Workshops help coal-reliant communities grow and diversify their economies

The NADO Research Foundation and the National Association of Counties (NACo) have created the “Coal-Reliant Communities Innovation Challenge,” which invites "counties and regional development organizations in areas experiencing economic challenges due to the contraction of the coal industry" to compete in a team-challenge competition designed help grow and diversify these economies, says NACo.

Teams that submit winning applications will be selected to attend one of three hands-on workshops guided by expert facilitators and practitioners, says NACo. The first challenge will be held in April in Pikeville, Ky. Other challenges will be held in Colorado and West Virginia. The deadline to apply for the Pikeville challenge is Feb. 27. For more information or to submit an application, click here.