West Virginia Executive Spring/Summer 2020 | Page 40

Appalachian Botanical Company By Katlin Swisher, Ph.D. Photo by Chad Foreman. 300 Court Street Charleston, WV 25301 (304) 347-8700 www.hilton.com/en/embassy Charleston’s Premier Hotel • 253 newly renovated two-room suites • Complimentary cooked-toorder breakfast and evening reception every day • 13,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space • Indoor pool, fully equipped fitness center, restaurant, bar and room service • Downtown businesses, convention center, vibrant shops and dining at your doorstep • Complimentary shuttle service available to nearby Yeager Airport Many companies and nonprofit organizations in West Virginia have pioneered innovative ways to put coal-mined land and its people back to work. One West Virginia woman has taken those ideas to heart, embedding them in her vision for a for-profit company. Jocelyn Sheppard, president of Appalachian Botanical Company, has created a model for expanding and sustaining the social, environmental and economic benefits of the state’s natural resources. Founded in 2018, Appalachian Botanical Company is growing lavender on reclaimed mine land in Ashford, WV, that is sold and used to make essential oils. “Lavender is a high-value crop that grows well on coal-mined land, so the decision was easy,” she says. Lavender is a featured ingredient, fragrance and flavor in a wide range of personal care, cleaning, decorative and food and beverage products. Most large-scale U.S. lavender operations are located outside Appalachia. Customers in the region can now purchase high-quality products from Appalachian Botanical Company and avoid paying high shipping costs. It can also be found at farms, shops and farmers markets around West Virginia. The company is creating jobs in Boone County, a region adversely affected by the downturn in the coal mining industry. Sheppard’s team started by planting 35 acres of lavender and plans to scale up to 120 acres or more in the next two years. This summer, the team will harvest the lavender, distill the essential oils and hydrosols and wholesale its products to local and regional customers. “As we plant more lavender, we are hiring more people,” she says. “We’re seeing opportunities for others in Southern West Virginia to start and grow small businesses like daycare, transportation, food service and artisanal lavender products.” Appalachian Botanical Company recently received a Power of Performance Award at the 2019 Small Communities, BIG Solutions Conference, a recognition for its efforts to put Southern West Virginians back to work. The majority of Appalachian Botanical Company’s employees live in Boone County with the rest coming from Fayette and Raleigh counties. “We believe in giving people second chances,” says Sheppard. “We’re proud to be working closely with state government agencies and social services organizations to help people overcome barriers to employment.” 38 WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE