Clinch River Valley Initiative

Clinch River Valley Initiative Background

The Clinch River Valley Initiative (CRVI) is a pioneering effort to build local economies in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia, focusing on the Clinch River – one of the most biodiverse river systems in North America. Working at a watershed scale with several local partners, this collaborative grassroots effort has developed significant momentum with applicability for communities in Appalachia and beyond.

Utilizing a consensus-based approach, project partners are articulating and prioritizing goals for connecting downtown revitalization, access points, water quality, entrepreneurship and environmental education along the Clinch River, and developing an action plan to realize the prioritized goals as part of the effort. Strategies are being identified to connect downtown revitalization with outdoor recreation along the Clinch River. Using a regional planning approach, the project connects to cultural and natural heritage efforts including the Heartwood: Southwest Virginia’s Artisan Gateway, Round the Mountain, the Crooked Road, and other artisan networks. Finally, the effort builds upon the unique cultural and ecological assets of the Clinch River Valley to distinguish and create new possibilities in the communities along the Clinch. These new possibilities will create distinctive cultural and ecological areas, particularly centered around environmental education and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Building on a vision for the Clinch River Valley, five action groups are currently developing substantial actions around five goal areas as part of the Initiative.

By 2020, the Clinch River Valley will be a global destination based on its unique biodiversity, natural beauty, cultural attractions and outdoor opportunities. This collaboration will bring measurable economic, environmental and social benefits to the region’s communities while protecting the Clinch’s globally rare species.

The five goal areas are (click on each to view most recent meeting summaries):

Regular meetings continue to be held as part of the clinch River Valley Initiative, with numerous community events planned for 2013 and beyond. The Clinch River Valley Initiative originated at a forum in the fall of 2010 titled “Building Local Economies in Southwest Virginia,” and is coordinated by the Institute for Environmental Negotiation, at the University of Virginia, and with the help of numerous local, regional, and state partners. The next meeting of the Clinch River Valley Initiative will be in the spring of 2013.

Click Here for a one page, printable description of the Clinch River Valley Initiative.

If you have ideas, questions, or would like to be added to the CRVI contact list for announcements of future meetings, please contact Christine Gyovai at christineg@virginia.edu or 434-982-6464.

Summaries of these meetings are available below:

This project was made possible by the USDA Forest Service/VA Dept. of Forestry, the Dept. of Housing and Community Development/Appalachian Regional Commission, the Blue Moon Fund, and the University of Virginia for supporting this effort.

CRVI Updates

CRVI Resolutions of Support continue to come in – thanks to all of you. Click here to view a list of those who have signed on to the resolution.

Recent Successes

Exciting things have been happening because of the Clinch River Valley Initiative! Here are some of our recent successes:

Environmental Education Symposium Update:We are excited to report that last weekend’s Clinch River Environmental Education Symposium hosted by the Environmental Education Action group was a great success. The event had approximately 70 attendees with representation from almost all local school systems, DCR (Natural Tunnel SP staff), one local nonprofit (Clinch River Farms) and students/faculty from Emory and Henry, UVA-Wise, and ETSU. The feedback from the symposium has been very positive and there seems to be a demand for this to be an annual event. Most importantly, the Environmental Education Action group would like to thank St. Paul Elementary, the Town of St. Paul, Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Food City, and Dominion Resources. Please be on the lookout for coverage about this event in The Coalfield Progress.
Three access points have been acquired along the Clinch River. These access points will facilitate a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. The Access Points Action Group is now working to acquire the fourth and develop a draft easement agreement to ensure consistent standards of maintenance and use.
The State Park Action Group has secured funding for an economic impact study for a Clinch River State Park. The impact study will will focus on what it will cost to build a 600 acre park, including visitor centers, camping sites, and access to the river, and potential economic contributions to the region from a state park. It will not recommend a location for the future park.
The Blue Ridge Travel Association presented CRVI with an award for “Local Impact of the Year” for 2012! This award is for the enormous effort you all have put forth in the past two years. Folks are taking note regionally of the incredible momentum gained by this initiative in a short time and it’s an honor for everyone to be recognized for this. We owe Margie Douglass thanks for nominating CRVI.
The Clinch River Valley is proud to announce the creation of the Clinch River Youth Coalition. This project will allow us to involve area youth in the CRVI action plan and provide them with knowledge, allow them to gain field experience, and overall instill an interest in science, the environment, and the community they come from. This can also benefit the area as a whole by helping youth take ownership of their communities so that they might continue and expand our efforts in the future.
A new Entrepreneur Program Coordinator, Brandi Hall, has been hired to work with new entrepreneurs in the region.

Funding Update

The Clinch River Valley Initiative (CRVI) will be receiving $1,050 from the Dominion Foundation to help area localities leverage their funds and an ARC grant to allow for the development of five new boating access points along the Clinch River, and to assist in identifying other potential points that could be developed in the future. Improving access to the river, as well as determining the feasibility of new campgrounds, trails, and other such infrastructure that is beneficial to both residents and tourists is an important goal of the larger CRVI action plan. A team of area citizens, business and organization representatives, and local, state, and federal representatives comprise an active working group that is focused on the goal. The Friends of Southwest Virginia applied for and will administer the funds on behalf of the CRVI.

Clinch River Valley Initiative