Since its founding in 2020, the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative has worked alongside local leaders and partners to reimagine how outdoor recreation can drive economic growth and quality of life.
That vision has taken shape in communities all over West Virginia, where new miles of shared-use paths, bike-optimized trails and community greenways are creating spaces that attract visitors and improve daily life for residents.
Behind the scenes, the OEDC team has provided thousands of hours of technical assistance to help communities design, fund and steward these projects for the long term.
At the same time, the OEDC’s talent attraction and retention efforts are gaining national attention.
Ascend West Virginia has drawn tens of thousands of applicants and welcomed hundreds of new families to the Mountain State, with a remarkable 96% choosing to stay after two years.
Programs like First Ascent are now helping recent graduates launch careers and plant roots in West Virginia, ensuring that the next generation of leaders can thrive here at home.
The Impact Report underscores the University’s land-grant mission by turning West Virginia’s natural assets into pathways for prosperity, purpose and opportunity.