A Model for Economic Innovation in West Virginia

Written by Jason Keeling on April 6, 2008

West Virginia’s tourism sector has become a significant economic engine, given the state’s natural beauty, outdoor recreational opportunities, and proximity to major markets such as Washington D.C., Pittsburgh and Charlotte. Tourism-related industry employs 44,000 workers and contributes $532 million to state tax revenues, according to Tourism Commissioner Betty Carver, who presented at a recent West Virginia State University symposium on the subject.

Keynote speaker Becky Anderson, executive director of HandMade in America, discussed the 1993 organization of western North Carolina’ s craft industry collaborative. The area was traditionally agrarian, but people began to realize “You can’t focus on one thing to be the heartbeat of an economy,” she said, “you need a menu of options.” She described challenges of building the collaborative, such as increased traffic, maintaining craft authenticity, and identity preservation. As locals became involved, a sense of empowerment and entrepreneurial spirit emerged.

‘Civic Tourism’

The venture has also helped dispel stereotypes, said Anderson, by creating a sense of “civic tourism,” in which visitors are asked “to invest themselves….and respect the community you have come to.” The collaborative now brings in $122 million annually, four times the revenue generated from burley tobacco, North Carolina’s number one cash crop. “A place-based economy cannot be exported,” she added.

West Virginia’s tourism numbers are impressive, as towns like Berkeley Springs, Fayetteville, Elkins, and Shepherdstown capitalize on their natural/historical assets. However, many rural communities continue to struggle with economic development, and HandMade in America is a testament to the power of cooperation.

Your ideas for economic innovation and comments on successes are welcomed.

Posted in Business, Culture, Economy, Tourism, West Virginia