Southern WV Spotlight Story:
The Importance of Planning for the Future
Planning is a much talked about topic in organizations and towns but hasn’t historically been the best constructed or enacted. Leaders in most rural West Virginia communities wear many hats and bare an immense share of responsibilities for keeping their towns running day to day. They are far from failing but understand their communities need more. Although planning has not been at the forefront of many rural West Virginian communities, several towns and cities in the Southern WV Community Network are demonstrating that this isn’t universally true and that they’re actively planning for the future.
The town of Kermit and city of Ceredo will begin their comprehensive planning process in October. Recently, The Conservation Fund completed the Boone/Madison Resource and Recreation Plan. Plans such as this not only allows us to note what opportunities are available within their county but also provide great opportunities for citizens across the county to voice their opinions about what projects in the county they would receive the greatest benefit from.
In other areas of the network, several communities are developing both formal and informal planning processes that allow them to envision their community’s future. The town of Meadow Bridge has raised funding to begin the engineering phase for an improved Senior Nutrition and Community Center. The city of Hinton continues to work on developing and improving its Batteau Beach area as a part of its plan for a larger project known as Hinton Landing. The town of Ansted is wrapping up updates to its comprehensive plan. Fayetteville is planning a future driven by an Outdoor Recreational Economy through funding from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Comprehensive planning allows a community to assess its most valued assets, pinpoint areas of opportunity, and provide direction for projects and funding. Many funders already want to see advanced planning as part of a community’s portfolio, and comprehensive planning is required by code in the State. Communities are not only preparing themselves to meet this standard but producing actionable plans to help move their projects forward.
Upcoming Events
 |
|
Community Conversation on Maternal Healthcare in Southern West Virginia
November 6-8, 2023
|
The Maternal Health Project is a collaboration between the Southern West Virginia Rural Partners Network (SWVRPN), USDA, HRSA and the Texas A&M Rural and Community Health Institute (ARCHI). The aim of this project is to work with local, state, and federal partners to expand local maternal health care access that will lead to improving outcomes for mothers and babies.
The scope of the project will include a regional assessment of the 12-county area of the SWV RPN that identifies challenges, resources, people, and advice that will guide the development of an action plan intended to address barriers to achieving positive maternal health outcomes. ARCHI will conduct the assessment and facilitate the local planning process with SWV-RPN community members culminating in a final action plan to be presented September 2024.
Join stakeholders, representatives from USDA RPN, and the ARCHI team for stakeholder forums throughout the Southern Community Network region to inform the initial assessment. Please click on one of the links below to register for one of the conversations.
Stakeholder Forums: Maternal Healthcare in Southern WV
Lincoln Primary Care
Hamlin, WV
Monday, Nov. 6 2023, 10:00 AM
RSVP here: https://www.ticketsource.us/usda-rd-wv/t-qjxzyok
One Voice/One Cup
Oceana, WV
Tuesday, Nov. 7 2023, 10:00 AM
RSVP here: https://www.ticketsource.us/usda-rd-wv/t-yadgpxv
The Freight Depot
Hinton, WV
Wednesday, Nov. 8 2023, 10:00 AM
RSVP here: https://www.ticketsource.us/usda-rd-wv/t-avdylne
|
 |
|
Small Communities Big Solutions Conference
November 8-9, 2023
|
Each year, the Alliance for Economic Development of Southern West Virginia, the West Virginia Community Development Hub and Coalfield Development team up to shine a spotlight on West Virginia, by hosting the Small Communities, BIG Solutions Conference. This event showcases all the successes and highlights what is working across the state. Each year a mix of community leaders, educators, businesses and public officials come together to network, share ideas and learn what is working well in our state. This year's conference will take place at the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg. (Registration link: https://tinyurl.com/5n8473td) |
|
 |
 |
|
Federal Programs & Applying for Federal Funds Training
November 30, 2023
|
Do you have a community development project you need assistance with? Are you curious about how to find the right federal program or funding to push your project forward? Did you receive federal funding recently and want to make sure you’re following legal and financial federal requirements for your project?
Join us on November 30th for a special training from the West Virginia Community Development Hub, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, and federal partners as we share our knowledge about how to best secure and find federal funds and programs to match your needs. There are so many federal programs available for community development work and there are dollars on the table for those projects. Through this training, we’ll help prepare you for a successful Spring 2024 federal funding cycle, and for successful management of your current federal grants. This event will take place at the Double Tree by Hilton in Huntington, WV. (Registration link: https://tinyurl.com/2m9ztm8v)
|
|
