Pike County Team Works to Capitalize on Natural and Cultural Assets

Pike County Team Works to Capitalize on Natural and Cultural Assets

Representatives develop action plan through participation in the Appalachian Gateway
Communities Initiative

Waverly, OH (April 23, 2024) – An eight-person team from Pike County participated in a
three-day workshop designed especially for towns and communities bordering national
or state parks, forests, and other treasured public lands in the Appalachian Region.
During the workshop the team heard from national and regional experts on destination
stewardship, asset development, arts and culture, natural and recreation resources, and
community branding. The team also developed a focused approach to build on their
specific opportunities created by proximity to public lands and their confluence of
resources.

The Appalachian Gateway Communities Initiative also includes four webinars and
coaching support for each participating team, guiding them from asset identification to a
detailed plan for project implementation. With collaboration and partnership-building as
essential elements within the program, the seven participating communities from across
Appalachia brought together public land representatives, elected officials, business and
tourism representatives, civic leaders, arts representatives, and recreation and natural
resource interests. Through participation the community is eligible to apply for a seed
grant for project implementation.

The 8-person team from Pike County was a diverse group of community leaders,
stakeholders, and community members. Serving as the team lead was Chandler
Grooms, Tourism Development Director with the Pike County Chamber of Commerce &
Tourism. Grooms was joined by: Shelly Anderson, Economic Development
Administrator for the Village of Waverly; Angel Glass, Waverly Councilwoman and
Piketon business-owner; Bruce Overly, President of the Pike Heritage Foundation;
Jennifer Buckler, Owner of the Farm Inn LLC and teacher at Western Elementary;
Donavan Workman, District Park Manager for the Ohio Department of Natural
Resources; and Zac and Emily Caldwell, local artists and entrepreneurs with Caldwell
Art & Designs and EZ Sewing Co.

The team brought back a lot of valuable information and were energized by some of the
ideas and opportunities they hope to share in Pike County. With the assistance of their
coach for the program, Kim Davis, Executive Director of Friends of Southwest Virginia,
the team developed an action plan for an idea that will bring art, history, downtown
businesses, and natural resources together through a unique new experience and
attraction for Pike County. The team will continue working on this action plan as they
complete the Appalachian Gateway Communities Initiative in the coming months and
look forward to sharing more information about the project as it moves forward.

“The value that this program has provided for our team and our communities is
immeasurable, and I think that this type of collaboration, learning, and planning will have
have a tremendous impact on Pike County’s future success and opportunities in the
areas of community development and revitalization, art and local culture, and recreation
in our beautiful public lands and natural areas,” says Shelly Anderson. “We have so
much potential for growth and success, and being able to work together and learn from
other Appalachian communities and their achievements will strengthen our own plans
for progress.”

“We were pleased to have representatives of Waverly, Piketon, and the Ohio
Department of Natural Resources take part in the Appalachian Gateway Communities
Initiative. They brought their challenges and opportunities, their energy and expertise,
and the program provided a structure to action plan along with creative ideas and
examples to inspire them,” said The Conservation Fund’s Balancing Nature and
Commerce Program Manager, Susan Elks, AICP. “We were excited to have Pike County
engage and advance solutions to economically lift their region while caring for people
and place.”

Developed through the collaboration of the Appalachian Regional Commission, National
Endowment for the Arts, and The Conservation Fund, the Appalachian Gateway
Communities Initiative has helped more than 70 gateway communities across
Appalachia expand tourism and other economic opportunities through technical
assistance, training workshops and seed grants since 2007. Supported by Hargrove
International, the program has strengthened leadership in communities in proximity to
public lands and their natural, cultural, and recreational assets and amenities.

The workshop was held in Decatur, Alabama, and included a walking tour of Decatur’s
main street and a farm to fork dinner that highlighted the strength to be found when arts,
agriculture, history, and entrepreneurs intersect. Participants also had the opportunity to
visit the Jesse Owens Memorial Park while immersed in the extensive history, natural
wonders, arts, and music that North Alabama offers.

About the Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is an economic development partnership agency of the
federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region.
ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic
growth in Appalachia. www.arc.gov

About the National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is the largest annual funder of the arts in the United States.
An independent federal agency and the official arts organization of the United States government, the
NEA advances equitable opportunities for arts participation and practice, and fosters and sustains an
environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. The NEA is the largest funder of the
arts and art education in communities nationwide and a catalyst for public and private support for the arts,
investing in every state. www.arts.gov

About The Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund protects America’s most critical lands and waters to provide greater access to
nature, strengthen local economies and enhance climate resiliency. Top-ranked for efficiency and
effectiveness, The Conservation Fund has worked in all 50 states since 1985 to protect more than 8.8
million acres of land. www.conservationfund.org

About Hargrove International
Hargrove International specializes in helping organizations realize their vision and goals with strategic
planning, innovative development, and targeted marketing. Our experience in cultural heritage tourism
and non-profit management provides unique perspectives for fundraising, organizational governance,
asset- and community-based economic development, authentic tourism product and experience
assessments, market research, cultural heritage tourism, marketing communications, and sustainable
destination management. www.hargroveinternational.com