Media Archive

2022 Archive

December 2022

• 12/28/22 | WV Metro News | Ascend WV
  Lastest Census Numbers Show More People Moving In that Moving Out of West Virginia

• 12/28/22 | Business Insider | Ascend WV
  These 25 Towns and Cities Will Pay You As Much as $20,000 to Move There.
  

• 12/15/22 | Trail EAffect Podcast | Outdoor Economy
  Part 4 of 4: Dr. Danny Twilley of the Brad and Alys Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative
  

• 12/13/22 | Trail EAffect Podcast | Outdoor Economy
  Part 3 of 4: Rich Edwards of the Brad and Alys Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative
  

• 12/08/22 | Trail EAffect Podcast | Outdoor Economy
  Part 2 of 4: Andy Williamson of the Brad and Alys Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative
  

• 12/06/22 | Trail EAffect Podcast | Outdoor Economy
  Part 1 of 4: Dr. Danny Twilley of the Brad and Alys Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative
  

October 2022

• 10/07/22 | Newsy | Ascend WV
  'Zoom Towns' Offering Incentives To Attract Remote Workers

September 2022

• 09/30/22 | MSN Money | Ascend WV
  7 Places Giving Away Land or Money To Move There
  

• 09/29/22 | Bicycle Retailer | Youth Development
  Monongalia County Schools Celebrate New Project Bike Tech Classroom
  

• 09/29/22 | Atlanta Magazine | Ascend WV
  Pay to Play: a new West Virginia program offers enticing reasons to relocate

• 09/28/22 | WV Explorer Magazine | Outdoor Recreation
  WVU Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative celebrates new trails

• 09/28/22 | WVUToday | Outdoor Recreation
  WVU Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative celebrates new trail openings
  

• 09/29/22 | News Break | Economic Development
  WVU joins major coalfield development project
  

• 09/06/22 | Register Herald News | Community Development
  Renowned outdoor community development leader joins WVU collaborative

• 09/05/22 | WV Metro News | Economic Development
  Workforce development will be a key part of $100 million initiative

• 09/05/22 | WV News | Community Development
  Outdoor development community leader joins WVU collaborative

• 09/05/22 | WVUToday | Economic Development
  West Virginia rising: WVU partners with Coalfield Development Corporation, other coalition members to win $63M EDA grant

• 09/02/22 | Register Herald News | Youth Development
  Science Adventure School offering activities, STEM, socializing
  

July 2022

• 07/28/22 | 29 News | Ascend WV
  Ascend program welcomes new residents

• 07/26/22 | MSN | Ascend WV
  10 US cities that will pay you to move there
  

• 07/25/22 | WV News | Ascend WV
  West Virginia tourism spending sees 'continued growth'
  

• 07/19/22 | WBOY | Ascend WV
  Mylan Park Foundation receives grant for BMX facility

• 07/06/22 | News Break | Youth Development
  Free Bikes 4 Kidz chapter to be founded in Morgantown

• 07/04/22 | WV News | Ascend WV
  Member of Ascend West Virginia's second class talks of travels

June 2022

• 06/30/22 | WV Daily News | Ascend WV
  After a long journey, 'Ascenders' find a home in the Greenbrier Valley

• 06/21/22 | Business Facilities | Economic Development
  Economic Development Profile: Why...West Virginia?
  

• 06/20/22 | WV News | Ascend WV
  Ascend West Virginia program debuts second class, with new residents headed for Lewisburg
  

• 06/15/22 | Register Herald News | Ascend WV
  Ascend WV welcomes newest class to the Greenbrier Valley

• 06/03/22 | Late Night Parents | Ascend WV
  #AscendWestVirginia program offers cash and gifts to some Americans

• 06/01/22 | WV Press | Youth Development
  Youth Cycling Coalition selects Morgantown, W.Va., for pilot program

April 2022

• 04/28/22 | Averagist Blog | Ascend WV
  Education Experts Weigh West Virginia's Future, Urge STEAM
  

• 04/10/22 | Averagist Blog | Ascend WV
  Being Averagist in West Virginia
  

• 4/10/22 | Charleston Daily Mail | Outdoor Economy
  Amid Population Decline, Transplants Find Home in the Mountain State

• 04/06/22 | WVUOB Online | Outdoor Economy
  Active outdoor activities can change your career and your life, says Danny Twilley

March 2022

• 03/27/22 | WV News  | Outdoor Economy
  Not just surviving but thriving: West Virginia University emerging from pandemic positioned for continued growth and support of Mountain State initiatives
  
  

• 03/21/22 | Charleston Daily Mail Online | Ascend WV
  Charles McElwee: We should be singing the praises of two WV mayors

• 03/01/22 | Route Fifty | Ascend WV
  How the Rise of Remote Work Intersects With Digital Equity

February 2022

• 02/28/22 | KXMB-TV Online | Ascend WV
  These 10 cities will pay you to move
  

• 02/25/22 | WVNews | Ascend WV
  Minority Leader Skaff, Secretary Ruby guests on West Virginia Legislature Livestream

• 02/20/22 | Edge Nashville | Ascend WV
  Millennial Money: Would You Relocate for $10K? Should You?

• 02/20/22 | Beatrice Daily Sun Online | Ascend WV
  Companies add even more perks to attract workers

January 2022

• 01/27/22 | MSN Money | Ascend WV
  10 Places That Will Pay You to Move There in 2022
  

• 01/21/22 | WVU Today | Outdoor Economy & Youth Initiatives
  A year later: $25M gift to WVU fosters flywheel effect for West Virginia’s outdoor economy

• 01/20/22 | News and Sentinel | Outdoor Economy
  WVU presents West Virginia economic outlook to lawmakers

• 01/16/22 | Charleston Gazette-Mail | Brad and Alys Smith
  Brad Smith: This is our moment (Opinion)
  

• 01/14/22 | Charleston Gazette-Mail | Trail Building & Outdoor Asset Development
  Challenges, opportunities await Gorge after first year as national park

• 01/14/22 | The Fayette Tribune | Trail Building & Outdoor Asset Development
  Fayette Trail Coalition, partners unveil trail plan
  

• 01/14/22 | Mountain Messenger | Ascend WV
  Ryan King named Ascend Lewisburg Experience Coordinator
  

• 01/11/22 | The Register Herald | Outdoor Economy
  Lawmakers look to expand economic development opportunities in West Virginia

• 01/09/22 | Herald-Dispatch | Outdoor Economy
  Brad D. Smith and E. Gordon Gee: WVU, Marshall cooperate to move state forward
  

• 01/07/22 | Mountaineer ENews | Ascend WV
  WVU’s Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative appoints King as Ascend Lewisburg experience coordinator

• 01/04/22 | WV News | Ascend WV
  Not remotely done: Ascend West Virginia program off to strong start in attracting remote workers to Mountain State

• 01/02/22 | WV News | Ascend WV
  Time to rise: West Virginia's best days are ahead of us
  

2021 Archive

October 2021

• 10/22/21 | Good Morning America | Ascend WV
  New program encourages people from all over the world to move to West Virginias

• 10/20/21 | ABC News Australia | Ascend WV
  Coronavirus gave rural USA a chance to lure young professionals to save their shrinking towns

• 10/19/21 | Morgantown Area Partnership | Ascend WV
  The Morgantown Area Partnership Business Briefing October 2021

• 10/09/21 | Wall Street Journal | Ascend WV
  Remote Workers Can Live Anywhere. These Cities (and Small Towns) Are Luring Them With Perks.

• 10/08/21 | WBOY Online | Science Adventure School
  Students learn STEM curriculum outdoors at WVU's Science Adventure School

• 10/07/21 | The Register-Herald | Science Adventure School
  Middle School Students Attend WVU Science Adventure School

• 10/01/21 | WV News | Ascend WV
  Ascend WV remote worker program is already paying off

• 10/01/21 | | MSN Money | Ascend WV
  10 Places That Will Pay You to Move There in 2021

September 2021

• 09/30/21 | WCHS8 Fox News 11 | Ascend WV
  Remote worker programs trying to bring people back to West Virginia

• 09/28/21 | Charleston Gazette-Mail Online | Ascend WV
  Remote approach luring people to WV

• 09/26/21 | The Register-Herald Online | Science Adventure School
  Teacher of year finalist didn't originally plan on being a teacher

• 09/24/21 | Forbes Online | Ascend WV
  Tired Of Where You Live? Get Paid Up To $33,000 To Move To One Of These Towns

• 09/15/21 | 2021 Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup | Outdoor Economy
  Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative

• 09/10/21 | Weirton Daily Times | Ascend WV
  Change can be good for our state

• 09/10/21 | Weirton Daily Times | Ascend WV
  Change can be good for our state

• 09/9/21 | Intelligencer/News-Register Online | Outdoor Economy
  Growing W.Va. With New Innovation, Ideas

• 09/07/21 | Unofficial Networks | Ascend WV
  West Virginia Offering $12,000 & Free Season Pass For Workers To Move There

• 09/06/21 | Business Breaking News | Ascend WV
  West Virginia Is Luring Californians Away With Its $12,000 Moving Incentive

• 09/03/21 | Fayette Tribune Online | Science Adventure School
  Students learn in less traditional classroom setting

• 09/03/21 Dominion Post | Smith OEDC
  Ascend W.Va. heads to first city

• 09/03/21 | WAJR-AM Radio Clip | Ascend WV
  Listen to 09/03 Recording

• 09/02/21 | BOSS Magazine | Ascend WV
  Take Me Home, Country Roads

• 09/02/21 | WAJR-AM Radio clip | Ascend WV
  Listen to 09/02 Recording

• 09/02/21 | News Break | Ascend WV
  Ascend offers incentives to move to WV, first class in Morgantown

• 09/02/21 | Business Insider | Ascend WV
  West Virginia offered $12,000 to remote workers looking to relocate - there were so many applicants that the state is giving them all $2,500 off their mortgage

• 09/01/21 | News Break | Youth Initiatives
  Brad and Alys Smith OEDC helps get kids on bikes with $10k donation

August 2021

• 08/31/21 | WBOY-TV Online | Youth Initiatives
  18 bikes bought for Youth Cycling Coalition after receiving $10,000 donation

• 08/25/21 | WVNS-TV Online | Science Adventure School
  WVU Science Adventure School starts first session

• 08/24/21 | WV News | Outdoor Economy
  Attracting and retaining young workers to West Virginia

• 08/10/21 | Topper Station, "On Money" | Outdoor Economy
  On Money - August 6, 2021

• 08/02/21 | MSN Money | Ascend WV
  10 Places That Will Pay You to Move There in 2021 - MSN Money

July 2021

• 07/25/21 | WV News | Ascend WV
  Tourism officials working through thousands of Ascend West Virginia applications

• 07/21/21 | Fortune Online | Ascend WV
  This former Big Tech CEO is offering a $12,000 relocation package to move to West Virginia

• 07/19/21 | West Virginia Press Association | Ascend WV
  Updates about Ascend West Virginia program offered in Lewisburg

• 07/11/21 | WV News | Outdoor Economy
  Kick open the doors with welcoming arms

• 07/11/21 | WV News | Outdoor Economy
  West Virginia economic officials predict long-term success for remote work in the Mountain State

June 2021

• 06/29/21 | MSN Money | Ascend WV
  States and Cities Offering the Best Incentives To Move There

• 06/16/21 | Views & Visions | Outdoor Economy
  The Outdoor Economy's Role in West Virginia's Future

• 06/04/21 | Blue Ridge Outdoors | West Virginia University, Smith OEDC
  Readers Pick Region's Top Adventure Colleges

• 06/01/21 | The Register-Herald Online | Outdoor Economy
  Lewisburg plans expansion of park system

• 06/01/21 | WV Living Magazine | Outdoor Economy
  Wide-Open and Wonderful

May 2021

• 05/28/21 | New River Gorge Regional Development Authority | Outdoor Economy
  NRGRDA Leads Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Strategy Session

• 05/27/21 | Virtual Vocations | Ascend WV
  The 4 Best Remote Work States for Virtual Employees and Freelancers

• 05/24/21 | Intelligencer/News-Register Online | Outdoor Economy
  Reversing W.Va. Population Loss

• 05/24/21 | The Washingtonian | Ascend WV
  WV Is Paying People to Move to the State to Remote-Work-and More Than 7,000 Have Applied for the Lottery

• 05/20/21 | NEXT Pittsburgh | Science Adventure School
  How $500,000 in Moonshot Grants are reimagining education

• 05/17/21 | The Motley Fool | Ascend WV
  Airbnb Coupons Can Help You 'Try Before You Buy' a Home in These Areas

• 05/12/21 RemakeLearning.org | Science Adventure School
  Remake Learning’s Moonshot Grants aim to vault learning innovation into the stratosphere

• 05/10/21 | NPR/National Public Radio | Ascend WV
  Pennies From (Almost) Heaven: Get Paid To Move To West Virginia

• 05/03/21 | Livability.com | Ascend WV
  Moving to a New City? Meet the People, Programs and Organizations Working Hard to Help Get You There

• 05/01/21 | The Motley Fool | Ascend WV
  These 3 States Will Pay Remote Workers to Become Residents

April 2021

• 04/24/21 | Dominion Post | Outdoor Economy
  WVU President Gee visits The Dominion Post to talk about Ascend WV, revitalizing West Virginia

• 04/19/21 | WBOY-TV | Ascend WV
  Working Remotely in WV: A look at Ascend

• 04/18/21 | CNN Online | Ascend WV
  Remote workers can get paid $12,000 to move to West Virginia

• 04/16/21 | Yahoo Finance | Ascend WV
  7 places in the US that will pay you to move there

• 04/15/21 | Morgantown Magazine | Outdoor Economy
  Work Globally, Live and Play Here

• 04/15/21 | News Break | Ascend WV
  Country Roads, Take Me...Home? Would You Move To West Virginia For $12,000?

• 04/15/21 | MSN News | Ascend WV
  Looking for a change in scenery? West Virginia will pay remote workers $12,000 to move there

• 04/15/21 | Blue Ridge Outdoors | Ascend WV
  West Virginia Launches Remote Worker Program with Cash and Adventure Incentives

• 04/14/21 | WOWK-TV | Ascend WV
  'Ascend WV' receives 2k applications within 36 hours of website going live

• 04/14/21 | Washington Examiner | Ascend WV
  West Virginia offering remote workers $12,000 to move there

• 04/13/21 | MSN Money | Ascend WV
  West Virginia is offering remote workers $12,000 in cash if they relocate for 2 years

• 04/13/21 | USA Today | Ascend WV
  West Virginia lures remote workers with $12,000 cash, free access to outdoor activities

• 04/12/21 | Business Insider | Ascend WV
  West Virginia is offering remote workers $12,000 in cash if they relocate for 2 years

• 04/12/21 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | Ascend WV
  West Virginia Launches Nation's Premier Remote Worker Program for Adventure & Inspiration Seekers

• 04/12/21 | West Virginia Press Association | Ascend WV
  West Virginia marketing its unique outdoor advantages with Ascend WV Remote Worker Program

• 04/12/21 | U.S. News & World Report | Ascend WV
  West Virginia Wants to Be a 'Haven for Remote Workers'

• 04/12/21 | Matador Network | Ascend WV
  West Virginia will pay remote workers $12,000 to move there

• 04/12/21 | Travel + Leisure | Ascend WV
  West Virginia's New Remote Worker Program Will Pay You $12,000 to Move There

March 2021

• 03/23/21 | WVUToday | Ascend WV
  WVU, state announce first communities to host unique remote worker program

February 2021

• 02/23/21 | Outdoor Sportswire | Youth Initiatives
  Youth Cycling Coalition Announces Partners and Launch of Pilot Program

2020 Archive

December 2020

• 12/10/20 | National Park Service | Smith OEDC
  Friends of New River Gorge National River Plan for 2021

October 2020

• 10/05/20 | WV News | Smith OEDC
  WVU receives $25M gift from new 'Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative'

• 10/05/20 | WVUToday & WVU Foundation | Smith OEDC
  WVU receives $25 million gift to support outdoor economic development, develop new remote worker program

• 10/06/20 | The Register-Herald Online | Smith OEDC
  Intuit's Smith and wife give WVU $25 million for outdoor recreational infrastructure, education

February 2020

• 02/24/20 | Parkersburg News and Sentinel Online | Youth Initiatives
  West Virginia University continues research projects

January 2020

• 01/30/20 | WVUToday | Youth Initiatives
  WVU graduate student researching benefits of adventure STEM curriculum