Rural Economic Adjustment and Diversification Plan

 
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RURAL ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT AND DIVERSIFICATION PLAN

Five-County Region, WV

As a senior consultant for a national firm, Mr. Gross assisted in the preparation of a diversification plan for Calhoun, Gilmer, Ritchie, Roane, and Wirt counties in West Virginia. These rural counties lodged between the state’s three main urban centers faced economic stagnation due to dependence on cyclical resource-based industries. Mr. Gross identified potential industries and “downstream” processes to strengthen the resource economy. The study was funded through the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the Appalachian Regional Council (ARC).