West Virginia—and the wider Appalachian region—exhibits a paradox of abundant natural wealth alongside persistent poverty, health disparities, and out-migration. As extractive industries have mechanized and declined, emerging strategies (tourism, renewables, health care, agriculture, data infrastructure) promise diversification yet rarely capture the full texture of how households actually make life livable. This project investigates “livelihood repertoires” and hidden enterprises—combinations of wage work, caregiving, informal exchange, public benefits, small business activity, and stewardship of land and water—that are largely invisible to conventional indicators of economic progress.
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How do people and organizations assemble and support diverse livelihood strategies amid economic and environmental volatility?
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Which assets and institutional arrangements enable or constrain these strategies?
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How might place-based development be reframed around dignity, ecological integrity, and intergenerational well-being?
The project advances scholarship on livelihoods and grassroots development while providing actionable tools for communities and decision-makers.