West Virginia Hub’s Director of Community Engagement, Amanda Workman Scott, Carla Kaposy and Suzanne Park represented the state and Petersburg during a recent National Association of Counties event held in Washington, D.C.

photo courtesy of suzanne park

Petersburg was one of only seven communities in the nation to participate in a Washington D.C. based event designed to discuss and highlight areas of the country that have been impacted by the coal industry.

On February 27 the National Association of Counties (NACo) welcomed seven communities spanning 11 counties from across the nation for the second year of the “Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities (BRECC) Action Challenge” in Washington, D.C.

The BRECC Action Challenge launched in 2023 with the support of the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Its goal is to strengthen and grow opportunities in local economies shaped by coal industries.

“The U.S. Economic Development Administration is committed to helping coal communities strengthen and transition their economies,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “Through the Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities initiative, we’re delighted to recognize and support the seven community teams selected to participate in this second cohort of the Action Challenge. Our first group of communities prepared innovative plans and projects to drive their regional economies forward, which serve as inspiring models for those joining the initiative. The newly selected teams represent the resilient, entrepreneurial leadership that is needed to help coal communities across America build and access new, sustainable opportunities for growth in the years ahead.”

The 2024 BRECC Action Challenge communities included: Campbell County, Wyo; Forest County, Pa; counties of Mason, Tazewell, and Peoria, Ill; counties of Montrose and San Migual Colo; Monroe County Ga; Somerset County Pa; and Petersburg, Grant County W.Va

At the end of February, BRECC culminated in two major events hosted in Washington, D.C., to honor and highlight the efforts of community teams and leaders. Local leaders from coal-impacted communities across the nation gathered to share their learnings, economic diversifi cation plans, and strategies for collaboration.

Representing members of the Petersburg team in Washington, D.C. and presenting the BRECC 2025 Action Challenge Capstone were Carla Kaposy and Suzanne Park.

“So many people and organizations have been part of this year long journey – both locally and on the national level. We were supported by a wonderful mentor from The WV HUB, the other six communities from across the United States and our local team,” said Kaposy, Executive Director of the Grant County CVB.

Unable to make the trip to Washington, Sarah Moomau, Recorder for the City of Petersburg, cheered her team on from home. “The Seneca Rocks Economic Development Authority helped pave the path for our Action Challenge plan along with the ongoing Main Street to the Mountains Hike and Bike Trail proposal we have been working on with the Mon Forest Towns program. We have so many exciting projects in our community and will benefit greatly from the expertise and support from the BRECC Action Challenge.”

It was a year of Zoom meetings, research, local information gathering, exchanging ideas and building a presentation for the Washington meetings. Held in the National Association of Counties building complex, all seven groups shared the vision for their communities, their challenges, and identifi ed their needs. While the Petersburg Team was the smallest group, their issues were much like the other groups presenting.

“Infrastructure needs, finding workers, redefining economic development strategies, and housing issues were some of the top challenges we are all struggling with,” stated Park, Community Collaborator for Potomac Valley Transit Authority. “We learned so much, were able to network and met people that will become resources for us as we continue to develop our plans for economic growth.”

Clearway representative Callie Taylor Dayton appeared before the commission last week to update the county on an upcoming wind turbine project that will construct more than 30 new structures in Grant County and Tucker County.

During her presentation, Dayton explained that the Catamount Wind Farm Project, which has been permitted and approved by the West Virginia Public Service Commission, will be constructing 36 new turbines in the Bayard area with a small section extending into Tucker County. The project is located just south of the town of Bayard.

The project has been through a few alterations since its initial planning, with the original plan being to construct over 100 turbines. This number later dropped to approximately 70 turbines before being officially settled at 36.

According to Dayton, the Catamount Wind Farm and the Mount Storm Wind project will have brought over $1 billion worth of investment to Grant County by 2027.

“We have secured all of the landowners for this project and have good partnerships there,” Taylor said. “We are also thrilled to have recently executed MOU [memorandum of understanding] with West Virginia Building and Construction Trades, as we have previously with all of our other projects. So these will be local construction jobs. Basically, what will happen is the folks will transfer from the Mount Storm repower project straight into Catamount. So it will be continuous work over the next several years, which is really exciting.”

Dayton told the commission that the Catamount project will generate over $30 million in taxes for the county over the life of the project.

“But what I am most excited about is the impact this will have on our community benefi ts packages, which you all are familiar with,” Dayton said. “Mount Storm, as we have discussed previously, has an annual amount of $120,000 of benefit funds for the community and Catamount will have an additional $50,000 to add into that.”

Read more: Commission hears update on new wind turbine project near Bayard

A fatal ATV accident on March 12 has left the community in mourning after the crash claimed the life of a four-year old child and left two others in critical condition.

The accident is being investigated by the West Virginia State Police and took place last Wednesday evening.

According to information reported by the WVSP, the incident occurred on a power-line right of way near Petersburg at approximately 7:15 p.m.

During their investigation of the scene, officers noted a 2023 Can-Am Defender ATV on its side.

The three juveniles involved in the accident were rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

Read more: One child killed, two injured in tragic ATV accident

A Petersburg woman is facing felony charges after allegedly stealing a leased vehicle that she had borrowed from a friend.

Veronica Danielle Tingler, of 514 Franklin Pike, Petersburg, has been charged with grand larceny after the alleged victim reported his leased 2021 Ford Escape Sport ECO stolen to the West Virginia State Police.

According to the police report filed on the incident, the victim told officers that he and Tingler were friends and that she had been having trouble with her older vehicle.

To help her out, he offered to let her use his vehicle for a week in October 2024.

The victim told officers that they had originally agreed to let Tingler use the vehicle for the next week but he had explained to her that the SUV was a rental so he would need it back after that time.

The victim told officers that he had multiple conversations with Tingler about needing to return the vehicle, explaining that he would get in trouble with the rental company if the SUV was not returned soon.

Read more: Petersburg woman charged with grand larceny for stealing a rental vehicle she had borrowed from a...