Like putting together a puzzle, this week’s Mayor’s Corner could be more appropriately named Bits and Pieces.
Early in October, four economic development representatives from the University of New Hampshire came to Marlinton. They were interested in small town economic development. Having only met during Zoom meetings, I was surprised to be asked if they could come to Marlinton for a first-hand tour and evaluation. What surprised me more, as we toured the downtown commercial district, I observed a car parked in front of Alfredo’s with a University of Wisconsin tag. Supposedly, no connection, but I couldn’t help but ask myself, “what are the odds?”
Through Mon-Forest Town grant funding, Chelsea Faulknier, director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, helped to set up MFT video and still-pictures shoots, with Wildhare Media. This media work will showcase the communities of Durbin and Marlinton, while highlighting Allegheny Trail and Monday Lick Trail.
After some initial shooting during the weekend of October 12, work will be held off until spring to shoot the final Durbin and Marlinton activity. Springtime will provide shots when things are green, and we can feature some kayaking and river activities.
Speaking of activity, the Town of Durbin has quite an advocate in Nicolle Flood-Sawczyszyn. Nicolle serves as the Durbin MFTP Representative. Her energy is creating events and moving community engagement in a positive direction. The Comprehensive Plan will be a valuable asset providing continuity between future councils.
The new mural adds a spark to the Town. A New Airbnb and a new Main Street restaurant coming in 2025 are all good signs. Zoom access for council meetings can keep the community informed. Plans for a Durbin Art Walk in the spring, the successful Allegheny Trail 50th Anniversary event are all good stuff.
The mission of the Mon-Forest Towns Partnership has always been to raise the region (economically), by elevating each town in the partnership, not just one, and we are getting there.
The Woodlands Community Lender having recently received $1,897,136 from the Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER Initiative, on behalf of Mon Forest Towns Partnership reaches Goal #7, and will provide the staff needed to focus on a community-driven model for sustainable recreation-based economic growth across the 12 gateway towns in the Monongahela National Forest region. These towns include Cowen, Davis, Durbin, Elkins, Franklin, Marlinton, Parsons, Petersburg, Richwood, Seneca Rocks, Thomas, and White Sulphur Springs. Our own Region 4 staff, working with Sara Cottingham, is to be commended for the heavy-lift in preparing the application that led to this successful award.
Following the award announcement, Josh Nease, Executive Director of the Mon Forest Towns Partnership, remarked, “For over seven years, the Mon Forest Towns Partnership has been working together to develop and fine-tune this collaborative model for regional economic growth. This funding from ARC and our partners supports the deployment of our strategic plan across the entire Mon Forest Towns region which will better connect the towns to the Na- tional Forest and to each other, promote the region as cohesive tourism and recreation destination, and advance our work to firmly establish each town as a gateway to the Mon. Special thanks to Woodlands Community Lenders for their ongoing support of the Part- nership.”
All residents should know, additional support for the Mon Forest Towns Partnership is provided by the organization’s 12 participating towns, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, The Conservation Fund, the West Virginia Department of Tourism, the Just Transition Fund, the USDA Forest Service, the WVU Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative, Region 4 Planning and Development Council, and Sara Cottingham Consulting.
Like the proverbial puzzle, it all seems to fit.