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Huntington, West Virginia Winner of 2014 “Livable Communities” Competition

Release Date: 04/15/2014
Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / heron.donna@epa.gov

PHILADELPHIA – The Appalachian community of Huntington, West Virginia has been selected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to receive technical assistance and implementation support through the Livable Communities in Appalachia program. The three organizations will work together to help Huntington improve its livability by promoting economic development, preserving rural lands, and increasing access to locally grown food.

“We are so impressed with these communities’ creative ideas for revitalizing their downtowns by promoting local foods,” said Joel Beauvais, EPA Associate Administrator for the Office of Policy. “Restoring traditional neighborhoods helps preserve rural lands and makes it easier for people to walk, bicycle, or drive shorter distances. This is good for the natural environment and good for economic growth.”

The 2014 Livable Communities program focuses on developing local food systems as a means of revitalizing traditional downtowns and promoting economic diversification. The federal support will enable a team of small town development experts to work with the community to plan the local food production and distribution. These efforts can help advance the revitalization of the historic West End of Huntington, where community members are working to grow and sell nutritious food.

Huntington was one of 63 applicants. Other winners of the competition will receive assistance on the following projects:

· Berea, Kentucky will convert a 1.4-acre city lot into a production and educational facility for urban agriculture.

· Forest City, North Carolina will work to relocate the Rutherford County Farmers Market to downtown Forest City and create a regional Agriculture Innovations Center.

· New Albany, Mississippi will develop a farmers market as part of a downtown riverfront mixed-use redevelopment with new walkways and bike paths.

· North Wilkesboro, North Carolina will diversify its economy by relocating and expanding a farmers market in a vacant lot in the downtown.