June 22, 2026 – CHARLESTON, WV – The outdoor recreation industry is more than a quality-of-life asset in West Virginia. It is an increasingly important economic driver, supporting more than 22,000 jobs and generating approximately $700 million in annual wages and salaries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Recognizing this opportunity, Advantage Valley recently launched the FASTER WV Outdoor Business Accelerator, a pilot program designed to help outdoor entrepreneurs launch, grow, and strengthen businesses tied to recreation, tourism, lodging, guiding services, retail, land use, outdoor experiences, and the broader visitor economy.
The program was delivered in partnership with Founded Outdoors, a national organization dedicated to helping outdoor entrepreneurs succeed. Founded Outdoors co-founders Katie Doherty and Enhao Li brought national outdoor industry expertise directly to regional entrepreneurs, offering hands-on instruction, practical tools, peer learning, and guidance tailored to the realities of building and growing outdoor-focused businesses.
Each participant received business assistance valued at approximately $2,000. At the completion of the program, participants may also be eligible to receive additional technical assistance to help advance specific business needs, such as marketing, branding, operations, financial planning, website development, customer strategy, or other growth-focused support.
The first cohort represented a dynamic cross-section of West Virginia’s outdoor economy. Participants came from Boone, Jackson, Cabell, Clay, Kanawha, Putnam, and Fayette Counties. Their businesses and ideas reflect the many ways entrepreneurs are helping visitors and residents experience West Virginia’s rivers, trails, farms, forests, small towns, and adventure destinations.
In Boone County, Chris Kennedy of Coal Hollow Outdoor Adventures is developing lodging, ATV resort opportunities, and outdoor activities tied to the region’s growing trail and adventure tourism economy. In Jackson County, Paula Atkinson is exploring ways to use her land for camping, RV stays, and future glamping or tiny cabin experiences.
Cabell County was represented by Donna Salisbury of Dancing Moon, a lodging and farm-based tourism concept near the Elk River Trail and rail ride attractions. Her plans include short-term rental lodging, campground development, geo domes or yurts, and farm experiences such as fresh eggs, firewood, and hayrides for guests.
Kanawha County participants included Carter Young of Mountaineer Paddle LLC, which offers paddleboard and kayak rentals and lessons, and David Payne of Charleston Riverfront Watersports, which provides pontoon boat, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, hydro bike, and e-bike rentals along the Kanawha River. These businesses point to the growing potential for water-based recreation and riverfront activation in and around Charleston.
Putnam County had strong representation across several outdoor economy sectors. Drew Cunningham of Rollin Throttle is building a motorcycle tourism ecosystem that combines events, media, rider-focused technology, routes, lodging, and destination experiences to bring riders into West Virginia and encourage longer stays. Maggie Blankenship of The Old School Christmas Farm is growing a unique agritourism destination as West Virginia’s first and only reindeer farm, welcoming guests during the Christmas season and preparing for expanded seasonal events.
Also from Putnam County, Justin Hilliard of Maple Mapping LLC is creating detailed outdoor maps and nature guides for state parks, forests, and wilderness areas, with a focus on making outdoor spaces more accessible and educational for users of all experience levels. Tony Stillwell of Trailside Outfitters is developing an outdoor retail business specializing in camping, hiking, and backpacking equipment.
Additional cohort participants included Bill and Ashley Chouinard of Bravo Charlie Aviation LLC, doing business as Wild Blue Adventure Co., which offers unique open-cockpit biplane sightseeing tours around the New River Gorge, and Shirley Beth Fish of Rose River Cottage in Boomer. Rose River Cottage currently operates short-term rental properties along the river in the Upper Kanawha Valley and is exploring ways to expand lodging capacity while adding food-based guest amenities such as breakfasts, trail-ready lunches, and curated dinners.
Together, these businesses show the breadth of opportunity within West Virginia’s outdoor economy. Some are helping visitors get on the water. Others are creating places to stay, shop, ride, hike, paddle, camp, gather, explore, and experience rural communities in new ways. Several are also working to fill gaps in tourism infrastructure, from lodging and food service to maps, equipment, events, and guided experiences.
The accelerator also welcomed key resource providers, including Madison Stone and Kenneth Tawney of the Elk River Trail Foundation in Clay County, and Heidi Prior of WVU OEDC/WV Outdoor Business & Industry Alliance, who joined the cohort to strengthen connections, share practical industry insight, and support outdoor businesses with real-world training and resources.
The FASTER WV Outdoor Business Accelerator was designed for founders or early-stage entrepreneurs who want more than inspiration. The program helped participants validate ideas, better understand customers, sharpen their offerings, and build practical plans for growth. Just as importantly, it created space for entrepreneurs to learn from one another, share challenges, test ideas, and see themselves as part of a larger outdoor economy taking shape across our region.
Advantage Valley’s goals for the program are clear: create new businesses and jobs, strengthen tourism and recreation economies, encourage entrepreneurship in rural communities, and expand opportunity for people who love the outdoors.
A special thank-you goes to the first cohort of participants for bringing energy, creativity, and commitment to the program, and to Katie Doherty and Enhao Li of Founded Outdoors for their leadership in helping bring the FASTER WV Outdoor Business Accelerator to life.
This is what regional economic development can look like: supporting entrepreneurs, strengthening communities, building new businesses, and helping West Virginians turn outdoor assets into lasting economic opportunity.
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