opportunity
Does your community want to move forward but the public officials or informal leaders are not sure how to proceed? A good place to learn the “tools of the trade” for community and economic development is the Community Development Institute East. This national training program that will be held April 28 through May 2 at…
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Cool Towns – How Did They Get That Way?
David Ivan is a passionate guy. A researcher and program manager at Michigan State University’s createwv.typepad.com Extension Office, he spends a great deal of time talking to people in small towns like many of those in West Virginia. createwv.typepad.com What’s his purpose? To identify those rural, small town communities that are bucking the trend and…
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Signs of Life in Post-Industrial Communities
Two more case studies on how to re-invigorate life in smaller towns and cities. Johnstown, PA, a rustbelt city in Western PA, that has declined from a population of 63,000 fifty years ago to just 22,000 today as heavy manufacturing collapsed. Can a ghost town come back to life? From AP: Decades after heavy industry…