CHARLESTON, W.Va. — New funding is going toward the Elk River Trails Foundation that will allow for business and tourism infrastructure expansion as well as job creation along the Elk River for coal-impacted communities in Braxton, Clay and Kanawha counties.
The foundation recently received a $1.3 million grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER Initiative.
The funding will be used to better connect the trail systems to the four trail towns of Clendenin, Clay, Sutton and Gassaway by constructing trailheads, water access points and pedestrian access.
Terrell Ellis, president and CEO of Advantage Valley, said $300,000 of the ARC funding will go toward outdoor recreation and tourism business development through their FASTER WV program which is designed to provide coaching, technical assistance and financing to new and expanding small businesses.
“We’re spreading out our resources now across 10 counties. These funds will allow us to dedicate one business coach and a significant amount of technical assistance money just to those communities,” she said.
Ellis said there’s a lot of opportunity along the new 70-mile trail that starts in northern Kanawha County, runs though Clay County and ends in Braxton County.
Ken Tawney, president of the Elk River Trails Foundation, said it didn’t always used to be that way.
“The area was really hard-hit by the 2016 flood, that coupled with the downturn in the coal industry, has caused and created hardships economically along the trail. The trail, located in this area, promises to be an economic boom in the area,” he said.
Tawney said recently completed parts of the trail have already seen success with more visitors from both in-state and out-of-state who enjoy boating, cycling, hiking and more.
“New Airbnbs were just opened in the past month. There has been a kayak business in each of the towns located on the trails and the Clendenin Brewery just opened,” he said.
In addition to welcoming new businesses, Ellis said the grant will also support the beautification of communities.
“Aside from the business development money that we’re getting, the foundation will be able to do things like help property owners improve the looks of the property. We’ll be able to put water access points and trailheads right in the community,” she said.
The project is expected to create over 40 businesses and leverage significant private investment along the trails and within the communities.
“Projects like these are resulting in life-changing transformations, which in turn, not only provides new economic opportunities, but brings a renewed sense of hope and purpose across our Appalachian Region,” ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin said in a news release to announce the funding.
There are still 22 miles left of the trail to complete from Queen Shoals to Hartland in Clay County. The entire trail should be complete by sometime next year.