CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Charleston Area Ascend program is celebrating its one-year anniversary.
Twelve months ago, West Virginia University President Michael Benson, Marshall University President Brad Smith and his wife Alys, Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin, the Kanawha County Commission, the Charleston Area Alliance, and other local leaders came together to announce the program’s beginning in the Capital City.
The overall Ascend program, launched in 2021 and financed by the Smiths, aims to attract remote workers to live and work in the Mountain State. The program provides financial incentives as part of its recruitment. Officials say there have been 92,000 applicants for Ascend throughout the state.
The Ascend program has come to individual cities as well, starting its Charleston operation last September. It was a well-attended one-year commemoration on Wednesday at Capitol Market in Charleston, recognizing the positives that the program has already accomplished in the Kanawha Valley.
“We have welcomed more than a hundred new families to Charleston, West Virginia, to not only grow their professional career, what is so amazing about Ascend is it focuses on not just your career and your job growth, but your life,” Goodwin told MetroNews.
The mayor said there’s been significant interest in the Charleston Area Ascend as it grows. She said that the retention through Ascend, in Charleston and overall, is extremely high.
“2,200-plus people have filled out applications to come here says that we’re doing something right,” Goodwin said. “If we can get them here, by the way, we can keep them here, because through the Ascend program, it’s a (nearly) 97-percent retention rate.”
Wednesday’s celebration also featured a $500,000 donation from Dr. Michelle Foster and the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation. Charleston Area Alliance President and CEO Mara Boggs said the gift will help the program as it moves forward.
“That means that she is helping us bring new people to the area and new ideas, and we’re forever thankful,” Boggs said. “Not only for her trust and investment, but for her partnership, the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation brings even more credibility to what we’re doing, more efforts, more collaboration, and we’re just so thankful to have them as a founding partner.”
Army veteran Giovanna Kiani moved from Tampa, Florida to Charleston through Ascend in May. She works remotely as a recruiter for Dexus, a defense contracting company. She said due to her remote job, she wasn’t confined to any particular spot in the country to live. Upon finding Ascend online, she decided to apply. Kiani said her experience has been fantastic.
“Moving here, I’ve found that there’s a community that’s really willing to just welcome you and bring you in with open arms,” Kiani said. “That’s really been the best part of the experience for me.”
Kiani’s experience in Charleston is what the Ascend program is aiming for. Goodwin noted that the community makes all the difference once workers make the move.
“Why you came is a particular job, but why you’re staying is because you have gotten engaged and involved in hiking, cycling, fishing, camping,” Goodwin said. “Oh, by the way, these are like-minded folks that are coming into the Ascend program; they also like those things.”
As the state battles population decline, Boggs said this is a great opportunity to build communities up.
“This is real economic development,” Boggs said. “It has helped us modernize our approach to economic development, because we’re bringing real people, real new neighbors, new shoppers, new diners, new home buyers, new renters, all are coming here to Kanawha County. We are turning our challenges into opportunities, day by day, through the Ascend program.”
Kanawha County Commissioner Natalie Tennant was on hand for Wednesday’s celebration. She said the commission is proud to support Charleston Area Ascend’s work.
“It is so important to have programs like this to welcome people to Kanawha County and the city of Charleston, because it’s going to show folks that this is the place to come,” Tennant said. “This is the place to work remotely. But it’s also going to show our own citizens that that’s right. ‘I’m staying here for a reason. I’m working here for a reason, because I know how good the county can be. I know how good this city can be, and I want to be part of that success and that strength.'”
Boggs said there’s a bright future ahead with the program. She said that the results showcase what West Virginians already know, the communities in the state are special. She added that once Ascend participants come to the Mountain State, they don’t want to leave.
“It’s what we want, it’s who we are as West Virginia. We are a community,” Boggs said. “It’s why people want to move here. It’s why the Ascend program has a 96.2% retention rate. Once people come here, they want to stay.”
Learn more about Charleston Area Ascend here.