Wasserman. “The team then followed
up with dedicated field research to learn
more about the experiences behind what
the statistics were showing. They also
looked at community experiences out-
side the region as potentially informative
case studies.”
Replicating Successful Practices
The 10 communities studied for the
report speak to one glaring truth that
other struggling communities can em-
brace: sustainable resilience is rooted in
multi-sector development. Wasserman
points to Harrison County as a prime
example of this statement.
“There, the education, health and
entrepreneurial sectors are growing in
tandem,” she says. “The local economic
development corporation’s commitment
in multi-sector, community-based devel-
opment is paying off.”
Harrison County had a lot of great
advantages that not all communities can
replicate, according to Evan Hansen,
president of Downstream Strategies, an
environmental science and policy research
company based in Morgantown, WV,
that contributed to the study. Among
those are having a major health care
center and proximity to natural gas
operations, interstates and a major ed-
ucational institution like West Virginia
University. However, the county’s efforts
to renovate its downtown, create a farm-
er’s market that doubles as a business
incubator and emphasize healthy living
throughout the community are things
other communities—particularly in West
Virginia—can easily do.
One opportunity, according to Hansen,
is the fact that West Virginia is home to
a large number of what were once beau-
tiful downtown areas. “All they need is
a little attention, a little tender loving
care,” he says.
Cities can also focus on healthy living,
arts and music to help attract young
people. “Things that make people want
to move there and live there—those are
the lessons we can take away that can be
used across the state,” he says.
According to Wasserman, the study
highlighted the fact that it didn’t matter
what perpetuated an economic disruption
in the 10 communities. Regardless of the
cause, the communities demonstrating
resilience share common characteristics
like investing in education and technol-
ogy infrastructure, cultivating strong
community networks and partnerships,
supporting robust entrepreneurial de-
velopment and moving multiple sectors
forward simultaneously.
“The biggest takeaway from this re-
search is confirmation that diversification
is key to economic resilience and so are
partnerships,” she says. “The private and
public sectors both have a role to play.”
Resilience at Work
The good news for West Virginia ex-
ceeds the borders of Harrison County
because many of the best practices high-
lighted in the study are already in place in
different areas of the state. For instance,
Coalfield Development, based in Wayne
County, helps put unemployed West Vir-
ginians—many of whom are former coal
miners—back to work doing community
construction projects. The program also
provides participants with mentoring and
higher education credits. Meanwhile,
the WV Hive Network, an incubator
in Beckley, connects entrepreneurs with
resources and expertise to help them get
their small businesses off the ground and
help ensure a higher success rate.
In North Central West Virginia, resi-
dents in Buckhannon meet weekly for
Create Buckhannon meetings that pro-
vide a neutral space where creative ideas
are tossed around and locals can come
together to spark change. In Southern
West Virginia, one of the ways the town
of Williamson has fought the devastation
of economic decline is by establishing the
Williamson Health & Wellness Center,
dedicated to building a culture of health
through holistic community and clinical
intervention. Regardless of income, resi-
dents can get primary, dental and behavior-
al health care services there. Focused on
the entire state, Generation West Virgin-
ia is working to create an active network
of young residents, helping them hone
leadership skills and voice the concerns
of the younger generation.
“Unfortunately, a common narrative
is to use despair and defeat to describe
Appalachian communities experiencing
economic transition,” says Wasserman.
“This research turns that narrative on
its head with real-life examples focusing
on the region’s strengths, opportunities
and assets.”
10 WINNING
COMMUNITIES
The 10 communities featured in ARC’s
report, “Strengthening Economic Re-
silience in Appalachia,” may have faced
different challenges but used similar
approaches to turn things around.
• Fannin County, GA: This community’s
tourism-driven economy is boosted by
entrepreneurs and created growth by
identifying and enhancing assets in
the community.
• Flathead County, MT: This historically
timber-driven community diversified its
economy by cultivating entrepreneur-
ship and resources for startups.
• St. Clair County, AL: St. Clair County
focused on quality of life and engaging
the community over time to recover
from the 2008 recession.
• McKracken County, KY: Pride in the
river town’s heritage and community
engagement over time have helped
this region plot a vibrant course for
its future.
• Holmes County, Ohio: This Amish
community has maintained resilience
through its unique craftsmanship and
tourist opportunities and by investing
in infrastructure and manufacturing.
• Chanango County, NY: This community
overcame the 2008 economic shock by
drawing on its manufacturing history
and moving multiple sectors forward.
• Dickinson County, Iowa: This tourist
destination has avoided population
and economic decline by working with
neighbors and growing next-generation
leadership.
• Lee and Itawamba Counties, MS:
This longtime furniture manufacturing
community recovered from the 2008
recession by building networks,
fostering collaboration and investing
in education and business development.
• McKean County, PA: This rural county
has slowed population decline by
moving multiple sectors forward for
economic development, all while
maintaining a focus on nature and
conservation.
• Harrison County, WV: Harrison County
weathered the decline in the coal
industry by building networks and
fostering collaboration. Along with the
increase in natural gas production, it
also has a thriving health care industry
and prominent criminal justice and
legal operations based in the county
and has developed its aviation and
entrepreneurial sectors, strengthening
its resilience.
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