Revitalize Appalachia, a social enterprise of Coalfield Development, functions as a real estate developer and general contractor, partnering with communities to lead construction projects that provide paid, full-time on-the-job training, along with personal and academic development, to empower local individuals and create renewed assets for communities.

Through our innovative workforce development approach, we transform abandoned buildings—often deemed liabilities—into valuable community assets that meet local needs.

Revitalize Appalachia builds a skilled, community-centered construction workforce by providing on-the-job training in modern techniques, paired with personal, professional, and academic development. Our crews work to transform mostly vacant and abandoned buildings, completing tangible projects that restore purpose and functionality so these spaces may once again serve their communities.

Our work crews see construction projects through from start to finish, gaining hands-on experience, industry-recognized certifications, opportunity for higher education, and personal development skills along the way. By training the next generation of workers, Revitalize Appalachia is helping to strengthen the economy of southern West Virginia and the broader Appalachian region. The valuable skills that Crew Members develop open doors for them to secure quality, stable employment after their time with Coalfield Development or even to inspire entrepreneurship, launching their own businesses in their hometowns.

Coalfield has developed and owns a diverse range of properties across southern West Virginia, including rural, affordable, multi-family housing; mixed-use commercial and community facilities; and former industrial sites – each transformed to meet local needs and drive regional renewal.

On-the-job training

Revitalize Appalachia began with a mission to provide Quality Homes, Quality Jobs, and Quality Lives to unemployed and underemployed young adults in Wayne County. Recognizing the widespread need for these opportunities, we expanded into Lincoln and Mingo counties, offering hands-on construction training and certifications, education, and personal skills-building that equip individuals with the skills to secure a good job and build a future. As a licensed General Contractor in West Virginia, we don’t operate in a controlled training facility – our crews work on real projects, solving real challenges, and serving real clients. Trainees gain experience in actual job-site conditions, preparing them for careers while contributing to their communities by transforming neglected properties into meaningful assets.

Crew members receive hands-on instruction in essential construction skills, including:

Framing, finish work, drywall, flooring, renovation, and restoration
Light electrical, plumbing, and HVAC (in a shadowing experience with licensed subcontractors)
Reading and interpreting blueprints and specification manuals
Construction scheduling, estimating, budgeting, and subcontractor coordination
Direct interaction with customers and clients to develop professional communication skills

To enhance their career prospects, crew members earn industry-recognized certifications, including:

In addition to technical skills, all crew members participate in three hours of weekly Personal Development Training, ensuring they build not only professional expertise but also the confidence, discipline, and leadership skills needed for long-term success.

By combining real-world experience, technical training, and personal growth, Revitalize Appalachia is preparing the next generation of skilled workers while revitalizing communities across the region.

Current and Completed Projects

Twelvepole Valley Apartments

2373 Spring Valley Drive, Huntington, WV 25704 | 19,256+ sq. ft. rental space/2 acres

The property was an eighteen unit, USDA 515 property facing foreclosure in Wayne County. Coalfield was able to purchase the property. A total of twelve of the existing eighteen units have gone through rehabilitation, while the latter six were deconstructed and are being replaced with 8 new units. Coalfield Development, General Contractor.

The Urlings Building

524 Hendricks Street, Wayne, WV 25570 | 10,000 sq. ft./.25 acre

The Old Urlings General Store, now provides the Town of Wayne with five affordable housing units, a coffee shop, along with offices for the Housing Authority of Wayne County (HAWC) and the Wayne County Family Resource Network (FRN ). Construction efforts have been taken to make the structure as environmentally- friendly as possible. The property opened for business during fall of 2015. Coalfield Development, General Contractor.

Victorville Apartments

8201 Anna Avenue, Hamlin, WV 25523 | 20,285 sq. ft. rental space/1.13 acre

The property is a twenty-four unit, USDA 515 property constructed in 1986, that was facing foreclosure. Coalfield was able to purchase the Lincoln County property in March, 2017 and has submitted for $100,000 through SALP funding with the WVHDF to address the CNA issues that are high priority. A Federal Home Loan Bank application for rehabilitation, in the amount of $460,000 will be submitted in August to address the remaining necessary rehabilitation issues.

William and Mary Queen

44425 Rt. 52, Crum, WV 25669 | 5,000 sq. ft/1.09 acre

The historic William and Mary Queen General Store, once the most prominent and beautiful structure in Crum, has fallen into disrepair over the years. Because of its historic nature, the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia has endorsed this project and assisted earlier this year with site clean-up. Coalfield has purchased the property to develop five affordable housing units and a community resource center, complete with a library and computer lab.

Lincoln County Business Development and Entrepreneurship Center

338 Sycamore Avenue, Hamlin, WV 25514 | 4,750 sq. ft/.25 acre

The historic Henson Building has a unique International Style design, is located in downtown Hamlin and was built in the last 1930’s. The property once served as a clinic and it has been conveyed by locals that many women actually gave birth to their children in the building. The center will be home to a shared work space, barber shop, coffee shop and agricultural packing center for local farmers. The upper floor will be an Airbnb, the first lodging ever located in Lincoln County.

New Town Development and Timber Frame House

Miner Mountain, WV | 1,800 sq. ft./20 acres

In 2017, Revitalize Appalachia finished building a two story, three bedroom home in Mingo County. A partnership was developed with the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority to build the home that will be sold by the Redevelopment Authority. This timber frame home is built on a reclaimed strip mine. Other areas of the abandoned strip mine are planned to be developed into a Health and Wellness Center, along with other new home sites and a venue for special functions. The major selling point is the fabulous 360 ̊ views.

22 Mine Road

1250 Hollyridge, Delbarton, WV 25670 | 200 acres

A partnership with the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority to lease acreage on a reclaimed strip mine has allowed for various agricultural implementations. From raising chickens, pigs and goats to populating the land with plantings of elderberry, blackberry, pawpaw and many other items for consumption have occurred. Efforts continue to expand the amount of acreage used on a daily basis.

Village Renew-All Antique Mall

608 & 610 West 14th Street, Huntington, WV 25704 | 5,100 sq. ft./1 acre

The Village Renew-All Antique Mall is a shared venture that will permit not only the continuation of consigner sales, but also the revitalization of another property located on the west end of Huntington.

Courtyard Apartments

312 Hall Street, Wayne, WV 25570 | 4,725 sq. ft.

The property is comprised of seven rental units that are conveniently located near the courthouse in Wayne. The one and two bedroom units are home to low-income families. A HOME Funds grant of $242,000 is funding the rehabilitation of the rental units. Coalfield Development, General Contractor.

West Edge Factory

1040 Vernon Street, Huntington, WV 25701 | 96,000 sq. ft./4 acres

The historic 96,000 square foot abandoned Corbin garment factory, purchased by Coalfield is located in Huntington’s Westmoreland neighborhood. West Edge Factory (West Edge) is a creative community hub for dreamers and doers to explore and expand their crafts. From Appalachian artisans to forward-thinking businesses, West Edge showcases some of the best our region has to offer with cool stuff happening every day!

Fort Gay Community Complex

675 Court Street, Fort Gay, WV 25514 | 16,434 sq. ft./2 acres

Ft. Gay is an area greatly aided by the Wayne County Community Design Innovations (CDI), which consists of numerous community and housing organizations in the county (Coalfield is a member). CDI plans on converting Ft. Gay’s old high school into the Fort Gay Community Complex, with Coalfield serving as developer on the project. The school will be converted to space for town offices, radio station, classrooms for the local community college and a farmer’s market. The gymnasium and stage area will also be available for community events.

Big Ugly Community Center

15 Rosewood Road, Harts, WV 25524 | 7,246 sq. ft./3 acres

The Big Ugly Community Center served as a public elementary school that closed due to consolidation in 1993. Before the implementation of the Center’s community education and vocational training programs in 1995, the school sat vacant and suffered from vandalism. The Big Ugly Community Center is a SEED partner that is transforming the economic future of the southern West Virginia by providing an average of seven full time and fifteen part time jobs per year on site, serving as the monthly training and year round coaching site, annually, for another 60 community education workers and 50 national service volunteers, and providing entrepreneurship, community education, health promotion, disaster relief training, and leadership opportunities for another 90 children and youth and 200 of their family and community members each year. Funding is currently being sought to proceed with an energy efficient rehabilitation of the building.

Williamson Health Innovation HUB and Hostel

Williamson, WV 25661 | 4,000 sq. ft./1 acre

Rehabilitation is currently occurring on a four story brick building to create a hostel and shared bunk space that will serve as living quarters for vistas, interns and other volunteer groups. In the twelve months, the Williamson Health and Wellness Center has created over 34 permanent jobs, retrained and employed over 20+ displaced coal miners in green construction technologies and incubated several local businesses – including a restaurant that purchases over 50% of their fresh produce from the local Farmers Market. Coalfield Development, General Contractor.

Huntington House

1117 17th Street, Huntington, WV 25702 | 1508 sq. ft./1 acre

A partnership with Huntington National Bank has commenced to build a three bedroom single family home. The Huntington, West Virginia, site has been purchased by a low income household and ground breaking will occur Spring 2018. Coalfield Development, General Contractor.

Wild Ramp

West 14th Street, Huntington, WV 25704 | 3,600 sq. ft/1 acre

The Wild Ramp was constructed on the west end of Huntington and provides the Huntington area with fresh produce and poultry for purchase. Coalfield Development, General Contractor.

Black Diamond

Coalfield acquired the Black Diamond property in 2019 and secured funding through the EPA Brownfields Program to support environmental cleanup with oversight from the WVDEP. Partnering with the Thrasher Group, an engineering and environmental consulting firm, Coalfield is conducting soil, groundwater, and soil vapor sampling to assess contamination from past site activities. This process involves installing permanent groundwater wells and using a drill rig for soil and vapor testing, with work expected to take place in late March. Sample analysis will guide remediation efforts, which may include soil removal, site capping, or land-use restrictions to ensure safe redevelopment.

Deconstruction

100,000 sq. ft.

The deconstruction projects have occurred in various areas of the state of West Virginia. Coalfield has successfully addressed over 100,00 square feet of abandoned property issues.

Contact Revitalize Appalachia

We welcome the opportunity to connect with those interested in community-based projects! Contact us today if you have questions about an existing project, want to explore how Revitalize Appalachia can support a new community-based initiative, or would like more information about our work.