West Virginia’s natural wonders have so much to offer: hunting, fishing, boating, hiking and biking, to name a few. For 20 years, Conservation Legacy has cared for our natural lands, leading local stewardship programs working in preservation, restoration and community development.
As West Virginia sits on the cusp of a boom in the outdoor recreation and tourism economies, Conservation Legacy’s work is more vital. But that work won’t get done without a robust federal investment in AmeriCorps.
Conservation Legacy’s Veterans Fire Corps program aids the transition from military to civilian life by providing veterans with opportunities to continue serving when they return home. Participating vets receive training and on-the-job experience in wild land firefighting and natural resource management. The program achieves tangible results: Just this year, members of two Veterans Fire Corps crews in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve were recruited and hired by the National Park Service. Federal land management agencies immediately hired 100% of these graduating crew members, providing our veterans with a new mission to protect Mountaineer communities and public lands from wildfires.
In the same vein, our WV READY program engages young people and communities to support West Virginia’s budding outdoor recreation industry. Supported by a combination of federal and private funds, AmeriCorps members in WV READY work with local residents to revitalize our lands. As catalysts for service, they lead outdoor recreation projects like community clean-ups and gardens from Nitro to Belington to Jefferson County.
Beyond preserving our state’s beauty, these programs also strengthen communities. Tanya Abbett, who served with WV READY, notes that the projects “allow us to preserve these places and amplify them to the surrounding communities so that everyone has the opportunity to find that feeling and experience it for themselves.â€
Day after day, these programs maintain our lands and ensure a prosperous future for West Virginia — but legislation moving through Congress would cut funding for AmeriCorps. As a result, Conservation Legacy stands to lose vital funds for AmeriCorps-supported service positions. While the process is far from over, the House of Representatives bill would slash funding by a devastating 50% – all at a time when Congress should be investing in AmeriCorps.
These proposed cuts would force programs like WV READY and the Veterans Fire Corps to discontinue their service. They would prevent West Virginians from realizing the real benefits this funding can provide.
And they would block future progress. We want to expand Conservation Legacy programs like the Veterans Fire Corps and WV READY to every county in West Virginia. But without robust funding for AmeriCorps, we will have to cut these programs and others. Conservation efforts with generational impact and vital community engagement will falter.
AmeriCorps is one of the best investments the federal government can make. Unlike most federal programs, our AmeriCorps grants are matched by funds from philanthropic and local sources, and this public-private partnership yields more than $17 in community benefits for every $1 Congress invests.
Senators Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., are steadfast champions of AmeriCorps and Conservation Legacy. And for good reason: their work preserves West Virginia’s heritage and secures its future. But we need more voices in this fight. Whether you’re a voter, community leader or politician, we all need to stand up for continued investment in AmeriCorps.
April Elkins-Badtke, of Beckley, provides oversight and management for delivering quality programming and meaningful member experiences for Conservation Legacy.
