Mon Forest Towns Partnership Receives ARC POWER Award

Woodlands Community Lender, on behalf of the Mon Forest Towns Partnership, has been awarded $1,897,136 by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to deploy a community-driven model for sustainable recreation-based economic growth across twelve towns in the Monongahela National Forest region, including Cowen, Davis, Durbin, Elkins, Franklin, Marlinton, Parsons, Petersburg, Richwood, Seneca Rocks, Thomas, and White Sulphur Springs. This award is part of a recently announced $68.2 million award package supporting 65 projects in 188 coal-impacted counties through ARC’s POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative, which directs federal resources to economic diversification projects in Appalachian communities affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries.

“ARC’s POWER initiative supports coal-impacted communities’ preparation for the next phase of Appalachia’s economy, while ensuring that residents have a say in the course of their own futures.”

Additional support for the Mon Forest Towns Partnership is provided by the organization’s twelve 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, and Sara Cottingham Consulting.

“ARC’s POWER initiative supports coal-impacted communities’ preparation for the next phase of Appalachia’s economy, while ensuring that residents have a say in the course of their own futures,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “The investments announced in this round of POWER will help train workers, advance new industries, and build upon the progress already being made toward a brighter future full of economic opportunity for our region.”

Following the 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 National 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 Partnership.” 

“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 National 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.”

Since POWER was established in 2015, ARC has invested over $484.7 million in 564 projects impacting 365 coal-impacted counties, including today’s award package. ARC’s investments have helped create or retain nearly 54,000 jobs and prepare nearly 170,000 workers and students for new opportunities in entrepreneurship, broadband, tourism, and other growing industries. Within the Mon, investments from the Appalachian Regional Commission have a proven track record of success, as seen in projects such as Marlinton’s Monday Lick Trail System, whose record-breaking completion in 2025 will bring an estimated economic impact of $45,000,000 to the area.

Communication, Connectivity, Capacity, and Capital

Mon Forest Towns will focus on leveraging these federal resources alongside its regional partners to address critical needs in our twelve communities, paying particular attention to the 4C’s of its sustainable development model- Communication, Connectivity, Capacity, and Capital. The partnership hopes to amplify the Mon’s rich history and unique culture through communication to reach new audiences. At the same time, the connectivity component will emphasize the physical and thematic linkages between its rural communities- from in-town rail trail hubs to food and drink trails. The capacity piece will explore ways to multiply the impact of local representatives, business owners, and volunteers’ commitment and dedication to the region. Through the Mon Forest Towns Business Initiative and cooperation with Woodlands Lenders, the partnership also plans to maximize investments in new and existing businesses, which, paired with technical assistance and promotional support, promises to increase residents’ access to developmental capital across the region!

Stay tuned for more updates on upcoming recreation-related projects across all twelve of our mountain communities!