Environment: Local Group Shares Better Vision for the Ohio Valley
This past May, several local groups shared their vision for a sustainable future of the Ohio Valley. The forward-looking event was hosted by local environmental group Concerned Ohio River Residents (CORR) and featured speakers on energy efficient economics, sustainable development, and regenerative agriculture. The Ohio River Valley Institute (ORVI), a new local think tank recently featured in Forbes Magazine, presented their economic analysis that the fracking “gas boom” didn’t translate into prosperity for gas producing counties (such as Ohio County). Instead, these counties lost jobs, population, and personal income over the last 10- 15 years. By pointing to examples of a reinvented coal-town in the state of Washington, Sean O’Leary, a Wheeling native and senior researcher of ORVI, said there is proven economic opportunity in improving energy efficiency across the entire community’s infrastructure; from residential homes to schools, churches, and businesses.
Annie Rouse presented on the potential of hemp farming in contributing to a prosperous, sustainable future. Annie is an Appalachian Fullbright Scholar and hemp entrepreneur whose ventures, Think Hempy Thoughts and the Anavii Market, are demonstrating the potential of the ever-growing hemp industry. She explained that the stalks, seeds, and flowers of hemp all have untapped potential for use in fabric/clothing, food, and medicinals (with the added value that as the plant grows, it draws pollutants out of the ground).
Vincent DeGeorge of Grow Ohio Valley, an urban farming and local food non-profit, shared that since 2014, GrowOV has been promoting and developing local agriculture to improve both community health and the local economy. All of their farms and buildings—like The Meadow on Vineyard Hill or the Public Market on 14th St.—were previously unused or vacant. DeGeorge said that GrowOV attempts to reach everyone with healthy, local food, lending to why they place an emphasis on urban farming and offer major discounts to SNAP users at the Public Market.
Finally, the Better Vision event featured a new Wheeling sustainable development business, Roxby Development. Jeffrey Morris, Moundsville native and Roxby president, presented his definition of sustainable development: when our plans, like Wheeling’s historic buildings or businesses, are made to last for generations. Jeffrey sees their new acquisitions, like the Scottish Rite Cathedral (which is now Roxby’s headquarters), the Mount Carmel Monastery, or the 12th St. Garage (home to the Trash Talkers), as great examples of this. Roxby doesn’t build any new buildings, but instead brings them up to the present day with modern technology paired with an eye for preserving their historical integrity. The event created energy and optimism around a healthy, prosperous future for the Ohio Valley that a sustainable transition could bring.