The Social Enterprise Solution
Founded in 2010 in Wayne , WV , by local volunteers concerned about poor quality housing , Coalfield Development Corporation has expanded its efforts to support community-based real estate , business and workforce development and community partnerships all over Southern West Virginia through a family of social enterprises .
“ We still do housing work , but we realized pretty quickly that to really change the trajectory of opportunity in our community , we needed to create jobs and provide much more holistic opportunities than just housing ,” says Dennison . “ We are essentially trying to rebuild the Appalachian economy from the ground up . Rather than a top-down , government approach , we ’ re being entrepreneurial and modeling viable business concepts that have real sustainable potential here in our region . For so long there ’ s been big talk about the need to diversify our economy in West Virginia . Our work is so important because it ’ s actually doing that .”
Coalfield Development Corporation ’ s family of social enterprises — Reclaim Appalachia , Rediscover Appalachia , Refresh Appalachia , Revitalize Appalachia and Rewire Appalachia — blend for-profit and nonprofit approaches , combining the efficiency and revenue benefits of the private sector with the compassion and risk-taking nature of the social sector .
Each of Coalfield Development Corporation ’ s social enterprises operates like an independent business and will eventually become stand-alone subsidiaries . They are led by entrepreneurial presidents responsible for the success of the ventures .
“ We have an interesting , unique , distinctive , beautiful place ,” says Dennison . “ The problem is we don ’ t have jobs , infrastructure — mainly internet — or diverse cultural offerings to go along with these strengths , at least not to a great enough degree . Instead of focusing our development efforts on one or two big industrial parks usually located near population centers , we could get more bang for our buck by helping multiple small towns and communities with creative placemaking projects that breathe new life into our charming downtowns .”
Inspiration for Action
The idea for Coalfield Development Corporation came to Dennison during a home repair mission trip to Williamson , WV .
“ As we were working , two young men approached us ,” Dennison recalls . “ They had tool belts slung over their shoulders and asked us if we had work available . I explained that we were volunteers and had no money to pay , and the young men went on their way . It felt like such a small , minor moment , but that moment really stayed with me and impacted me . It represented a primary problem we face in Southern West Virginia . We have people who want to work and learn and be a part of something . We have gumption , but because our communities are so distressed and depressed , there are no opportunities to apply that gumption . This makes me angry , and that experience planted a seed of conviction in me .”
Dennison believes the social enterprise model is a way to overcome West Virginia ’ s generational problems , or cycles , in which two , three or even four generations have not grown up in an environment where their parents work for a living to support themselves and their families . This type of poverty differs from circumstantial poverty , such as when an individual from a stable background suddenly loses their job and faces a money shortage .
“ Generational poverty leads to really complicated dynamics for those of us trying to do something about poverty ,” he says . “ There are psychological , emotional , social and many other types of issues at play all at one time . We have to believe in people and encourage them toward their
A FAMILY OF ENTERPRISES
Coalfield Development Corporation supports five social enterprises :
RECLAIM APPALACHIA is an innovative approach to mine-land reclamation that hires unemployed individuals to salvage , recycle and resell building materials from abandoned and dilapidated places .
REDISCOVER APPALACHIA supports arts and culture projects through small business development focusing on skilled craftsmanship , hospitality and tourism .
REFRESH APPALACHIA is a sustainable agriculture endeavor that supports economic and workforce development through training in farm and food entrepreneurship .
REVITALIZE APPALACHIA is a sustainable , green-collar approach to construction and deconstruction that focuses on affordable housing and environmental remediation .
REWIRE APPALACHIA is a community-based solar installation effort to improve electrical , information technology and broadband practices and policies with a goal of tripling the state ’ s solar power capacity .
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