Create West Virginia

 Want to attract and keep more professional creatives with ideas and energy who would start new businesses in your community? Then make sure your local leaders strongly support House Bill (HB) 3113, reintroduced to the 2010 legislature by Kanawha County Del. Nancy Guthrie.

We plan to make good use of your time in Huntington for the Create West Virginia Conference and let you learn first-hand from many of the people who are working to transform the City. New to the conference this year is the Huntington Project Track. Using Huntington as a living laboratory, this track will:

Last evening the Create Huntington team held a public meeting to review their long-term strategic plan. Vaughn Grisham, the noted community development guru and socioligist from Mississippi, was on hand to share his observations. One area of concern was the need for far more volunteers who are emotionally, financially and functionally connected to the cause.

It's a tough time to ask for money these days. Even though West Virginia's state government is in better shape than most states, there is uneasiness about what is ahead. New expenditures are being frowned upon, areas of saving a high priority.

But at some point, in order to grow, investments in new, high potential opportunities must be made to break out of our economic doldrums. Growth requires intelligent risk-taking. No growth occurs without entrepreneurial, creative thinking.

Recently Create WV had the pleasure of participating in the NAACP Economic Development forum at Grace Bible Church on the West Side of Charleston. Reverend Matthew Watts, a "Creative Cone" award winner at the 2008 Create WV Conference, lead the discussion that centered on WV Senate Bill No.

Over the past several months, Create WV has visited dozens of West Virginia communities to deliver insights and encouragement about the "new economy." Some are basic conversations, while others are "roll up your sleeves" discussions on what steps a community can take to thrive.