West Virginia Executive Summer 2019 | Page 66

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION A Statewide Network that Moves West Virginia Forward The West Virginia Association of Regional Councils, formerly known as the West Virginia Association of Regional Planning & Development Councils, is an organization focused on the expansion and improvement of various utilities, infrastructure and services in the Mountain State. Made up of 11 individual councils representing 11 development dis- tricts, the association works to ef- fectively attract and utilize federal, state and local funds to foster com- munity and economic development and intergovernmental cooperation. “The West Virginia Association of Regional Councils effectively maxi- mizes and leverages various funding sources for small communities,” says Michael Graney, executive director of the West Virginia Development Office. “The councils coordinate and collaborate with the develop- ment office’s Community Advance- ment and Development Division on an almost daily basis, and we also rely on them for local and regional economic development projects.” The West Virginia Association of Regional Councils is committed to supporting projects that promote stability, growth and progress, including: PROJECT MANAGEMENT Help develop, implement and administer grant- and loan-funded projects in coordination with a wide variety of state and federal agencies. These are usually infrastructure- related projects, including water, sewer, stormwater and broadband. GRANT WRITING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Assist with initiatives for com- munity, economic and workforce development. Services can be pro- vided to local governments, public service districts, economic agen- cies and community revitalization nonprofits.