West Virginia Success Story

RC&D Provides Seed Money for Community Center

Program or Category: RC&D

Overview: The Wes-Mon-Ty RC&D Area covers three Conservation Districts consisting of twelve counties. The area is predominately rural in nature.

Small communities in the Area have no place to host social, cultural, or civil functions. Because of the conservative nature and the limited income of the people the prospects for new public facilities being constructed is limited. In 1996 representatives from the Kesling Mills Lions Club approached the RC&D Board of Directors requesting assistance in funding for a new building to be used as a community center. The Club agreed to manage the building. It is to be the only facility available for public functions in the community.

Accomplishments: The Recreation and Tourism and the Community Development Committees adopted the project. The Wes-Mon-Ty RC&D Area provided four small grants to be used as seed money for the project. The total funding from RC&D was $8,120.00. A local landowner and club member donated the land for the building. Construction companies, lumber companies, and tradesmen also made significant contributions. The Kesling Mills Community Building is now complete. Additional projects have added outdoor lighting and paving of the two parking areas. The total value of the community center now exceeds $110,000.00.

Program Benefits to Community: Completion of the project is testimony to the value of RC&D and ingenuity of the local Board members. When local people work to solve local problems and are not concerned with who gets the credit, great things happen.

Contact:
Sheldon Findley, RC&D Coordinator
304-457-4516 ext. 106
Sheldon.Findley@wv.usda.gov

Wes-Mon-Ty Resource Conservation & Development
Rt. 4, Box 502
Philippi, WV 26416
Phone (304) 457-4516 Fax (304) 457-4131
http://www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/wes_mon_tyrcd.html