In July of 2023, the Center for Rural Health Development (Center) engaged Dynamis to assist in the development of a plan for the towns of Smithers and Montgomery, West Virginia (the Community). This plan integrates the future of the former West Virginia University Institute of Technology with a larger community-wide plan.
Smithers and Montgomery serve as quintessential examples of Appalachian communities adversely affected by the downturn in coal mining, manufacturing, and other sectors, compounded by the emergence of retail malls, big-box stores, and a lack of investment in education and infrastructure. The loss of WVU Tech in 2017 further magnified these challenges, underscoring the urgency for inventive solutions. The Smithers & Montgomery Intergenerational Gateway Community (SMIGC) emerges as a strategic component of the Center's Wild, Wonderful, & Healthy West Virginia initiative, which utilizes community health improvement planning to address the Seven Vital Conditions for Community Health and Well-being. The SMIGC aims to create a culture of health in the communities that is conducive to health and economic development. Specifically, the SMIGC is designed to attract and retain senior residents and the workforce needed to support them. Embodying the flatwater counterpart to the New River Gorge’s whitewater rafting allure, positions Smithers & Montgomery to attract senior tourists and residents. Additional components of the SMIGC focus on supporting and retaining youth in the community.
The SMIGC integrates existing efforts led by the two mayors and identified near- and long-term components as illustrated in the map below. In short, the SMIGC is designed to attract and retain seniors supported by a younger and expanded workforce in healthcare, construction, culinary, and hospitality, which will support aging-in-place and workforce housing. The community has several built-in advantages, including natural beauty, proximity to Charleston and the New River Gorge National Park, affordable housing in close-knit neighborhoods, strong collaborative leadership between the two cities, and a local critical access hospital and Federally Qualified Health Center.
Too often, community impact investing focuses on individual projects without considering how each might benefit the other according to a unified plan. The SMIGC solves for this dilemma at a time when the federal government and other funding sources are seeking to invest in disadvantaged communities. The SMIGC Master Plan not only aligns with broader regional development goals but also addresses the unique challenges these Appalachian towns face, demonstrating a comprehensive strategy to foster community resilience and growth.
The planning process for the SMIGC was structured to be highly inclusive and strategic, engaging a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that voices were heard and integrated into the development strategy. The approach included close coordination with the mayors and the Center; stakeholder interviews with local government officials, business owners, healthcare providers, educators, and community members; property inspections, review of public health data and community needs assessments; and two planning sessions with key stakeholders.
The SMIGC Master Plan for the Smithers-Montgomery region outlines a comprehensive strategy to transform the community into a thriving, inclusive, and resilient area. Building upon existing efforts, the Plan enhances educational programs, healthcare services, and community centers to foster inclusivity and connectivity. Initiatives like the River Cities Urban Walking Trail and specialized housing for vulnerable groups play a vital role in connecting residents with their environment and addressing both immediate and long-term well-being needs.
Near-term initiatives focus on expanding the town trail system to link key aspects of community health and well-being, and on establishing the MRISAR Institute of Science, Art, and Robotics to promote innovation. The plan also prioritizes the development of supportive housing models that integrate seamlessly with community facilities, enhances local transportation options, and strengthens educational and healthcare services. Looking toward the future, the plan includes significant developments such as the multifunctional use of the Longacre property for recreational and residential purposes and transforming the Montgomery General Hospital garage into a vibrant community hub.
The SMIGC Master Plan also emphasizes mobility, creating a network of trails and transportation options that ensure easy access throughout the community, thus supporting physical health and enhancing social interactions. Energy resiliency is a key focus, with strategic investments in sustainable energy sources to strengthen the community’s infrastructure against climate change impacts and attract federal funding. Most importantly, the plan supports the Seven Vital Conditions for Community Health and Well-Being: Reliable Transportation, a Thriving Natural World, Basic Needs, Humane Housing, Meaningful Work and Wealth, Lifelong Learning, and Belonging & Civic Muscle. By interconnecting these conditions, the Plan not only addresses immediate needs but also lays the groundwork for a sustainable future, positioning Smithers-Montgomery as a model for rural community development.
Dynamis has been engaged by Montgomery General Hospital, an independent Critical Access Hospital, to integrate its emerging strategic plan into the larger initiative.
Smithers and Montgomery serve as quintessential examples of Appalachian communities adversely affected by the downturn in coal mining, manufacturing, and other sectors, compounded by the emergence of retail malls, big-box stores, and a lack of investment in education and infrastructure. The loss of WVU Tech in 2017 further magnified these challenges, underscoring the urgency for inventive solutions. The Smithers & Montgomery Intergenerational Gateway Community (SMIGC) emerges as a strategic component of the Center's Wild, Wonderful, & Healthy West Virginia initiative, which utilizes community health improvement planning to address the Seven Vital Conditions for Community Health and Well-being. The SMIGC aims to create a culture of health in the communities that is conducive to health and economic development. Specifically, the SMIGC is designed to attract and retain senior residents and the workforce needed to support them. Embodying the flatwater counterpart to the New River Gorge’s whitewater rafting allure, positions Smithers & Montgomery to attract senior tourists and residents. Additional components of the SMIGC focus on supporting and retaining youth in the community.
The SMIGC integrates existing efforts led by the two mayors and identified near- and long-term components as illustrated in the map below. In short, the SMIGC is designed to attract and retain seniors supported by a younger and expanded workforce in healthcare, construction, culinary, and hospitality, which will support aging-in-place and workforce housing. The community has several built-in advantages, including natural beauty, proximity to Charleston and the New River Gorge National Park, affordable housing in close-knit neighborhoods, strong collaborative leadership between the two cities, and a local critical access hospital and Federally Qualified Health Center.
Too often, community impact investing focuses on individual projects without considering how each might benefit the other according to a unified plan. The SMIGC solves for this dilemma at a time when the federal government and other funding sources are seeking to invest in disadvantaged communities. The SMIGC Master Plan not only aligns with broader regional development goals but also addresses the unique challenges these Appalachian towns face, demonstrating a comprehensive strategy to foster community resilience and growth.
The planning process for the SMIGC was structured to be highly inclusive and strategic, engaging a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that voices were heard and integrated into the development strategy. The approach included close coordination with the mayors and the Center; stakeholder interviews with local government officials, business owners, healthcare providers, educators, and community members; property inspections, review of public health data and community needs assessments; and two planning sessions with key stakeholders.
The SMIGC Master Plan for the Smithers-Montgomery region outlines a comprehensive strategy to transform the community into a thriving, inclusive, and resilient area. Building upon existing efforts, the Plan enhances educational programs, healthcare services, and community centers to foster inclusivity and connectivity. Initiatives like the River Cities Urban Walking Trail and specialized housing for vulnerable groups play a vital role in connecting residents with their environment and addressing both immediate and long-term well-being needs.
Near-term initiatives focus on expanding the town trail system to link key aspects of community health and well-being, and on establishing the MRISAR Institute of Science, Art, and Robotics to promote innovation. The plan also prioritizes the development of supportive housing models that integrate seamlessly with community facilities, enhances local transportation options, and strengthens educational and healthcare services. Looking toward the future, the plan includes significant developments such as the multifunctional use of the Longacre property for recreational and residential purposes and transforming the Montgomery General Hospital garage into a vibrant community hub.
The SMIGC Master Plan also emphasizes mobility, creating a network of trails and transportation options that ensure easy access throughout the community, thus supporting physical health and enhancing social interactions. Energy resiliency is a key focus, with strategic investments in sustainable energy sources to strengthen the community’s infrastructure against climate change impacts and attract federal funding. Most importantly, the plan supports the Seven Vital Conditions for Community Health and Well-Being: Reliable Transportation, a Thriving Natural World, Basic Needs, Humane Housing, Meaningful Work and Wealth, Lifelong Learning, and Belonging & Civic Muscle. By interconnecting these conditions, the Plan not only addresses immediate needs but also lays the groundwork for a sustainable future, positioning Smithers-Montgomery as a model for rural community development.
Dynamis has been engaged by Montgomery General Hospital, an independent Critical Access Hospital, to integrate its emerging strategic plan into the larger initiative.