About
Frequently Asked Questions
Curious about how the Mon Forest Towns Partnership works? This FAQ explains our mission, our relationship with the Monongahela National Forest, how towns join, and how local leaders, partners, and staff collaborate to strengthen communities across the region.
About the Organization
What is the Mon Forest Towns Partnership?
The Mon Forest Towns Partnership is a regional organization representing communities across the Monongahela National Forest region, working to collaboratively grow a strong and sustainable outdoor recreation economy that benefits residents and visitors.
How is this organization different from the Monongahela National Forest?
The Mon Forest Towns Partnership (MFTP) has a formal agreement with the United States Forest Service (USFS) and works closely with district rangers and recreation staff across the region to advance access and development in the Monongahela region; however, the partnership is an independent organization and not a part of the USFS. MFTP is not responsible for land management on National Forest property.
Which towns are part of the Partnership?
The Mon Forest Towns Partnership is composed of 12 historic mountain towns across eight counties in the Monongahela National Forest region, including: Thomas, Davis, Parsons, Elkins, Petersburg, Franklin, Durbin, Cowen, Marlinton, Richwood, and White Sulphur Springs.
How do towns join the Partnership?
Towns within the Monongahela Forest region join the partnership on a free and voluntary basis. Participation requires a formal decision from the town’s governing body and the election of two volunteer representatives to attend meetings and steward local working groups in their community.
How did the partnership get started?
The partnership began as a series of grassroots conversations between community leaders and land managers in 2017 to explore how collaboration and shared resources could improve the quality of life in towns across West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest. In 2019, the Mon Forest Towns Board was formalized, and a regional identity was developed with support from West Virginia University. Read more about the history of the Partnership on our about page.
How is the Mon Forest Towns Partnership funded?
The Mon Forest Towns Partnership is funded through a combination of public and private grant programs and public donations.
For more information about specific project funding, visit our Projects Page.
To support the partnership directly, visit our Donation Page.
Who serves on the Partnership’s board, and how are towns represented?
Our board representatives are voluntarily elected by their community and represent a diverse spectrum of outdoor enthusiasts, town officials, and local business owners. Representatives meet for quarterly board meetings to discuss a variety of topics and projects across the region. Additional strategic partners, such as USFS and West Virginia University staff, serve on the board in advisory, non-voting roles.
To read more about our board and staff, visit our Team Page.
Is the Partnership a nonprofit?
Yes, since 2023, the Mon Forest Towns is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Does the Partnership have hired staff?
To provide towns with support services, advance the partnership’s operations, and build local capacity, the Mon Forest Towns Partnership has hired staff, including an executive director, project manager, and communications manager, and has retained a grants coordinator.
Which agencies and organizations does the Partnership work with?
The Partnership works with a variety of agencies and organizations to advance sustainable development across the Mon Forest region. Our primary partnerships include the United States Forest Service, Woodlands Development and Lending, Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), West Virginia University, The Conservation Fund, Just Transition Fund, and our county Convention and Visitors Bureaus. Additional reoccurring project-based partners include, but are not limited to, West Virginia Brownfields, West Virginia Community Development Hub, West Virginia Scenic Trails Association (WVSTA), Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area (AFNHA), and the Snowshoe Highlands Area Ride Collaborative (SHARC).
Projects and Programs
What kinds of projects does the Partnership support?
The Mon Forest Towns Partnership supports a wide range of town-directed and regionally coordinated projects, including trail development, wayfinding and signage, downtown planning, and recreation infrastructure improvements. These efforts help towns strengthen local quality of life, connect to outdoor recreation assets, and build long-term economic resilience.
Learn more on our Projects Page.
How do communities benefit from being part of the Partnership?
Communities in the Mon Forest Towns Partnership benefit from shared regional resources, staff support, cross-agency collaboration, and a network of peers working toward similar goals. Towns also gain access to grant support, planning assistance, recreation mapping, shared branding, and capacity-building opportunities that help strengthen local initiatives.
Learn more on our Resources Page.
How does the Partnership choose which projects to work on?
The Mon Forest Towns Partnership selects projects through a collaborative process grounded in community needs, shared regional goals, and direct input from town representatives. Regional initiatives—such as wayfinding, marketing, and bikepacking routes—are shaped through open discussion across all twelve towns. Town-specific projects, like downtown connectivity or recreation planning, are developed locally by each community’s representatives and working groups.
Learn more on our Projects Page.
What is the Grants Coordination Program, and how does it work?
The Grants Coordination Program, led by Sara Cottingham Consulting, provides targeted grant support for community-identified projects that advance outdoor recreation, downtown revitalization, and local quality of life. The program helps towns identify funding opportunities, develop competitive applications, and build the skills needed for long-term grant success.
Learn more on our Resources Page.
What types of support do Mon Forest Towns' Staff Provide?
Mon Forest Towns staff provide project planning, grant writing and training, design and communications support, stewardship resources, and help facilitate community conversations. This hands-on support helps towns move ideas from vision to action while building local capacity along the way.
For more information about staff support, visit our Resources Page or Contact Us.
How can my organization collaborate with the Mon Forest Towns Partnership?
Organizations working on projects in the Mon Forest Towns Region can Contact Us directly to discuss collaboration opportunities.
Towns and Residents
What does the recreation economy mean for local communities?
A recreation economy is the network of jobs, businesses, public services, and community activities that grow from people enjoying the outdoors, but it is not an economy based only on tourism. Research shows that strong recreation economies blend multiple sectors: outdoor businesses and guiding services, trail-friendly downtowns, lodging and food, local artisans, infrastructure investment, conservation jobs, and services that benefit both residents and visitors. In rural communities, this model helps diversify local income streams, retain young residents, attract new families, and improve quality of life by investing in trails, parks, public spaces, and natural resource stewardship. Rather than relying on a single industry, a recreation economy supports sustainable, year-round economic resilience rooted in the community and the landscape.
How does the Partnership measure its impact?
The Mon Forest Towns Partnership evaluates impact across three interconnected domains: social, environmental, and economic well-being. This includes direct data, such as visitor and resident surveys, business development indicators, grant funding secured, trail and infrastructure improvements, and participation in community programs, as well as indirect feedback from town leaders, local organizations, and residents. Measuring impact in this way helps the Partnership understand changes in quality of life, natural resource health, local capacity, and economic opportunity. By tracking both measurable outcomes and lived community experience, the Partnership ensures its work remains responsive and aligned with long-term regional goals.
To learn more about our impact and survey results, visit our Resources Page.
What kind of Business Resources does Mon Forest Towns provide?
Through a collaboration with Woodlands Development and Lending, the Mon Forest Towns Business Initiative provides one-on-one business coaching, loan support, and a suite of third-party technical assistance programs, including branding, photography, and web development. For more information, please contact us at @business email
How can I get involved or volunteer with the Partnership?
Our Mon Forest Towns communities maintain local representatives and active working groups that help steward projects and priorities in their town. To get involved, visit our Team Page to connect with local representatives, or Contact Us directly.
How can our business collaborate with the Partnership?
Local businesses can learn more about participating in the Partnership’s Business Initiative and branding on our Resources Page or Contact Us.
Is there a digital asset library available for businesses or towns?
Yes, photo and video content is available for use by organization partners. For more information about our asset library, use restrictions, and access, please visit our Resources Page.
Where can I find survey results, research summaries, or planning documents?
Publicly available survey results and planning documents from the Mon Forest Towns and its strategic partners can be found on our Resources Page. For specific reports or documentation, please Contact Us.
Mon Forest Region
Where is the Monongahela Forest Region?
The Monongahela National Forest region is located on the eastern side of West Virginia, between the New River Gorge National Park and Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. It spans over a million acres of public land and extends nearly the entire length of the state, encompassing nearly 100 miles of the Appalachian Mountains’ Allegheny Range.
Who manages land in the Monongahela Forest region?
The largest land manager in the region is the United States Forest Service, including the over 900,000-acre Monongahela National Forest and portions of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest; however, the region also features the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge and the White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery as well as dozens of West Virginia Division of Natural Resource managed parks, forests, and wildlife management areas areas.
The region is also home to several nature and historic preserves managed by organizations such as the Nature Conservancy, West Virginia Land Trust, and West Virginia Cave Conservancy.
To discover more about the Mon’s public lands, check out our Interactive Map and always remember to follow land manager guidance when exploring!
What can I do in the Monongahela National Forest?
A true land of many uses, the Monongahela Forest offers opportunities for nearly every type of outdoor adventure, including hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping, skiing, snowshoeing, swimming, fishing, rafting, boating, hunting, geocaching, caving, hang-gliding, and even snorkeling! Always remember to follow all land manager rules and regulations when recreating.
Find out more about the Mon’s endless adventures by visiting our Recreation Areas Page.
Why was the Monongahela National Forest Established?
Lured by a seemingly endless supply of virgin timber and rich coal seams, the arrival of the railroad in the 1890s radically transformed West Virginia’s quiet mountain landscape. Overnight, small farming communities became bustling boom towns, and a dozen languages filled the streets. However, by the 1910s, the devastating impact of rampant resource extraction could no longer be ignored. The mountains, now stripped bare, burned for years, and the rivers became filled with debris and toxic chemicals that stained the rocks red. A surprising collaboration between early conservationists and Pittsburgh industrialists led to the passage of the Weeks Act in 1911, allowing for the creation of National Forests in the eastern United States. Over the next decade, the USFS slowly acquired key parcels of land around Parsons, and on April 28th, 1920, President Woodrow Wilson formally established the Monongahela National Forest.
Which towns are closest to popular recreation destinations?
All 12 of our towns are within 15 minutes of the Monongahela National Forest, and each offers unique outdoor and downtown experiences.
To explore our towns and their nearby recreation destinations, visit our Towns Page.
Does the Partnership manage trails or campgrounds?
No, while the Mon Forest Towns support environmental stewardship and trail maintenance in the Monongahela National Forest region, recreation sites are managed by the U.S. Forest Service or other land management agencies.
How can I explore the region responsibly and sustainably?
The Monongahela National Forest region is as remote as it is beautiful. To help protect yourself and this unique ecosystem, always remember to follow Leave No Trace Principles and follow all land manager guidance.
For more information about responsible recreation in the forest, please visit our Resources Page.
Brand & Licensing
How can my business or organization use the Mon Forest Towns brand or logo?
The Mon Forest Towns brand, logo, and style guides are available for licensed use with approval from the Partnership’s Marketing Committee. For more information about our brand use license agreement, visit our Resources Page.
How was the Mon Forest Towns brand developed?
The Mon Forest Towns brand was developed with support from West Virginia University’s College of Design, using a collaborative, community-centered approach.