ADVANCING WV THROUGH THE POWER OF OUTDOOR RECREATION
Helping communities, businesses, and organizations turn West Virginia’s outdoor assets into lasting economic opportunity.
Strong outdoor communities are built through local leadership, shared vision, and long-term investment in place. The Brad & Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative helps communities across West Virginia move that work forward.
See What We Do
Find Your Path to Growing Your Community
Build a Community People Choose
Use outdoor access and quality of place to strengthen your community and create the conditions for people to stay, grow, and put down roots.
Build Local Capacity
Strong outdoor economies start with strong local leadership. Find tools, training, and guidance to help your community and organizations build skills, confidence, and long-term capacity.
Build Outdoor Infrastructure
From trails to access points to placemaking, explore the steps, resources, and considerations needed to move outdoor projects from idea to reality.
Grow Local Businesses
Support entrepreneurs and strengthen your local outdoor business ecosystem. Explore resources, strategies, and connections that help businesses grow and succeed.
What We Do
The Smith OEDC
West Virginia has a strong foundation. Deep roots, close-knit communities, and natural assets you can’t replicate.
We work alongside communities across the state to build on that foundation. That means expanding opportunity, strengthening quality of life, and developing the outdoor assets and infrastructure that help communities grow stronger over time.
Attract and Retain Talent
Where People and Community Take Root
Ascend WV
Ascend WV invites remote workers to put down roots in West Virginia. It offers more than a place to live. It offers a community to belong to. With outdoor access, local connections, and room to breathe, it’s a new model for building life and work together.
First Ascent
First Ascent helps West Virginia’s graduates see a future here at home. It connects them to careers, community, and the outdoors. It’s about turning “what’s next?” into something they can build right here.
Teachers Ascend
Teachers Ascend supports educators who want to grow their careers in places that still feel like community. With mentorship, resources, and connection, we’re helping teachers and the students they serve thrive in West Virginia.
Vantage Ventures Boost
Through Vantage Ventures Boost, we’re backing West Virginia entrepreneurs with the tools, mentorship, and support to turn ideas into real, growing businesses right here at home.
Grow West Virginia’s Outdoor Economy
Turn the Outdoors Into Opportunity
Trail Training And Education
Trails don’t just connect places. They connect people.
We’re training the next generation of trail builders and stewards, giving communities the skills to create, care for, and grow the outdoor assets that strengthen local economies and quality of life.
Outdoor Infrastructure Development
Great communities don’t happen by accident. They’re built.
We work alongside towns and partners to plan and develop the outdoor infrastructure, including trails, access points, and public spaces, that make West Virginia a better place to live and a stronger place to invest.
Outdoor Business Development
From outfitters to gear makers, small businesses are the backbone of West Virginia’s outdoor economy.
We help them grow by connecting entrepreneurs to resources, networks, and opportunities that turn passion into lasting impact.
Outdoor Non-Profit Resource Hub
The people doing the work on the ground, building trails, protecting rivers, and bringing others along, are at the heart of it all.
We support and connect these organizations with the tools, knowledge, and network they need to keep that work moving forward.
Grants & Research
Good decisions start with real insight.
We provide research, data, and funding support to help communities and partners move ideas forward, backed by evidence and built for long-term impact.
THE SMITH OEDC
Purpose
Address population loss
Vision
A West Virginia where all of our communities are vibrant and thriving
Mission
Empower West Virginia’s communities and partners to advance the state’s economy and enhance quality of life through outdoor recreation