West Virginia University has announced the expansion of the Ascend West Virginia program into Charleston and Kanawha County. The initiative, which focuses on recruiting and retaining workers, is now accepting applications for both Ascend West Virginia and First Ascent in the Charleston area and Kanawha County. These locations join other established sites in New River Gorge, Greater Elkins, Morgantown Area, Eastern Panhandle, and Greenbrier Valley.
“In line with our land-grant mission, WVU is proud to serve as the day-to-day operational lead for two programs focused on bringing talented people to live and work in West Virginia,” said Vice Provost Mark Gavin.
Ascend West Virginia stands out as the only multi-location talent attraction and recruitment program in the country. First Ascent focuses on retaining new graduates within the state. Together, these programs have attracted nearly 65,000 applicants, relocated more than 950 new residents to West Virginia, and retained 60 graduates with a retention rate above 96%. Additionally, 38% of participants have become homeowners in West Virginia.
Danny Twilley, assistant vice president of economic, community and asset development for the WVU Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative stated: “What began as a vision to advance the state’s economy and enhance quality of life through outdoor recreation and community is taking shape in key locations across the state. We are now looking ahead to begin the journey to Ascend and First Ascent’s next 1,000 participants.”
Twilley also emphasized collaboration among various partners: “Our success would not be possible without the power of collaboration and partnerships. We are incredibly grateful to not only the Wing 2 Wing Foundation and the state of West Virginia, but also the Charleston Area Alliance, with support from Kanawha County and the City of Charleston. Together, we celebrate a united commitment to economic and community development throughout the state.”
The Charleston Area Alliance site will act as a base camp for coworking space and programming in Metro Valley. Each location’s base camp serves as a central point for its respective Ascend community.
Ellen Cappellanti—longtime WVU leader, member of Jackson Kelly PLLC, supporter of WVU initiatives, and board chair at Charleston Area Alliance—expressed her organization’s enthusiasm: “This is a vital effort to strengthen our business community, and we are grateful to join the Ascend WV team.”
Mara Boggs—a University alumnus who serves as president & CEO of Charleston Area Alliance—pointed out that partnerships like these address ongoing population loss challenges facing West Virginia: “With a $500 million economic impact and nearly 1,000 new West Virginians brought to the state in four years, we are thankful to help provide this same level of success to the Charleston area,” Boggs said.
