Oct. 26, 2006
 
Arbogast to Lead WV Sustainable Communities Project
 
By HNN Staff
 
Charleston, WV (HNN) -- An expert in sustainable communities with a special interest in ecotourism has been named project leader of the next West Virginia Sustainable Communities Project.
 
Doug Arbogast, a Pennsylvania native and avid outdoor enthusiast, will lead six young adult interns in their efforts to conduct pollution prevention projects focused on energy efficiency, water conservation and waste minimization throughout 2007. The project will begin in January and will focus on all four sectors of the community including homes, schools, businesses and community institutions.
 
“This is such an amazing opportunity for us, not only to continue on with this grassroots effort, but to see what people can do when you give them the right tools,” Arbogast said. “We are right now building an enthusiastic and committed team of interns who are willing to roll up their sleeves and make a difference one person, one community, one county at a time.”
 
The project is a joint effort of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and the Student Conservation Association -- Students Conserving America.
 
In 2005-2006, a team of SCA interns was based in Summersville to target Nicholas and Braxton counties. In 2007, the momentum will continue in those areas while also targeting Gilmer and Fayette. There will be a statewide outreach and education campaign, but these four counties are targeted specifically because they are Alliance of West Virginia Champion Communities, which is a publicly and privately funded grassroots movement to empower communities to achieve sustainable development.
 
“We will strive to have as broad an impact as possible while working hard to make a difference to individual citizens and communities,” he added.
 
Arbogast earned his bachelor’s in environmental geo-science and a master’s in recreation, parks and tourism resources from West Virginia University. He was involved in the implementation in Richwood and Pineville of “Creating A Value Added Community Curriculum,” a pilot project for Appalachian communities developed to provide a business plan for poverty reduction and the creation of community wealth.
 
He has served as a project coordinator for the West Virginia Ecotourism Association and earned a certificate in ecotourism planning and management from Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif. He, his wife Susan and daughter Abby will reside in Fayette County during the project.
 
For more information on the program, contact Arbogast at (304) 846-4268, (304) 619-0668 or darbogast@thesca.org.