Blueprint Communities: Build your town, your way

PRINCETON — West Virginia’s backbone is built of small communities that grew up around coal, lumber and railroads, but to survive, those communities must now find inspiration beyond the industries.

Now is the time for creative, leadership-minded volunteers from Princeton, Bluefield, Hinton, Sophia, Richwood and Marlinton to draft plans for a future full of untapped potential.

These six Blueprint 2013 Communities, along with the West Virginia Community Development Hub, Federal Home Loan Bank in Pittsburgh branch and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, kicked off the effort Monday at Tamarack and vowed to spend the next 10 months drawing up projects to improve economic development, quality of life and opportunities in their unique hometowns.

“West Virginia is comprised of small towns, and that’s it,” Sen. Joe Manchin’s West Virginia Director Kelley Goes, told the audience, remarking on the industries and businesses that brought people to the Mountain State in the first place.

But, she encouraged the audience to get creative when planning for the future.

“Once being something doesn’t condemn you to that forever,” she said.

One of a day’s worth of Blueprint Communities presenters, Goes reminded the volunteers to revel in the special talents inherent in West Virginia culture — making the most of all of the resources we already possess, solving the problems we see more clearly than anyone else and communicate goals and outcomes in a manner unique to Mountaineers everywhere.

“You’re going to be great, and you’re going to be a success,” Goes said. “…The state is counting on you.”

•••

U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., was also on hand to promote the effort, no matter what needs the various communities face or how big the projects.

“I’m here to cheer you on,” he said, calling on the Blueprint Communities planners to “recall what Jesus said about the tiny, little mustard seed.”

He reminded them that Jesus told his followers that all they needed was the faith of a mustard seed to move mountains. Rahall said all the Blueprint workers need is the faith that they can exact change and relationships with “well-placed levers” with the muscle to move great obstacles.

He left the group with three words they should remember while drafting their blueprints: innovation, adaptability and thievery.

“All are OK, as long as you ask,” he said.

•••

Counting the six 2013 Blueprint Communities, West Virginia now tallies 16 Blueprint Communities that have worked to revitalize, improve and strengthen their communities with the help of FHLB-Pittsburgh.

FHLBank’s John Bendel welcomed the crowd for the kick-off Monday, applauding the volunteers and the communities for investing their time, money and resources to make a big difference.

FHLBank is a government-sponsored enterprise founded in the 1930s that still exists to meet the financial needs of its 300 community banks that are considered members and partners in the organization.

FHLBank Pittsburgh and its partners developed Blueprint Communities to be a revitalization catalyst and leadership development initiative and thus, help create sustainable communities in the region. The Blueprint Communities mission is furthered by fostering strong local leadership, collaboration and development capacity, serving as a catalyst for revitalization based on sound local and regional planning that includes a clear vision for the community and a comprehensive implementation strategy; encouraging coordinated investments in targeted communities by public and private funders.

After being a part of several Blueprint Communities efforts, Bendel recommended focusing the project plans on service.

“Successful teams have adopted a service leadership style,” he said, adding that all member in the best groups listened to their communities and each other, supported the effort and celebrated their victories together.

Teamwork, a broad, common vision and a solid plan are vital to progressive projects, he said.

Once a stellar plan is in place, Bendel pledged that FLHBank Pittsburgh, its leaders and its members will provide all the help they can.

“At the end of the rainbow, there are some resources,” he said.

•••

The Princeton team — Renaissance Princeton — includes Llynnium’s Lori McKinney, City National Bank’s Sherri Anderson, Mayor Pat Wilson, City Manager Elke Doom, New River Community and Technical College Princeton Dean Steve Wise, Princeton-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Robert Farley, Community Connections Executive Director Greg Puckett and Princeton Times’ Tammie Toler.

Bluefield’s Team Blue includes Mayor Linda Whalen, CASE WV’s Mary Turner, Bluefield State College President Dr. Marsha Krosteng, Daily Telegraph Publisher Darryl Hudson, First Community Bank’s Ron Hypes, and City Board member Pete Sternloff.

The Blueprint Communities teams will meet independently throughout the coming months and set up sessions spent with their team coaches, who will guide the process along the way.

Eric Pories, president and lead facilitator for Focus Intent in Hico, will serve as the team coach for the Bluefield, Princeton and Hinton teams.

The next time the entire Blueprint Communities group reunites will be April 4 and 5 in Beckley.

For m ore information on the Blueprint Communities effort, visit the West Virginia Community Development Hub at www.wvhub.org or FHLBank at www.fhlb-pgh.com/housing-andcommunity/programs/blueprint-communities.html .

— Contact Tammie Toler at ttoler@ptonline.net

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