Which two West Virginia towns are the best candidates for a community makeover? That's what you can help decide by voting in this year's "Turn This Town Around" competition.
You can vote for two towns - one larger, one smaller - from the list below of towns who applied and were selected for the competition.
Each town will receive intensive training (and potentially grant funding) to help improve their community from within.
Last year, the towns of Matewan and Grafton won the competition. In Grafton, that means a plan to bring the old B&O Railroad Depot to life. And in Matewan, it means using historical tourism to revitalize downtown.
Click HERE to vote until Dec. 9 at midnight.
Under 1,500 contestants include:
Alderson, Greenbrier/Monroe Co.
Davis, Tucker County
Hundred, Wetzel County
New Cumberland, Hancock County
Pineville, Wyoming County
Sistersville, Tyler County
Whitesville, Boone County
1,501 to 6,000 contestants include:
Charles Town, Jefferson County
Hinton, Summers County
Logan, Logan County
Petersburg, Grant County
Philippi, Barbour County
Ripley, Jackson County
Weston, Lewis County
Here's some information from the press release from West Virginia Focus:
Over the course of the year, the two communities will receive a wide variety of support as citizens come together to identify ways they can improve their community and their economy. Communities will receive training and hands-on assistance in planning and implementing projects to beautify and revitalize their downtowns, build new businesses, and diversify their economies.
In addition, each community will have access to additional resources they can only receive through Turn This Town Around, including technical assistance from a numerous agencies and organizations from across the state.
Sponsors of Turn This Town Around are West Virginia Focus magazine, The West Virginia Community Development Hub, West Virginia Public Broadcasting, the Benedum Foundation, BrickStreet Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, West Virginia Small Business Development Center, the West Virginia division of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Philanthropy WV, and the Tamarack Foundation.
