While the author of this piece calls into question the success of Florida’s concept of the creative-class as a magnet for development there is no doubt that his popularity has helped to generate millions of conversations across the country, and here in our own state, about the value of creativity, tolerance, diversity, and the sense of place.  These conversations may not be directly translating into jobs (or new coffee houses) but they are helping us think in new ways about what is considered economic development.  It is also helping West Virginians see ourselves more clearly – from the eyes of outsiders and in terms of what we want to become.

How do you feel about Richard Florida and his creative class approach?

Land trusts use a variety of tools to help landowners protect their land. The most commonly used protection methods are land donations or the purchase/acceptance of conservation easements. A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust that permanently restricts certain aspects of land use in order to protect the conservation values of the property. Land owners many either donate or sell a conservation easement.  When a landowner places a conservation easement on his or her land, he or she maintains ownership and use of the property and can sell it or pass it on to heirs. The land is subject to certain restrictions agreed upon by the landowner and the land trust. Future landowners are bound by these restrictions as well, and the land trust is responsible for monitoring the property and upholding the terms of the easement.

There are many benefits to placing land in a conservation easement. Landowners get the satisfaction of knowing their land is protected in perpetuity and may also experience tax advantages such as income tax deductions, estate tax benefits, and possibly a reduction in property taxes. Land conservation can also have larger environmental benefits such as preserving water quality, wildlife habitat, and scenic view sheds.

TEA provides day-to-day support for the WVLT but also helps guide the organization strategically.  For example, TEA is currently helping the WVLT explore ways to expand partnerships with other conservation groups, like the Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund Board, to help leverage resources.  We are also exploring new creative approaches to land conservation like mitigation banking and in-lieu fee programs.  Through these efforts, and others, TEA helps the WVLT achieve its goal of land conservation in WV.   

To learn more about conserving land in WV and how you may protect your property please visit the WVLT website or call 304-346-7788.  To learn more about how TEA can help your organization grow and thrive contact us.

TEA will engage the community in identifying new and expanding market opportunities, developing technical assistance resources and financing programs, and promoting networking and recognition for the county’s entrepreneurs.  This work will dovetail with TEA’s recent marketing strategy for the Corridor G Regional Development Authority of which Boone County is a member.

In West Virginia businesses that employ fewer than five employees account for 17% of overall employment and in more rural parts of the state, nearly one in five jobs are attributable to these small enterprises.  Eighty six percent (86%) of West Virginia’s businesses employ fewer than twenty people.  Between 2002 and 2003 these businesses added over 5,600 jobs to the state’s economy while large businesses lost a total of 6,100 jobs.

Even with these impressive statistics about the importance of small business to the state’s economy, West Virginia ranks among the lowest states for new entrepreneurial growth. In a recent study by the Kauffman Foundation, the states with the lowest entrepreneurial activity rates include Pennsylvania, Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Ohio.  Activity is measured by analyzing the percent of the adult U.S. population of non-business owners that start a business as their main job each month.

We’re proud to be working with Boone County as they lead the state in developing much needed support for their local entrepreneurs!

One common approach for communities is to prepare a separate, stand alone sustainability plan as a guidance document.  Other areas elect to tackle the sustainability issue by adopting climate action plans that focus on greenhouse gas reduction, energy conservation, and other conservation activities.  More holistically, some communities are incorporating sustainability as an element in their comprehensive plans or by making sustainability an overarching theme for a plan.  In WV, the recent comprehensive plan developed in Monroe County is a good example of how sustainability can successfully act as the primary goal which drives all of the other recommendations and actions of the plan.

Herman note that sustainability plans have mostly all the same characteristics of conventional plans in terms of long-range view, however, with a few differences related to:

• How the plan is organized – sustainable plans take a more integrated approach;
• How issues are linked – a heavier focus on connections between environmental, economic, and social issues;
• The incorporation of new issues and topics – address a wide range of topics that are rarely included in traditional plans; and
• Measuring and monitoring progress – frequent use of indicators, benchmarks, and targets to measure progress and adjust if needed.

Currently there are federal incentives to get planners to start thinking about sustainable planning. The ARRA made more than $2.7 billion in grant dollars available through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program to fund state and local projects that improve energy efficiency and reduce fossil fuel emissions. Communities may use portion of these funds to integrate energy efficiency, conservation, and climate action planning into community plans and development regulations.  The nearby community of Greensboro, NC is one area already taking advantage of these monies. 

To learn more about incorporating sustainability in planning, read the APA’s policy guide, Planning for Sustainability.

To learn more about the Monroe County example contact Rod Graves with the Monroe County Planning Commission at rodgraves@hughes.net.

The FHA was considered landmark legislation, prohibiting many types of discriminatory acts regarding the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, color, religion, and national origin. The FHA has since been amended to add sex, disability, and familial status to the list of protected classes, as well as to strengthen the law’s enforcement mechanism.

Since 1968, April has come to be regarded as a time to remember the FHA and reflect on the rights it gives citizens. April 2010 marks the forty-second anniversary of the enactment of this important act and in recognition and observance of this event Governor Manchin has proclaimed April as Fair Housing Month in West Virginia. Implementation of the Fair Housing Policy of West Virginia requires positive commitment, involvement and support of each and every one of our citizens.

To learn more about Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity for all visit the US Department of Housing and Urban Development or download these brochures about fair housing and how to recognize housing discrimination.

Allocation formulas and other decisions driven by census data have a large impact on our state and local communities.  Every year, the federal government can allocate more than $300 billion to states and communities based, in part, on census data.  Census data determine how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Equally as important is the use of these statistics by public agencies, nonprofits, community –based organization, and the private sector for marketing, operations, and planning.  Census data guide local decision-makers on where to build new roads, hospitals, child-care and senior citizen centers, schools and more. Businesses use census data to locate supermarkets, new housing and other facilities.

Starting May 1 through July 10 Census workers will be out going door-to-door to capture the remaining population in WV that has not participated by mailing back their forms.  Please do what you can to support these efforts in making sure that accurate data about West Virginia is being captured.  To monitor participation rates or to find an assistance center near you visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/

The pilot Program’s goal is to work with local communities to help create a shared vision for brownfields-impacted areas. This can be done when communities consider groups of brownfields rather than focusing on site assessment and cleanup needs in isolation. The grant funding and technical assistance will result in an area-wide plan which will inform the assessment, cleanup and reuse of brownfields properties and promote area-wide revitalization.

The total estimated EPA assistance available under this competitive opportunity is up to $3.5 million to fund 20 projects. The maximum amount of EPA assistance awarded per pilot project will be $175,000. Proposals are due by June 1, 2010.

The RFP for the Brownfields Area-wide Planning Pilot Program is now open and available on-line on the following EPA web pages:
http://www.epa.gov/oswer/docs/grants/epa-oswer-oblr-10-05.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/areawide_grants.htm

EPA will be hosting a webinar for applicants interested in submitting a proposal on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 from 3:00-4:00 PM EST. There is no pre-registration for this webinar. The audio portion will be accessible via telephone: Call In Number 1-866-299-3188; Access Code 202 566 0633#

For Applicants, the video portion will be accessible at:
http://hackeye.epa.gov/imtapp/app/prelogin.uix?siteID=0

As part of our continuing work in the Town of Clendenin, TEA is assisting its client, 25045-A New Clendenin (ANC) in restoring the Roxy Theater, a once beloved community asset. The Roxy Theater is located in the heart of Clendenin’s historic district in northern Kanawha County. For many years it was the entertainment “hub” for people who lived in not only Clendenin, but in southern Roane and Clay counties. As the years passed, the property owner could not afford to make the renovations necessary to keep the building in operations. It closed five years ago. In March, 2009, the owner donated the building to Clendenin’s nonprofit community revitalization group, 25045-A New Clendenin, Inc. It is our client’s intention to renovate the building for use as a local community arts center that will be a venue for a variety of local and regional theatrical, music, dance and film productions, as well as a community venue for workshops, trainings, and seminars.

The building is in need of a complete and total renovation. Everything from the roof, mechanical and electrical systems, plumbing, stage, seating and flooring will be replaced. The façade will be restored to its original art deco design, and new furnishings and theater equipment will be installed. TEA led the process of selecting an architect for the project, and through a competitive bid procedure, Paul D. Marshall Architects and Engineers was selected to design the restoration.

As a first step in stabilizing the building, it was determined that the roof must be replaced. TEA prepared a development grant application to the State Historic Preservation Office and the project was awarded a $61,000 grant. The roof restoration is in process now. Total restoration expenses are estimated at $600,000 and TEA will be working aggressively with its client to secure grants and donations to complete the project.
Restoration of the theater has prompted our client to engage the community in a process to plan for activities and events that will not only showcase local and regional culture, but will engage people of all ages and walks of life. TEA is facilitating the development of a long range plan that leverages regional resources such as Charleston area arts organizations with local artists. The theater is the focal point for staging events, but the enthusiasm for promoting the arts is spilling over into discussions about how businesses and public facilities can be a venue for cultural events.

The Roxy and the Clendenin Middle School (referenced in previous articles), are buildings in transition, and symbolic of Clendenin’s community spirit and desire to brush off its treasured assets and use them as a springboard to the future. TEA is proud to be leading the technical efforts on these exciting projects!

Loans are available to repair or replace homes, business properties, inventories, supplies, machinery, and equipment. Working capital loans can also be provided to assist organizations in meeting their financial obligations during the disaster recovery period. Approved loan applicants may also be eligible to receive additional funds to pay for improvements to help mitigate the impacts of future disasters.

To learn more about the loans and other SBA programs visit www.sba.gov or contact the West Virginia District Office at 304-623-5631 or wvinfo@sba.gov. The filing deadline for physical property damage is May 3. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Dec. 2.

Changes on the 2009 Form include alterations in almost all sections. New questions have been implemented in Part IV, Checklist of Required Schedules and Part XI, Financial Statements Reporting. Also for 2009 a new glossary definitions in the Instructions has been included. McNeely suggests that the additional requirements in Part III, Statement of Program Service can provide non-profit organizations a useful marketing tool.

For a complete listing of changes visit the IRS website:
http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=218938,00.html.

The filing deadline for calendar year non-profits is May 17, 2010.