Each year, the GWV Fellowship cohort visits Tucker County, WV, as part of their statewide tour. Tucker County represents a replicable model for economic transition in coal-impacted regions. The combination of arts-led development, strategic tourism investment, and strong community foundations creates diversified economies that can weather industry changes. By exposing fellows to this model, GWV is preparing the next generation of leaders to drive similar transformations across West Virginia.
Tucker County’s story demonstrates how arts, tourism, and strategic investment can transform coal-impacted communities into thriving regional destinations.
The fellowship visited local art galleries, Creature and Invisible, and other nearby local businesses to understand how the grassroots art movement helped spark the revitalization of Thomas. This bottom-up approach shows how creative communities can be catalysts for economic transformation in areas transitioning away from extractive industries.
“Working in such a niche space, I often find myself surrounded by people with similar backgrounds,” Kenzie reflects. “The fellowship has been refreshing—connecting with young professionals in different sectors, expanding my perspective.”
A standout moment came from meeting National Park Service and WV Tourism Office representatives. The museum’s long-term vision includes creating one of the country’s largest labor history trails, and these connections are already shaping how that dream becomes reality.
At Timberline Mountain, fellows learned how Perfect North stepped in to save one of West Virginia’s ski resorts, investing millions to rebuild infrastructure and keep winter recreation alive in the region. This demonstrates how private capital can preserve community assets while creating sustainable employment.
The Tucker County Community Foundation provided insight into how these organizations operate, their mission, and how they collaborate with partners to meet local needs. This knowledge transfer is already creating impact. 2025 Fellowship graduate, Parker Surface, plans to use what he learned at his job with WVU Hospitals “to help identify and address community needs through collaboration with local stakeholders.”
Beyond the site visits, the Tucker County fellowship sessions equip fellows with professional skills in giving and receiving workplace feedback, tools they can immediately apply in their organizations.