Brownfields revitalization programs are helping rural Appalachian towns combat blight to rejuvenate their economies.
Blog Archives
Three Towns in Southwest Virginia Pursue Redevelopment of Blighted Buildings
TAGS: brownfields department of environmental quality economic development EPA redevelopment southwest virginia WVU BAD Buildings Program
Reviving North Tazewell, Va. — A Community’s Vision for East Riverside Drive
We recently co-hosted a gathering with residents of North Tazewell, Virginia, to discuss options for revitalizing a once-thriving center of commerce in their town, the East Riverside Drive area. Residents and local advocates shared illuminating ideas!
TAGS: abandoned mine lands appalachia Appalachian Voices economic development Economy southwest virginia
Advocates in coal communities urge Congress to prevent “enormous step backwards” by rejecting harmful appropriations bills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 24, 2023 Contact: Trey Pollard – trey@pollardcommunications.com – 202-904-9187 VIEW THE LETTERS: House & Senate COAL COUNTRY — Leaders and advocates from across coal country sounded the alarm today, warning Congress that harsh cuts in proposed…
TAGS: Americorps Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative appropriations Congress Distressed Area Recompete Program economic development Economic Development Administration Empowering Rural America Program Low Income Water Assistance Program Mine Safety and Health Administration rural energy for america program U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement USDA Rural Partners Network White House Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization
Community, culture and creation: Working to bring new investments into the coalfields
Beginning in January 2023, four local environmental and social justice organizations held a series of community listening sessions, one in each coalfield county in Southwest Virginia.
TAGS: clean energy economic development Environmental Justice Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards southwest virginia The Clinch Coalition UNITY sessions Virginia Organizing
Appalachian Voices denounces proposed cuts to rural energy programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 14, 2023 CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes, Director of Government Affairs and Strategy, (614) 205-6424, chelsea@appvoices.org Today, the House Committee on Appropriations passed a Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bill for the Department of Agriculture and other programs that…
TAGS: clean energy economic development Inflation Reduction Act rural Appalachia rural electric cooperatives
Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition report shows how mine cleanup can boost local economies
The Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition recently released its 2023 report, “National to Neighborhoods: Catalyzing Opportunities for Coal-Impacted Communities.” The report highlights the coalition’s current work and projects across the Appalachian coalfields of Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.
TAGS: bipartisan infrastructure law Coalfield Development Downstream Strategies economic development Inflation Reduction Act just transition Kentucky Ohio RAC Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition Renewable Energy rural action Virginia West Virginia
New film highlights regional change makers
The film features conversations with folks from Appalachian Voices, Friends of SWVA, Lawrence Brothers Inc., Mountain Heritage Museum, Ridgeview Robotics team and UVA-Wise.
What is the debt ceiling, and how could it be used to try to ram through MVP?
What is the debt ceiling, and why can it be used to gain leverage to pass unpopular legislation that otherwise wouldn’t have the necessary votes?
TAGS: Climate change debt ceiling default economic development mountain valley pipeline recession U.S. Congress U.S. Treasury
The Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition to host webinar on latest impact report and projects supporting innovative mine reclamation
The Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition will host a webinar presenting its latest report, “National to Neighborhoods: Catalyzing Opportunities for Coal-Impacted Communities.”
TAGS: Coalfield Development economic development just transition Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition rural action
Mining agency encourages more, better stakeholder engagement for coal-impacted communities
For years, the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization program has been one of the only federal grant programs targeted at revitalizing coal mining communities. It’s now being funded at its highest level to date and is getting a spruce-up from the federal agency that administers it.
TAGS: abandoned mine lands economic revitalization program Downstream Strategies economic development Justice40 Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition rural action Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
