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West Virginia University Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative

Thriving Communities, Built from the Ground Up

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Thriving Communities, Built from the Ground Up


The Thriving Communities Program (TCP) was established by the U.S. Congress through appropriations to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in fiscal years 2022 and 2023. The program is designed to help communities—especially those with limited capacity—access federal funding and advance transportation and infrastructure projects that support long-term economic vitality.

As part of the second round of funding, the Fayette-Raleigh Metropolitan Planning Organization (FRMPO) was awarded $2 million to support 11 “Appalachian Heartlands” communities across West Virginia, including projects in Braxton, Fayette, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Mercer, Nicholas, Raleigh, Randolph, Summers, Tucker, and Webster counties.

This funding is being administered by a regional Capacity Building Team that includes the FRMPO, the  Brad & Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative ( Smith OEDC) at WVU, Region 1, 4, and 7 Planning and Development Councils, and the Mon Forest Towns Partnership.

Meeting Challenges with Opportunity

Communities in this region face long-standing challenges, including population decline, low labor force participation, and high rates of substance use disorder. At the same time, these places are rich in natural, cultural, and recreational assets—assets that offer powerful opportunities for outdoor recreation, connectivity, and tourism-driven economic development.

TCP recognizes that the communities with the greatest need are often the least equipped to pursue complex federal funding opportunities. The program also acknowledges that alternative transportation infrastructure—especially in rural areas—is essential for connecting people to jobs, services, and each other.

Building Capacity for Lasting Impact

Through TCP, capacity builders provide outdoor recreation- and tourism-focused technical assistance, planning expertise, and customized capacity-building tools tailored to each community’s goals and challenges. This hands-on support helps communities develop the skills, systems, and partnerships needed to pursue federal funding and successfully implement transformative projects.

The ultimate goal is to ensure that rural West Virginia communities are not only competitive for funding—but confident and prepared to lead projects that strengthen mobility, improve quality of life, and support long-term economic growth.

Projects Supported Through TCP

Current projects supported through the Thriving Communities Program include:

  • Camp Creek Soft Surface Trail Master Plan (Mercer County)
  • Clear Fork Rail Trail Branding & Wayfinding (Raleigh County)
  • Cranberry Tri-Rivers Rail Trail Improvement & Expansion (Nicholas & Webster Counties)
  • Davis–Thomas Connector Trail Plan (Tucker County)
  • Elk River Rail Trail Extension (Braxton County)
  • Elkins Area Shared Trails Branding & Wayfinding (Randolph County)
  • Fayetteville Trail Systems Enhancement (Fayette County)
  • Glenville Riverfront Park Master Plan (Gilmer County)
  • Summers County Conceptual Trail Plan (Summers County)
  • Summersville Sports Complex Trail System & Bike Park (Nicholas County)
  • White Sulphur Springs Connector Trail (Greenbrier County)

Part of a National Effort

On April 15, 2024, USDOT announced $23.6 million in cooperative agreements through the second round of the Thriving Communities Program. This funding supports three National Capacity Builders and six Regional Capacity Builders, reaching 112 communities nationwide in this round alone—and 176 communities across two program years.

This planning, technical assistance, and capacity-building support is helping communities advance infrastructure projects that increase mobility, reduce pollution, and expand affordable transportation options—connecting residents to opportunity and helping places thrive.

As U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg noted in 2023:

“No one understands a community’s unique transportation needs better than the people who actually live there—yet many small communities don’t have the resources or capacity to secure the funding for infrastructure projects. The Thriving Communities Program is all about empowering communities to better access federal dollars so they can realize their own visions for better infrastructure and transportation.”