One fascinating topic that bubbled up during the Hinton Creative Communities Assessment Workshop was the need for resources to back innovative ideas for growth. Does West Virginia really have a shortage of funding sources to make bold visions become reality?
In addition to the normal foundations and government grant programs, one source of potential backing was explored. West Virginia, like many communities, has a small pocket of wealthier individuals. Most of these folks made their millions on coal, timber or other "old economy" boomtime industries.
The assumption communicated by many folks around the state is that these "old money" individuals are not willing to invest in what is needed in this day and age. However, when the question is asked "Have we actually sat down and had an in-depth dialogue with these people?" about their interests in supporting "new economy" opportunities, more often than not the answer is no.
Clearly folks from a different generation may not have a natural connection to the high-tech industries or progressive cultural initiatives that we're so much in need of developing today. But perhaps we write off this tremendous source of investment and the willingness of these folks to invest in the future of the state a little too soon without genuinely engaging them with well-defined opportunities to re-invigorate their communities?
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