The Appalachian Coal Country Team (ACCT) An OSM/VISTA Initiative Our mission is to provide rural...

The Appalachian Coal Country Team (ACCT)An OSM/VISTA Initiative

www.coalcountryteam.org

Our mission is to provide rural communities impoverished by environmental degradation and its consequences the help they need to make their home-place-watersheds healthier places to live and work.



In Coal Country there are over 3 million people who live within 1 mile of an AML site



Appalachian Coal Country Team (ACCT):• Founded in 2002

• Assist rural communities impacted by pre-regulatory environmental degradation and its

consequences in making their homelands healthier places to live and work.

• Place college-educated OSM/VISTA Volunteers with community/watershed organizations for 1 year.

• Provide support and training for OSM/VISTAs and their Supervisors

• Serve: PA, OH, MD, WV, VA, KY, TN, AL

• Currently 37 ACCT OSM/VISTAs in the field



Ten Years of Service (2002-2012) Highlights

During our decade of service, the ACCT

• Placed and trained 214 OSM/VISTAs– 90 of those relocated from outside of Appalachia and have

stayed in the region!

• Supported 114 Appalachian Community Groups

• Secured $8.5 million in grants

• Developed $7.9 million in-kind resources

• Logged 520,000 hours of service by community volunteers

Community Groups



Core Goals1.Capacity Building

2.Economic Development

3.Environmental Stewardship

4.Education and Outreach

5.Professional Development

Core Goals1.Capacity Building

2.Economic Development

3.Environmental Stewardship

4.Education and Outreach

5.Professional Development



VISTA positions are valued at $22,000 sites hosting an OSM/VISTA is $7,000

Capacity Building



Recruited 1,504VolunteersRecruited 1,504Volunteers

Logging 71,130 hours of serviceLogging 71,130 hours of service

Leveraged $209,591 in in-kind resourcesLeveraged $209,591 in in-kind resources

Secured $760,753in grantsSecured $760,753in grants

OSM/VISTAs write grants, recruit volunteers, build/strengthen community partnerships with other community improvement organizations

OSM/VISTAs write grants, recruit volunteers, build/strengthen community partnerships with other community improvement organizations

Established 889 partnerships Established 889 partnerships

Economic Development



~ 200 projects this year! ~ 200 projects this year!

OSM/VISTAs implement or develop projects that encourage tourism, cultural heritage preservation, community gardens, green energy, and sustainability.OSM/VISTAs implement or develop projects that encourage tourism, cultural heritage preservation, community gardens, green energy, and sustainability.

Environmental Stewardship



• 568 AMD sites monitored •121 AMD Remediation projects started

• 1096 sites monitored for water quality• 37,759 trees planted on ~165.5 acres

• 568 AMD sites monitored •121 AMD Remediation projects started

• 1096 sites monitored for water quality• 37,759 trees planted on ~165.5 acres

Outreach and Education



OSM/VISTAs create outdoor classrooms, develop and implement environmental educational programs for youth, partnerships with local 4-H, Boy and Girl Scouts, local school districts, etc. OSM/VISTAs create outdoor classrooms, develop and implement environmental educational programs for youth, partnerships with local 4-H, Boy and Girl Scouts, local school districts, etc.

• Conducted 148 presentations reaching 8,143 students

• Held 219 community events

• Conducted 148 presentations reaching 8,143 students

• Held 219 community events

Professional Development



• ACCT host two biannual trainings for OSM/VISTAS and their supervisors•OSM/VISTAs participate widely in professional conferences• ACCT host two biannual trainings for OSM/VISTAS and their supervisors•OSM/VISTAs participate widely in professional conferences



Intern Program (NEW!)

• 1700 hours of work (12 month position) •Member is earns a stipend of $12,100 a month•Member receives Education award after•No pre-requisites for hosting •$20,500 –which covers the cost to support the Member

• 1700 hours of work (12 month position) •Member is earns a stipend of $12,100 a month•Member receives Education award after•No pre-requisites for hosting •$20,500 –which covers the cost to support the Member

Projects include:•Mapping and monitoring • Creating educational programs• Training volunteers • Creating newsletters •Creating survey protocols • Establishing databases •Building Rehabilitation

Projects include:•Mapping and monitoring • Creating educational programs• Training volunteers • Creating newsletters •Creating survey protocols • Establishing databases •Building Rehabilitation



Environmental Stewards Summer Programs

This summer’s Environmental Steward program consisted of 52 members, across 14 statesActivities include: • Map and historical building preservation • Trail building/restoration• Water quality surveys • Removal of invasive species • Educating the public on conservation.

This summer’s Environmental Steward program consisted of 52 members, across 14 statesActivities include: • Map and historical building preservation • Trail building/restoration• Water quality surveys • Removal of invasive species • Educating the public on conservation.

• 29 community gardens were created • Over 5 miles of trails built• 10 acres of invasive species removed

• 29 community gardens were created • Over 5 miles of trails built• 10 acres of invasive species removed



OSM/AmeriCorps Regulatory Members

• The program has27 members for the 2012-2013 year• The members are supported by both OSM Headquarters in DC and OSM Appalachian Region

• The program has27 members for the 2012-2013 year• The members are supported by both OSM Headquarters in DC and OSM Appalachian Region

Members participate in projects such as:• Attending mine inspections • Creating web sites • Digitizing maps• Tracking fills and much more

Members participate in projects such as:• Attending mine inspections • Creating web sites • Digitizing maps• Tracking fills and much more



Reforestation Initiative Since 2009, the ACCT Reforestation Initiative has:• Planted 719,175 trees •Reforested 1,032.4 acres

Since 2009, the ACCT Reforestation Initiative has:• Planted 719,175 trees •Reforested 1,032.4 acres

In 2012 the ACCT Reforestation Initiative has :• Planted 54,175•Reforested 112.4acres • Recruited 7,478 hours of volunteer service

In 2012 the ACCT Reforestation Initiative has :• Planted 54,175•Reforested 112.4acres • Recruited 7,478 hours of volunteer service

Look for an opportunity to apply for $$ to support your Reforestation Project! Look for an opportunity to apply for $$ to support your Reforestation Project!



NCCC Initiative

• Two Teams awarded in spring 2012• Two Teams awarded in fall 2012• Potential for winter 2012 Team

• Two Teams awarded in spring 2012• Two Teams awarded in fall 2012• Potential for winter 2012 Team

Spring 2012 Teams served across Appalachia for 10 weeksCombined the Teams:• Planted 9260 trees• Reforested 10.2 acres• Beautified 181.5 acres of land

Spring 2012 Teams served across Appalachia for 10 weeksCombined the Teams:• Planted 9260 trees• Reforested 10.2 acres• Beautified 181.5 acres of land



Training

Appalachian Coal Country Team Semiannual Training Appalachian Coal Country Team Semiannual Training

The ACCT covers the costs for member’s attendance, secures trainers and provides fun cultural learning opportunitiesThe ACCT covers the costs for member’s attendance, secures trainers and provides fun cultural learning opportunities



Visit our website: www.coalcountryteam.org

Call or email for more information!

April TrentTeam Director

[email protected]: 304.252.4848 ext 310

Spencer MossOSM/VISTA Leader

[email protected]: 304.252.4848 ext 304

http://www.coalcountryteam.org/

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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