FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — The Fayette County Commission voted Aug. 6 to provide a letter of support for a regional community development application the West Virginia Community Development Hub prepared for 11 communities across four counties, and deferred a potential financial match decision to the county’s October budget review.

Stacy Henderson, who identified herself as with the West Virginia Community Development Hub, told commissioners the initiative — called NRG towns — aims to build a regional governance structure, workforce training, housing support and technical assistance across 11 communities in a four‑county area. “The first request is, a letter of support in a very timely manner because it's grants due tomorrow,” Henderson said during the presentation.

Henderson said the Hub requested a match commitment of $13,500 over three years if the federal Rural Community Development Initiative grant is awarded, but asked that the commission consider the match at a later date. Commissioner Taylor moved to approve the letter of support and recommended deferring any financial commitment until the commission’s October meeting when other funding requests will be considered; the motion passed on voice vote.

Why it matters: A funded regional initiative could pool resources for housing, workforce training, brownfield redevelopment and marketing across multiple small communities; county staff said any local match funds would be reinvested in Fayette County communities if the grant is awarded.

Next steps: County staff will prepare and sign a letter of support and Henderson said she will follow up about submitting final materials. Commissioners said they would consider the match request during the October meeting alongside other county funding requests.