Community development is a critical issue within the Appalachian region. On the local level, the Appalachian Institute will continue to collaborate with the Wheeling, WV, Hopeful City Project, which it helped to organize, to develop effective, futuristic strategies to expand economic development opportunities, with the intent to utilize this model throughout the region.
The Appalachian Institute will work also with local non-profit organizations and national intermediaries such as the McAuley Institute and Habitat for Humanity.
On the regional level Community development efforts will include futuristic strategies to expand economic development opportunities, participation of the poor in decision making, and avenues of hope for the youth.
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Education
As student education is one of the primary missions of Wheeling Jesuit University each specific effort mentioned above will be made compatible with the education program at the University. University’s students will be invited to participate in the development and implementation of each of the Institute’s areas of work. For example, the Institute’s research efforts to develop an Appalachian profile will involve faculty and students.
When it was established, WJU’s mission included a commitment to assist in the efforts to improve the quality of life in Appalachia. The Appalachian Institute helps focus that effort with the reestablished Appalachian Studies Program, and by encouraging participation in the University’s outreach efforts.
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Environment
The central Appalachian region boasts a wealth of resources. The Appalachian Institute strives to foster development of economic alternatives which provide jobs and industries that are environmentally safe and sustainable.
One of our first efforts will be to initiate discussions on mountaintop removal, strip mining, and sustainable mining with the environmental community, mining industry officials, labor and regulatory bodies. We will then convene conferences with citizens groups to enhance networking between existing organizations. We want also to develop strategies that address long term impacts of mountaintop removal and regional economic development.
Discussions with industry officials will focus on alternative mining techniques, as well as developing alternatives to mining the most environmentally damaging coal seams. The concept of a Sustainable Mining Industry will be introduced and modeled on examples from Europe, Canada, Africa and Asia. Following these discussions, a public forum is proposed where tentative agreements and proposals can be aired.
We will place emphasis in these discussions on leveraging the participation of religious, academic, business, and community groups, as well as local governments.
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Labor
Discussions with the AFL-CIO national office are underway to develop a common strategy for enhancing unionized manufacturing industrial opportunities in the upper Ohio Valley region. The initial focus will be to convene a forum of labor and industry leaders on the economic questions facing the steel industry, its future and the impact industry transitions will have on the region. Working with the AFL/CIO national and regional offices and business interests in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, the Appalachian Institute will produce a needs assessment survey to look at alternative industrial models. The goal is to create manufacturing jobs in the region of the country whose particular expertise is materials manufacturing. Public meetings will be convened at community locations to involve local leaders, academic institutions, and grass roots organizations from the area. During the coming year, a blueprint for alternative economic development will be finalized.
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