ELKINS, W.Va. — The Appalachian Regional Commission has awarded nearly $1.9 million through the POWER Initiative to Woodlands Community Lender on behalf of Mon Forest Towns Partnership for a series of projects to connect towns with the Monongahela National Forest.
“ARC’s POWER initiative supports coal-impacted communities’ preparation for the next phase of Appalachia’s economy, while ensuring that residents have a say in the course of their own futures,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “The investments announced in this round of POWER will help train workers, advance new industries, and build upon the progress already being made toward a brighter future full of economic opportunity for our region.”
The Mon Forest Towns Partnership is part of a $68.2 million award package and will help develop outdoor recreation economies for twelve coal-impacted communities in eight counties Monongahela National Forest, according to executive director Josh Nease.
“We want to promote the region as a cohesive tourism and recreation destination,” Nease said. “It will also advance our work to firmly establish each town as a gateway to the Monongahela National Forest.
The 12 towns and the partnership have been working on projects to make the forest more accessible in the Monongahela National Forest region, including Cowen, Davis, Durbin, Elkins, Franklin, Marlinton, Parsons, Petersburg, Richwood, Seneca Rocks, Thomas and White Sulphur Springs.
“We’re supporting these to support their goals related to outdoor recreation and an outdoor recreation economy in a way that enhances the quality of life for residents and visitors,” Nease said. “And that’s something we’re looking at all the time.”
Nease said because each town is different with unique activities related to the forest each town will customize the project for their emphasis. Over the next three years the 12 towns will work together with the partnership to identify, design and complete the projects.
“They’ve been working together to fine tune this model, so our organization is prepared, and the towns are prepared to chip away at these things,” Nease said. ” These projects are driven by these towns.”
The Mon Forest Towns Partnership is also supported by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, The Conservation Fund, the West Virginia Department of Tourism, the Just Transition Fund, the USDA Forest Service, the WVU Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative and Sara Cottingham Consulting.