Large, out-of-state companies often hold huge tracts of land in Southwest Virginia and across the region for its perceived coal or timber potential — making it difficult for nearby communities to use the land themselves.
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Roanoke Electric Exemplifies Service to Members
A rural North Carolina cooperative responds to member feedback by fostering economic development and clean energy.
TAGS: African American broadband energy democracy land ownership on-bill financing Roanoke Electric Cooperative rural electric cooperatives
Owning the Mountains: Appalachia’s history of corporate control
By Elizabeth E. Payne Throughout the history of the United States, Appalachia has attracted the attention of outside investors hoping to profit from the region’s valuable commodities. First timber, then coal and now natural gas are all highly valued. To…
TAGS: appalachia Corporate land ownership land ownership land use mountaintop removal coal mining Mountaintop removal impacts
A Matter of Self-Preservation
New Farmers and the Hard Path To Land By Matt Grimley The Pratt family in Atkins, Va., like many, both own and rent land on their 1200-acre cattle farm. Besides small plantings of corn and other crops, Echo Ridge Farm…
TAGS: apprenticeships C.W. Pratt Environmental Quality Incentives Program estate planning farm transitions internships Jason Pratt land ownership Leasing farmland Mill Spring Agricultural Center North Carolina State University Paige Pratt Virginia Young Farmers Association Virginia's Farm Link World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms young farmers
