The University of Virginia Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy will facilitate and coordinate a broad range of Appalachian economic development and environmental resilience projects under a recently announced federal grant for almost $20 million.

The school is leading a coalition of local governments, universities and non-profits who secured the award which will fund workforce development, childcare centers, healthy housing, community centers, telehealth hubs, river stewardship and more in multiple localities in Southwest Virginia.

The funding was awarded through a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program established by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 which aims to support community efforts to implement climate resiliency and clean energy transition efforts.

“Appalachia is one of the most beautiful places in the country. Unfortunately, it’s one of the most economically struggling as well,” said Christine Mahoney, UVA Batten Chief Innovation Officer and Professor of Public Policy and Politics. “As the economy changes, there are significant community needs in Southwest Virginia. This funding allows the region to achieve cleaner air and cleaner water while simultaneously addressing gaps in housing, health, job training and other areas.

“At a time of increased polarization, it is so exciting to be part of a bipartisan team that will be achieving real deliverables to help Appalachian communities thrive, while at the same time protecting the incredible mountain ecosystems that those communities call home."

“It is wonderful that EPA support will enable the UVA Batten School and our outstanding partners to serve Virginia communities in innovative ways,” said Batten Dean Ian H. Solomon.

The award bolsters the school’s long-standing work in Appalachia providing opportunities for its students to partner with community leaders and organizations to research policy solutions around economic development and environmental resilience. These partnerships and other UVA Batten work in the region are supported by the philanthropy of UVA alumni Richard and Donna Tadler.

The Southwest Virginia coalition — including Dickenson County, Buchanan County, EO, the University of Virginia at Wise, the University of Virginia, James Madison University, Virginia Tech, the Clinch River Valley Initiative and The Nature Conservancy — was selected by the EPA for funding to advance local, on-the ground projects that reduce pollution, increase community resilience and build community capacity.

This project builds on over 75 years of work in the region through UVA Wise, in Wise County, UVA’s campus serving the region, and 60 years of work in the region by the lead non-profit partner, EO (formerly known as the United Way of Southwest Virginia), which has been fighting for the health, education and financial stability of every person in the region for decades.

It will advance and strengthen the past 15 years of work of the community collaboration through the Clinch River Valley Initiative. It also builds on nine years of resilience-building work, supporting 26 communities to date, by the UVA Weldon Cooper Center’s Institute for Engagement & Negotiation’s RAFT collaboration, and six years of work on creative economic development through the Tadler Program on Impact Investing at the UVA Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.

This work was launched through a $1.5 million Climate Collaborative seed grant from the UVA Environmental Institute.

###