Kingwood, WV — The Preston County Economic Development Authority (PCEDA) has selected Rivers & Roads Consulting to lead the Grace Chapel Workforce Training Center Feasibility Study, a project aimed at exploring the creation of a local workforce training center to expand job opportunities and strengthen the regional economy.
The study will determine how a proposed facility in Kingwood, West Virginia, could serve the workforce and industry needs of Preston County and surrounding communities. Working in partnership with PCEDA, Rivers & Roads Consulting will help shape a vision for a training center that connects local residents to in-demand skills, supports employers, and creates pathways to long-term economic stability.
The engagement began with Rivers & Roads assisting PCEDA in developing a competitive grant application to secure funding for the study. Once funded, the feasibility work will move forward to include a market analysis, industry and training needs assessment, and sustainability planning for the proposed facility.
“Preston County is taking a proactive step toward building opportunity close to home,” said Sam Shoge, Partner at Rivers & Roads Consulting. “Our team is deeply committed to helping communities like Preston align vision with action—creating practical, fundable strategies that lead to measurable results.”
This project follows on the heels of Rivers & Roads’ successful work in Rock Hall, Maryland, where the firm led a countywide workforce initiative to revitalize the marine trades sector. That engagement resulted in a phased strategy that built capacity and partnerships for long-term workforce growth—a model that will inform the approach in Preston County.
The Grace Chapel Workforce Training Center Feasibility Study represents another milestone in Rivers & Roads’ expanding portfolio of workforce and community development projects across the Mid-Atlantic. The firm continues to work alongside rural communities to design strategies that translate local ambition into lasting opportunity.
Is your community exploring ways to strengthen its workforce or create new opportunities for local residents?
Rivers & Roads Consulting helps counties, towns, and economic development organizations move from concept to implementation with strategies that align funding, partnerships, and community vision. From feasibility to execution, we design plans that build momentum and deliver measurable impact. Contact us to start the conversation. Rivers & Roads Consulting helps counties, towns, and economic development organizations move from concept to implementation with strategies that align funding, partnerships, and community vision. From feasibility to execution, we design plans that build momentum and deliver measurable impact. Contact us to start the conversation.
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