Rural Connections Blog

    Bluefield West Virginia Economic Development Authority Hosts USDA Rural Development Staff

    Jim Spencer, Executive Director of the Bluefield West Virginia Economic Development Authority (BEDA), has a vision. He comes from a background in community planning and economic development and spent decades as a county administrator in neighboring Virginia before joining BEDA. He has been a stakeholder and partner of the Southern West Virginia Community Network since its inception. His vision is that communities around the Southern West Virginia Community Network will tap into the resources that his organization has created. With this vision in mind, BEDA recently hosted a tour for local Rural Development staff to highlight how the organization is already making a difference in West Virginia communities. 

    • Education
    • Community Development
  • photo of residents attending a housing seminar.

    Rural Partners Network partnering for a critical issue in rural West Virginia communities

    Housing has become a critical issue within rural West Virginia communities and it’s vital that we partner together to help find solutions. The Rural Partners Network has been working with the town of Gassaway and the Gassaway Area Improvement Council on multiple projects to improve the area and make a direct impact for the community members. Helping to find solutions was the purpose behind a free housing seminar held on March 5, 2024, by the West Virginia Pioneer Community Network in partnership with the Gassaway Area Improvement Council and the town of Gassaway.

    During the seminar, representatives from USDA Rural Development and the West Virginia Housing Development Fund provided valuable insights into various housing programs available. Attendees learned about different funding options, eligibility criteria, and the application process. The participants were afforded the opportunity to ask questions of all the panelists. 

    • Community Development
    • Education
  • photo of training session

    Addressing the Childcare Deserts in RPN’s Southern West Virginia

    Access to childcare is a national challenge for rural communities, and West Virginia is no different. In the RPN’s Southern West Virginia Community Network (SWVCN) counties, 43 percent of children under the age of 6 who need childcare do not have access to it. 

    • Community Development
    • Education
  • photo of training session

    Maternal Healthcare Access

    Despite substantial advances in healthcare over the past few decades, maternal health remains a major concern for West Virginia. The Rural Partners Network’s Southern West Virginia Community Network (SWVCN) has joined together with the Texas A&M University Rural and Community Health Institute (RCHI) to work across the 12 southernmost counties to identify local maternal health care needs and create a plan to extend care in the area.  

    • Community Development
    • Education
  • photo of training

    La Red Comunitaria de la Región Oriental de la RPN está presente en la comunidad para escuchar las necesidades y encontrar soluciones.

    La Red Comunitaria de la Región Este de la RPN visitó el Comedor del Bien Madre Teresa de Calcuta en Naguabo, Puerto Rico, para escuchar sus necesidades y ofrecer soluciones. Este comedor comunitario sirve 400 bandejas de comida cada semana, los martes y jueves, a la comunidad local desfavorecida.  Desde muy temprano la gente empieza a llegar para reservar un espacio y socializar mientras se prepara la comida. La mayoría de los visitantes habituales del Comedor del Bien son hombres que viven solos o tienen alguna discapacidad, por lo que esta oportunidad de socializar es muy bien recibida.

    • Community Development