Region VII Planning and Development Council is one of eleven (11) planning and development councils in the state of West Virginia established by enabling legislation in 1972. We serve as a “development district” to more effectively utilize funding resources and maximize our communities’ chances of attracting funds from federal, state, and local organizations to foster community and economic development and intergovernmental cooperation throughout the state. By coordinating closely with our affiliates in the region, we promote stability, growth, and progress in West Virginia, especially assisting local jurisdictions too small to maintain staff for grant writing and project planning.
Services
Region VII focuses on expansion and improvement of: water and sewer facilities, infrastructure, transportation, employment, industry, housing, health care, education, and recreation. We provide many different services to our members to better serve our communities, and have expertise in the following areas:
Highlighted Project
A.F. Wendling’s, Inc. Food Service
Project Need: A local food distributor—A.F. Wendling’s—experienced rapid growth and quickly outgrew their existing 27,000 square foot facility in Buckhannon, WV. A.F. Wendling’s partnered with the Upshur County Development Authority and applied for and received an Appalachian Regional Commission grant in the amount of $757,500.00 to purchase and renovate an empty warehouse in Buckhannon to provide enough space for AFW to utilize. Construction began in 2005 and was completed in July 2007.