Blog Archives

Building energy-resilient communities in far Southwest Virginia

Whether it’s a medical device, like a CPAP machine, or heating and cooling during extreme temperatures, electricity is an important part of a community’s overall resilience. This is especially true during local disasters and power outages.

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‘Every Stick:’ SWVA Biochar Uses Local Waste to Create Quality Soil

A man points to a machine while speaking.

A Southwest Virginia company’s biochar product is carbon-negative and has applications in agriculture.

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Appalachian Voices kicks off series of community meetings for resiliency grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 18, 2024 CONTACT Emma Kelly, New Economy Field Coordinator, (865) 585-4939, emma@appvoices.org Appalachian Voices is partnering with the five Southwest Virginia governments and communities of Clinchco, Dante, Dungannon, Pennington Gap and Pound in a three-year proposal

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Three Towns in Southwest Virginia Pursue Redevelopment of Blighted Buildings

Paint peels from the sides of a dilapidated brick building.

Brownfields revitalization programs are helping rural Appalachian towns combat blight to rejuvenate their economies.

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Community celebrates opening of new recreation area in Dante, Virginia

A group of locals and officials celebrate the opening of new Dante recreation area with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

This new recreation area features approximately 16 miles of new trails that will connect to existing trails around the nearby town of Saint Paul, and the campground features full amenities.

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Appalachian Voices awarded EPA Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program Funding

Appalachian Voices partnered with five Southwest Virginia governments and communities, including Clinchco, Dante, Dungannon, Pennington Gap and Pound on a three-year proposal to map, plan, and implement community-driven initiatives to build more resilient communities.

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Appalachian Voices Awarded $400,000 Department of Energy Buildings Upgrade Prize

View of small town surrounded by mountains, American flag in foreground

The Department of Energy awarded $400,000 to regional nonprofit organization Appalachian Voices on Wednesday for a project that will help address energy-related challenges at community anchor institutions like schools, health care facilities and businesses in the historic coal region of Southwest Virginia.

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Reviving North Tazewell, Va. — A Community’s Vision for East Riverside Drive

Community members meet during the North Tazewell listening session

We recently co-hosted a gathering with residents of North Tazewell, Virginia, to discuss options for revitalizing a once-thriving center of commerce in their town, the East Riverside Drive area. Residents and local advocates shared illuminating ideas!

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Community, culture and creation: Working to bring new investments into the coalfields

Beginning in January 2023, four local environmental and social justice organizations held a series of community listening sessions, one in each coalfield county in Southwest Virginia.

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New film highlights regional change makers

The film features conversations with folks from Appalachian Voices, Friends of SWVA, Lawrence Brothers Inc., Mountain Heritage Museum, Ridgeview Robotics team and UVA-Wise.

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