When we as a nation think about our economy how often do we also think about the environment? Often these two topics are disaggregated from one another. However, they should be thought of together. In moving towards renewable energy sources, public transportation, human health, housing affordability, and emerging workforce opportunities play a vital role for…
Imagine coming home after a long day and it’s pitch black, so you flip the light switch, but nothing happens. You’re hungry, so you throw food in the oven, but it doesn’t turn on. You decide you want to go see a movie, so you head down to your car, turn the key in the…
Last month I wrote “Revitalizing Virginia’s Coalfield”, on ways to propel the region’s economy forward by providing new, innovative jobs, and all-the-while protecting the region’s other most valuable asset, its natural resources. In that post, I discussed an OED project I worked on that focused on the reuse of former surface mining sites for economic…
The evolving connections between research institutions like Virginia Tech and regional economic development organizations like the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) are essential partnerships needed to make informed decision about the ever-changing economy due to their unique research abilities. VCEDA is an organization which helps bring more jobs to the Southwest Workforce Development…
Oh Southwest Virginia, who wouldn’t want to visit such a beautiful, mountainous area and be a part of this special place? The wealth of beauty and history in Appalachia has created an identity held dear by its people. It is a place of refuge, openness, and exploration that may retain current residents and attract newcomers…