Virginia’s Coal Community Development Platform
Appalachian Voices is proud to present a policy platform for Southwest Virginia, developed in partnership with residents of five coalfield communities, that presents a path toward stronger local economies and healthier places to live and thrive.
Virginia’s Coal Community Development Platform is built by and for Virginia’s coalfield communities, with local priorities shaping economic transition rooted in real community needs. It is based on over a year of listening sessions and feedback from local residents and leaders in Clinchco, Dante, Dungannon, Pennington Gap, and Pound.
The platform outlines five key areas Virginia’s state leaders should prioritize. These include:
- Investing in Appalachian communities
- Ensuring energy affordability and community benefits
- Increasing access to affordable healthcare
- Developing community resiliency
- Addressing abandoned buildings
Like our Community Strong program, Virginia’s Coal Community Development Platform is rooted in ideas from by the foremost experts in community needs: the impacted community members themselves, with policy recommendations that come from years of community conversations and organizational policy work at the local, state and federal levels.
Questions?
Call our Norton office at (276) 679-1691 or email us using the form below.