HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Charleston and Huntington are both still in the running for $3 million available to the winner of a nationwide contest between communities.
America’s Best Communities competition announced Wednesday the two West Virginia cities are on the list of 15 semifinalists. Their economic development plans are among the best, Frontier Communications Area General Manager Tammy Shingleton told MetroNews.
“They (an independent panel of judges) were looking at a community’s ability to articulate the plan, understand the challenges and lay out a path to get it done,” Shingleton said.
Next up for the 15 semifinalists is an April forum in Durham, NC, where each city will present its plan before another set of judges who will, at the end of the second day, choose eight finalists. Those eight will each get $100,000 each to use to bring their plans to life during the next year. After that, the community chosen for the top prize will receive $3 million, second place $2 million and third place $1 million.
Shingleton said Charleston and Huntington have a chance for those top prizes.
“I would like to see them both make it to the finals and hopefully two out of the three first, second and third spots,” Shingleton said.
America’s Best Communities is a $10 million competition aimed at revitalizing small towns and rural communities. It’s sponsored by Frontier Communications, Dish Network, CoBank and The Weather Channel.
Announcements were held in both Charleston and Huntington Wednesday.