Letter from Leadership

Advancement Through Collaboration

What a remarkable year 2025 has been for the WVU Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative. As I reflect on the past year, two words continually come to mind: advancement and collaboration. They are the themes that define our work and the partnerships that continue to shape a stronger future for West Virginia.

Our Talent Attraction and Retention team continued to build on the success of Ascend WV in exciting and meaningful ways. From expanding First Ascent through new partnerships, to seeing the Teachers Ascend program make a lasting impact in our schools and communities, to supporting entrepreneurs through WVU’s Vantage Ventures program, each initiative has strengthened our ability to attract and retain talent across the state.

The defining milestone of the year, however, was welcoming the greater Charleston region as Ascend WV’s sixth location through a partnership with the Charleston Area Alliance, the City of Charleston, Kanawha County, and the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation. This collaboration represents far more than a program expansion. It reflects a shared commitment to investing in people and place. The announcement brought together community leaders, elected officials, partners, and residents to celebrate a simple but powerful belief: when we invest in our communities and the people who call them home, West Virginia thrives.

Our Outdoor Economy, Community, and Infrastructure team also celebrated significant progress as several long-term projects moved from vision to reality. From supporting the completion of Phase I of the Cacapon State Park trail system and helping lay the foundation for Phase II, to advancing the White Sulphur Springs and Morgantown bike parks, developing trail systems on the Davis & Elkins College campus, and completing the Needleseye Trail and Fayetteville Town Park Trail projects, the team has worked tirelessly alongside partners across the state to bring more high-quality trails to communities across West Virginia. Even more exciting, several transformative projects are poised to move forward in the coming year, creating new opportunities for recreation, tourism, and economic growth.

Beyond building trails, our Trails Training and Education team traveled throughout West Virginia to equip volunteer trail groups, community organizations, and public land managers with the knowledge and skills needed to build and maintain sustainable trail systems. Through hands-on education and technical assistance, the team has forged strong partnerships that are laying the foundation for long-term stewardship of the outdoor assets that define our state.

Community development remained another cornerstone of our work. Over the past year, our team advanced fourteen projects through the Thriving Communities Program, helping local partners move transformative ideas toward implementation. These initiatives span greenways, rail trails, natural-surface trail systems, and multimodal complete streets projects. Working alongside local leaders, residents, and public officials, the team has provided planning, technical assistance, and strategic guidance to help communities realize their vision for a healthier, more connected future for the places they call home.

Our Outdoor Business and Industry Alliance also made tremendous strides by strengthening relationships with outdoor businesses and the industry across West Virginia while preparing for the inaugural West Virginia Outdoor Economy Summit. Although this work is still in its early stages, the momentum is undeniable. We have established a strong foundation, and I am confident the coming year will bring even greater opportunities to support business and entrepreneurs, grow the outdoor industry, and strengthen the state’s outdoor economy.

These accomplishments represent only a snapshot of the incredible work taking place across West Virginia. As you read this report, I hope you will see not only the projects we have completed, but also the partnerships we have built, the communities we have strengthened, and the shared vision that continues to drive our work forward.

None of this would be possible without the dedication of our exceptional team, the commitment of our partners, the support of the State of West Virginia, and the leadership of West Virginia University. Together, we are demonstrating what can be achieved when people unite around a common purpose. It is an honor to be part of this work, and I look forward to building on this momentum as 2026 looks to be even more promising!

Danny Twilley, PhD
Assistant Vice President, Community and Economic Development