Fahe Member Coalfield Development opened their doors in 2010 with the goal of building resilient rural communities in southern West Virginia with thriving social and financial economies. Through a combination of advancing new economic sectors, investing in social enterprises and community-based revitalization projects, and facilitating not just professional, but also academic and personal growth for unemployed and underemployed residents of central Appalachia, the Coalfield Development team wanted to create transformative opportunities for their neighbors. With programs that support the arts, local food systems, and the advancement of community partnerships, they are making their mark, and with Revitalize Appalachia – a program that addresses both housing and skills development – Coalfield Development is at the forefront of providing safe, affordable homes to area residents.
Coalfield Development’s Revitalize Appalachia program has long been a leader in community revitalization, collaborating with local groups and partners to develop mixed-use, mixed-income projects that provide affordable housing, commerce hubs, and community spaces. Using an in-house construction crew, the program also trains individuals facing barriers to employment, empowering them with skills and opportunities through a three-pronged approach focused on professional, academic, and personal development.
“We’ve created a 33-6-3 model for those employed by the program,” explains Jess Toon, Strategic Communications Manager at Coalfield Development. “Each week, employees receive 33 hours of on-the-job training where they get hands-on experience. They also get six hours of academic development, which can be higher education or certification courses, and three hours of personal development, which includes physical, emotional, and financial health and general life management skills,” she continues.
“We also teach them business skills such as scheduling, creating estimates, and billing and give them opportunities to interface with subcontractors and clients,” she says. With certifications in lead and mold remediation, asbestos abatement, and drug lab remediation, and well-developed carpentry and construction skills, participants exit the program ready for employment.
“When they leave our training, they can get another good job, and they know what a good job looks like. Having a consistent income can be life-changing for someone, and securing a good job has a meaningful impact for families. There is also a positive impact on the community when people have steady employment with financial stability,” says Toon.
Revitalize Appalachia, as of 2022, had created more than 600 jobs, trained 1,500 crew members, and revitalized over 235,000 square feet of property, creating a ripple effect that positively impacts communities in southern West Virginia.
Says Toon, “The whole purpose of Revitalize Appalachia is to go into places that have been left behind and create opportunities for folks who have been left behind.
Whether their barriers to employment are related to transportation or childcare or involvement with the justice system, or even their own housing situation, we want to work with them. Economic flourishing for individuals contributes to community flourishing, and affordable housing is vital to that. “Fahe plays an important role in this work by providing operational support to Coalfield Development. Without supporters like Fahe, this good work couldn’t continue,” Toon concluded.
