Elkins Welcomes New WVU President, Celebrates Two Years of Ascend WV Success
Today, City employees joined local organizations—including the Augusta Heritage Center, Elkins Area Shared Trails, 4-H, the Randolph County Development Authority, and the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber—in welcoming WVU’s new president, Dr. Michael T. Benson, during his 18-county tour of West Virginia. Dr. Benson says he plans to visit every county in the state over the coming months.
During the meet-and-greet, the City presented a proclamation to WVU, the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative (OEDC), and Ascend WV, thanking them for selecting Elkins as one of the five Ascend WV communities. This month marks two years since Ascend Greater Elkins began attracting remote professionals to the area.
According to Ascend WV, this is a snapshot of what has occurred since Elkins opened its doors to Ascend WV:
- The program has received more than 10,700 applications from prospective residents
- Welcomed 57 Ascend Members (and their families), totaling 112 new residents in Elkins
- Witnessed relocations from 23 states, including California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Texas
- Welcomed back the 11% of members who were born in West Virginia; 89% are experiencing the Mountain State for the first time
- 16% are small business owners or self-employed, thereby doing their part to boost the local economy and tax base
- 30% have purchased homes
- Ascend members have attended almost 300 local events organized by Ascend or in partnership with various community groups
- A 98% retention rate
- Two newborns (plus one born just before relocation!)
Learn about Ascend WV here: https://ascendwv.com/
Davis & Elkins College, Chamber, and City of Elkins Launch Small Business Survey
Elkins, WV, October 27, 2025 — Davis & Elkins College, the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Elkins are partnering on a new initiative to understand the needs of our local small businesses. Student researchers from D&E are leading […]
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City Hall News: Week of November 2, 2025
Elkins, WV, October 31, 2025: City Hall is urging residents to sign up for emergency text alerts. Residents with mobile phones can receive important alerts including weather warnings, street closures, and water outages. They will also receive reminders about changes to city […]
Read MoreCity Hall News: Week of October 26, 2025
Elkins, WV, October 26, 2025: Happy Halloween! Residential Halloween trick-or-treating hours will be on Friday, October 31, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Being that Halloween occurs on a Friday night this year, we urge all drivers – and parents – to […]
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City of Elkins Wastewater Department Launches New Apprenticeship Program
ELKINS, WV, October 21, 2025: The City of Elkins Wastewater Department announces the launch of its new, grant-funded Apprenticeship Program, offering a paid pathway to a stable and skilled career. Applications for the program will open from November 1, 2025, through December 1, […]
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Media Advisory: Regional Task Force to Discuss Challenges with Expanding PRSS (“Peer”) Support Services
The general public is always welcome to attend this task force’s meetings. This task force has met monthly since 2021 to address some of the most pressing challenges facing Elkins and North Central West Virginia. All Elkins City Hall meetings and agendas […]
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City of Elkins Enhances Online Security with New .Gov Domain
The City of Elkins has upgraded its digital infrastructure with its transition to a .gov domain. Our new online address is now https://cityofelkinswv.gov. This move to an official government top-level domain (TLD) reinforces the City’s commitment to security, trust, and reliable communication with […]
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