Charleston Joins Ascend WV, Aiming to Attract New Residents
Charleston, west Virginia was recently added as a participating location in the Ascend WV program, a state initiative designed to attract remote workers and new residents to the Mountain State.The declaration was made Friday by officials including Marshall University President Brad Smith, WVU President Michael Benson, and Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin.
The Ascend program offers over $20,000 in incentives to selected applicants, including a $12,000 cash relocation incentive paid in installments over two years. Participants also receive two years of free outdoor recreation access to experience West Virginia‘s natural beauty.
“To be a part of the Ascend program is truly monumental. Momentum matters,” said Smith on Friday.
Goodwin emphasized the program’s holistic approach, stating, “The thing that I loved about this program is it’s not just about the job; it’s about your life. It’s making sure you have the connections to the spaces and places in which you’re going to live, work and play. That’s why the Ascend program is so unique and different.” She also expressed a desire to foster connections for families relocating to Charleston, adding, “I want my kids and your kids to have connections when they move to the City of Charleston, and this Ascend program is going to help us do that.”
Since its inception, Ascend has received over 65,000 applications. Currently, nearly 1,000 people have relocated to West Virginia through the program, settling in one of the partnered areas. Notably, 36 percent of residents selected over the past five years have purchased a home in the state.
Smith expressed his satisfaction with the program’s success, stating, “It’s hard to say that this hasn’t exceeded all expectations.” As a West Virginia native who previously lived and worked elsewhere for 36 years, he noted, “Given the fact that I lived here, then lived elsewhere 36 years and my heart never left, I was not surprised when people who were given the option to choose West Virginia would want to move here.”
The program particularly appeals to West Virginians who previously moved away for work. Smith, a Kenova native and former Intuit CEO, acknowledged the ancient challenges faced by graduates seeking opportunities in the state.”Many of us from the decades ago didn’t have a choice.We graduated and we knew we wanted a job in a certain field, and those jobs weren’t here, so we had to leave. It wasn’t by choice, it was by need,” he explained. “Those things are changing now, whether it’s remote work or the new jobs that are getting created here in West Virginia or companies moving in. Now, we give our youth the chance to say, ‘I can stay where I want to live work and play with my family, and I can do any job I want. That’s what is special.”
Charleston’s involvement in Ascend was inspired by the city’s own “Roots” initiative, launched in 2021. Goodwin explained that the “roots” program,which offered financial contributions and focused on opportunities outside of work,was directly influenced by Ascend. she recalled Smith encouraging Charleston to “just start something” even without extensive resources,which led to the creation of the pilot “Roots” program that ultimately paved the way for Charleston’s inclusion in Ascend.
Other areas participating in the Ascend program include Morgantown, the eastern panhandle, the greater Elkins area, New River Gorge, and the Greenbrier Valley.
