A rare bipartisan proposal aims to tackle two pressing issues related to the flailing coal industry — the need for new economic opportunities in central Appalachia and repairing environmental damage from decades of mining.
Blog Archives
RECLAIMing Central Appalachia
TAGS: abandoned mine lands Appalachian politics economic development Economic diversification Power-Plus POWER+ Plan RECLAIM Act reclamation
Powering Up: Diversifying central Appalachia’s economy
As coal production continues to decline, many citizens and groups in Central Appalachia are working hard to find new avenues for economic diversification.
TAGS: Central Appalachia coal communities economic development Economic diversification Economy POWER+ Plan
Southwest Virginia’s New Economy Forums
In October, Appalachian Voices partnered with Virginia Organizing to host eight community forums in the coalfield counties of southwest Virginia. More than 130 residents participated in the forums, sharing their ideas about how to move the economy of their communities…
Takin’ 5 with Tony Flaccavento
Tony Flaccavento has been a leading voice for sustainable economic development in southwest Virginia for more than two decades. An organic farmer, small businessman and author, Tony has been making a series of short videos exploring the positive forces of localized, sustainable economies.
TAGS: Appalachian economy economic development Economic diversification Economy southwest virginia sustainable agriculture Virginia
Crowdsourcing Southwest Virginia’s New Economy
Appalachian Voices is on the ground in southwest Virginia, holding community forums and engaging with citizens from all walks of life to gather their hopes and visions for creating a new economy in the region. You might think of it as old-fashioned crowdsourcing. Soon, we’ll have an online, modern-day crowdsourcing platform to gather more ideas and details to help make these visions become reality.
TAGS: economic development Economic diversification Economy Power southwest virginia transition Wise County
Appalachians Look to Branch Out from Coal-Based Economy
Contact: Adam Wells, Appalachian Voices, (276) 679-1691, adam@appvoices.org Gabby Gillespie, The Alliance for Appalachia, (276) 220-5048, gabby.gillespie@sierraclub.org Eric Dixon, Appalachian Citizens Law Center, (865) 202-8688, eric@appalachianlawcenter.org Two dozen local government entities in the heart of Central Appalachia’s coalfields have passed…
TAGS: abandoned mine lands aml economic development Economic diversification jobs just transition Power Power-Plus transition
Hemp Makes A Comeback
Several states are moving forward with the process of bringing industrial-scale hemp to Appalachian farms and factories.
White House Plan Would Spur Investment in Appalachia
A broad set of initiatives included in the Obama administration’s proposed budget for 2016 would support economic development projects in Central Appalachian communities burdened by the coal industry’s continued decline.
Regional Report Details Victories, Challenges Over Poverty
A report released in February by the Appalachian Regional Commission, Appalachia Then and Now: Examining Changes to the Appalachian Region Since 1965, examines the impact of improved infrastructure, education and job opportunities across the region. According to the report, Appalachia’s poverty rate dropped from 31 percent to 16.6 percent over the last five decades.
Moving Appalachia forward
President Obama recently proposed more than $1 billion in funding to restore lands and waters in coal-impacted communities and boost efforts to grow sustainable local economies. It’s a sound idea, and a long time coming, although Congress may not approve it. Meanwhile, Appalachian Voices and others continue working to move the region forward.
TAGS: Appalachian Transition Clinch River economic development Economic diversification Kentuckians for the Commonwealth KFTC obama Sustainable Williamson transition
