PPP Loan

The large loan/grant Payroll Protection Plan has been has been repaid.  Now we are notified that CSM did receive a $10,000 Payroll Protection Program award.  The same criteria exists for this revenue in that 75% must be spent on wages and 25% on rent, utilities, etc.  It will be no problem for the agency to comply with these standards and this money will be a big help.  

Return To Work

The agency has basically returned to normal work with only a few staff still working from home.  I have made it clear to staff that if anyone has any fear, anxiety or concern about returning to work, we will continue their working from home.  Every accommodation will be made for staff safety In order to keep the Board, we restarted the Bill Pay service on May 6, 2020 and the IRS has approved our plan to restart tax assistance on May 11, 2020.  There will be safety measures on the VITA restart as recipients will drop off their paperwork and staff will work with them by telephone to file returns.  We are doing everything possible to comply with guidelines for the return to work and continue to serve our citizens.  Staff has protective shields, facemasks, disinfectants and they have control over their own work sites.

WV Community Action Partnership Award

The WV CAP is an association of community action agencies.  As the annual dues to this association is $3,000, we have always chosen not to participate and direct that money to direct services for the people we serve.  That organization recently applied for and received a grant from Truist Foundation for $100,000.  All of the state agencies were included in the application and funds can be utilized to address the needs of low-income people, whether for emergency income and support, job training, community economic development, childcare, transportation, housing, home weatherization, nutrition assistance, financial literacy training, counseling, case management or whatever is necessary to resolve a short-term crisis or a long-term barrier to self-sufficiency.  The amount of the CSM portion is $3,590.  This money will be utilized for the purposes stated above to serve people up to 125% of the Federal Poverty Level.   I will keep the Board informed of the expenditures of this money. 

Notary Services

Tammi Ferrell has become a Notary along with Latonia Foster, Mary Reed and Randal Johnson at the Welch office.  Please be informed that anyone needing notary services are welcome to come to the agency.  

Fitness Center

Fitness Centers are scheduled to reopen in WV in the third phase of the return to work plan.  We will closely monitor this timeline and be very cautious when we actually start having members return.  

Community Services Block Grant

We have not been informed to date when we will be receiving the additional funds for this program as passed in CARES Act.  It has been related that the money can be expended for people at up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.  I will keep the Board informed when these funding are received by the agency.  Under this grant, the food pantry has operated every day since the stay at home order closed down workplaces.  Thankfully, we did not see a large increase in people seeking assistance and I attribute this to people honoring the stay at home mandate and stocking up food at the start of the crisis.  If any Board members know of people needing assistance with food, please let me know.  

HEAD OF THE DRAGON MOTORCYCLE RIDE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

REGISTRATION STARTS AT 9:00 a.m. DONATIONS ONLY

RIDERS START AT 11:00 a.m.

CALL 304-436-6800 FOR MORE INFORMATION 

CSM NOW SELLS MONEY ORDERS AND MONEYGRAM WIRING MONEY SERVICES.  BILL PAY IS STILL AVAILABLE.  

 Visit the updated CSM tourism initiative website at:

visitmcdowellcountywv.com



CSM INITIATES "HEAD OF THE DRAGON" MOTORCYCLE RUN 

An Economic Development Initiative of the Council of the Southern Mountains

The Head of the Dragon event is a motorcycle run that is being developed by the Council of the Southern Mountains to be an annual event to help build tourism and economic development in McDowell County, West Virginia.  McDowell County has been economically devastated by the downturn of the coal industry and in order to provide opportunities for the hardworking citizens of McDowell County there must be economic diversification.  The tourism initiative by Council of the Southern Mountains of the Head of the Dragon motorcycle run will complete the “Body of the Dragon” motorcycle run series which is located in four states: North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and, now, West Virginia. 

The Head of the Dragon ride will encompass a 91 mile course on McDowell County roads and will go into Virginia to connect with the Back of the Dragon motorcycle run course. The Dragon’s Head run will transverse some of the most challenging roadways in America while providing riders with spectacular mountain views.  The course is through rugged terrain that once sheltered moonshine stills and fur trappers.  The roadways are built on lands that once provided the coal to fuel the American economy and make this country great.  This coal provides the fuel for the Fire of the Dragon component of the motorcycle run. 

The Back of the Dragon is 32 miles of exciting and curving road on the unmatched beauty and riding enjoyment providing by VA Route 16 (Back of the Dragon), the two lane ribbon over the three mountain ranges between Tazewell and Marion, Virginia.

The Tail of the Dragon is a road course with 318 curves in 11 miles and is challenging motorcycle and sports car road for enthusiasts.  The run is on a designated part of highway U.S. 129 and the road is bordered by the Great Smoky Mountains and the Cherokee National Forest. There are no intersecting roads or driveways to hamper the riders of this course in North Carolina and Tennessee.  It is considered “the destination” for thousands of motorcycle and sports car fans throughout the spring, summer, and fall.

The Claw of the Dragon motorcycle run riders enjoy a challenging ride in Wythe, Smyth, and Grayson and four other surrounding counties in Virginia. The Claw is a total course of 350 miles with a 16-mile scenic byway that allows riders to see breathtaking flora and fauna of each season.

Riders of the body of the dragon motorcycle runs can become "Dragon Masters" once each part of the body motorcycle courses are completed.  Those who aspire to be “Dragon Masters” can complete all the dragon runs at their own pace and obtain patches signifying their accomplishment. 

Randal Johnson, Executive Director of the Council of the Southern Mountains, and Shirley Heath, the Council’s Tourism Initiative Coordinator has met with David Woodward, Tazewell County Tourism Coordinator, Megan Brown, Marketing Specialist at Tazewell County Tourism, Larry Davidson and Danny Addison, founders of the Back of the Dragon motorcycle run in Tazewell and Smyth Counties to coordinate the “Head of the Dragon” McDowell County motorcycle run.  Mr. Johnson related that, “We want to build someone as great as the Back of the Dragon motorcycle run and only want to build on what the Mr. Davidson and Mr. Addison  have worked so hard to create. “  “They provided advice and expertise along with gracious hospitality to us to help complete their dream of having the entire body of the dragon motorcycle runs completed and we are grateful,” Mr. Johnson stated.  The Council has also met with the West Virginia Department of Highways who will designate with signs the motor bike ride that names the road the riders utilize.  The signs that will be placed along that course will designate the name of the highway as “The Head of the Dragon.” 

The motorcycle run was held in conjunction with the annual Welch, WV Autumn Festival during the third weekend in September, 2017.  The Veterans of Foreign Wars in Iaeger, WV has also expressed interest in being part of the project.  The motorcycle run will help bring additional visitors to the Welch Autumn Festival and attract tourists to McDowell County. The ride will bring focus to the natural beauty and the country roads McDowell County, West Virginia has to offer and encourage the economic development of the tourism business.

The Council of the Southern Mountains has created and is distributing a new tourism brochure to encourage tourists to visit McDowell County. This brochure lists local lodging, food establishments, places to visit and events. The Council has also developed a tourism website: visitmcdowellcountywv.com and is utilizing volunteers to enhance this site in order to provide resources and information to visitors. In order to understand the impact of motorcycling to the economy, a motorcyclist needs to stop every 2-3.5 hours for fuel due to the small size of their fuel tank. Safe motorcycling requires a rider to stay hydrated, which means when they stop for fuel, they will most likely buy a beverage. Even when towing a trailer for camping, a motorcyclist will still have need of food stuffs and supplies from a grocery/convenience stores or restaurants. They cannot store food items for long periods easily.

Motorcycle tourists will spend an average of 10-14 days on a motorcycle holiday and spend an average of $3,100 while on that holiday.  Motorcycle tourists come from all racial backgrounds and have a wide variety of educational and occupational backgrounds.  Today, the average motorcyclist is likely to be between the ages of 40 and 65. Their average earnings are $75,000 a year and they own their own home. The majority of motorcycle enthusiasts ride their own machine; however, passengers are enthusiasts as well. More and more women are riding their own machines today. These tourists can have a significant impact on the local McDowell County economy. Source: BDB Rider Survey 2007/8.

It is important to continue the interest of the tourist by creating other events of interest to build tourism so desperately needed to help rebuild the economy of McDowell County, which has lost its coal production by one-third since 2008 according to WVU College of Business and Economics 2016 WV Economic Outlook publication.  The Council of the Southern Mountains is striving to meet this need.  For more information about the “Head of the Dragon” motorcycle run contact the Council at 304-436-6800.



CSM FITNESS CENTER

148 McDowell Street

Welch, WV  24801

Telephone: 304-436-6800

HOURS OF OPERATION ARE:

MONDAY-FRIDAY  7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAYS  9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

PPP Loan

I informed the Board that the large loan/grant received had been repaid.  Now be notified that CSM did receive a $10,000 Payroll Protection Program award.  The same criteria exists for this revenue in that 75% must be spent on wages and 25% on rent, utilities, etc.  It will be no problem for the agency to comply with these standards and this money will be a big help. 

Return To Work

The agency has basically returned to normal work with only a few staff still working from home.  I have made it clear to staff that if anyone has any fear, anxiety or concern about returning to work, we will continue their working from home.  Every accommodation will be made for staff safety

In order to keep the Board, we restarted the Bill Pay service on May 6, 2020 and the IRS has approved our plan to restart tax assistance on May 11, 2020.  There will be safety measures on the VITA restart as recipients will drop off their paperwork and staff will work with them by telephone to file returns. 

We are doing everything possible to comply with guidelines for the return to work and continue to serve our citizens.  Staff has protective shields, facemasks, disinfectants and they have control over their own work sites.

WV Community Action Partnership Award

The WV CAP is an association of community action agencies.  As the annual dues to this association is $3,000, we have always chosen not to participate and direct that money to direct services for the people we serve.  That organization recently applied for and received a grant from Truist Foundation for $100,000.  All of the state agencies were included in the application and funds can be utilized to address the needs of low-income people, whether for emergency income and support, job training, community economic development, childcare, transportation, housing, home weatherization, nutrition assistance, financial literacy training, counseling, case management or whatever is necessary to resolve a short-term crisis or a long-term barrier to self-sufficiency. 

The amount of the CSM portion is $3,590.  This money will be utilized for the purposes stated above to serve people up to 125% of the Federal Poverty Level.   I will keep the Board informed of the expenditures of this money.

Notary Services

Tammi Ferrell has become a Notary along with Latonia Foster and myself at the Welch office.  Please be informed that anyone needing notary services are welcome to come to the agency. 

Fitness Center

Fitness Centers are scheduled to reopen in WV in the third phase of the return to work plan.  We will closely monitor this timeline and be very cautious when we actually start having members return. 

Community Services Block Grant

We have not been informed to date when we will be receiving the additional funds for this program as passed in CARES Act.  It has been related that the money can be expended for people at up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.  I will keep the Board informed when these funding are received by the agency. 

Under this grant, the food pantry has operated every day since the stay at home order closed down workplaces.  Thankfully, we did not see a large increase in people seeking assistance and I attribute this to people honoring the stay at home mandate and stocking up food at the start of the crisis.