Acts of Kindness: The Faces of Flood Relief
In the wake of the June 2016 flood, thousands of volunteers from across the country poured in with donations, ready to work.
West Virginia’s Premier Business Publication
In the wake of the June 2016 flood, thousands of volunteers from across the country poured in with donations, ready to work.
For Susan Jack, the 2016 flood in Clendenin, WV, was a time of both physical and personal rebuilding. Jack was ready to leave her hometown before the flood hit. Her job was ending on June 30, and her daughter had just finished her sophomore year at Herbert Hoover High School. The two were planning to move to Dayton, Ohio, where Jack had plans to pursue a new employment opportunity.
According to Brandon Dennison, the CEO of Coalfield Development Corporation, the number one problem West Virginia employers report is finding skilled workers to fill their open positions.
West Virginia’s economic woes have been the cause for much concern for several years. With a population that is both aging and shrinking, a major drug epidemic and the challenges facing the state’s extraction industry, it’s no wonder the state faced a $500+ million budget deficit for 2017 and is facing an even larger revenue shortfall for 2018.
At a time when transitioning to West Virginia’s new economy and retaining young talent are of critical concern to decision makers and businesses alike, connecting private sector employers with West Virginia’s national service alumni, such as AmeriCorps volunteers, is a viable opportunity that could be a game changer for the Mountain State.
Like the abundant natural resources that fuel our state and our country, the Sharp Shooters Class of 2017 is fueling the future of West Virginia. Their maturity and experience is evident in their accomplishments and involvement as they have each dedicated their life to making West Virginia a true representation of Almost Heaven.