UVA Wise and The Nature Conservancy Announce 2026 Cumberland Forest Community Fund Award Recipients
The Cumberland Forest Community Fund is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2026 grant awards, with a total of $170,989 allocated to support ten impactful projects across Southwest Virginia. Selected through a competitive review process, these projects will enhance environmental quality, strengthen community capacity and promote regional economic resilience.
The 2026 grant recipients represent a diverse range of initiatives, from expanding outdoor recreation access and conservation education to supporting local agriculture, community gathering spaces and cultural heritage projects. Together, they reflect the fund’s commitment to investing in nature-based solutions that improve quality of life while strengthening local economies.
"Southwest Virginia is home to extraordinary natural assets, and the Cumberland Forest Community Fund exists to help communities celebrate and build on that foundation,” said Brad Kreps, director of The Nature Conservancy’s Clinch Valley Program. “What makes this work special is that it starts at the grassroots level, with local organizations bringing forward their own ideas for connecting people to nature and creating the conditions for sustainable economic growth that will benefit the region for generations to come."
Now in its fifth year, the Cumberland Forest Community Fund supports nature-based economic and community development projects across seven Southwest Virginia counties: Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell and Wise counties, as well as the City of Norton.
Since its launch in 2022, the Cumberland Forest Community Fund has invested $650,989 in 45 community-based projects throughout the region. The program is built on an innovative funding model that combines mineral royalties due to the Cumberland Forest Project with philanthropic support generated by The Nature Conservancy and its partners, seeking to serve as a catalyst for long-term community and environmental resilience.
Established through a partnership among The Nature Conservancy, the Cumberland Forest Limited Partnership, the Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation and The University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVA Wise), the fund is a distinctive program for supporting nature-based development and economic diversification in Southwest Virginia communities.
"The Cumberland Forest Community Fund addresses a critical gap in the regional funding landscape, meeting communities where they are, investing in their vision and helping local organizations grow more confident and competitive over time,” said Randall Rose, associate vice chancellor for community and economic development at UVA Wise. “The result is a triple bottom line: projects that promote economic development, build community capacity and leverage the natural assets unique to Southwest Virginia."
“On behalf of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, we proudly congratulate this year’s award recipients, the dedicated local leaders who served on the review committee and our valued program partners,” said Holly Hatcher, president and CEO of the Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation. “This program exemplifies what is possible when we invest in the vision and leadership of those who know their communities best.”
Grant recipients were recognized and shared the impact of their projects during the Cumberland Forest Community Fund’s annual awards celebration, held in June at the UVA Wise Oxbow Center in St. Paul.
More information about this year’s awardees and the Cumberland Forest Community Fund is available at www.oxbowcenter.com/communityfund.
2026 Award Recipients:
- Appalachian Sustainable Development – Strolling Paths with Fruit Trees & Berry Bushes ($15,000)
Funds will support the development of accessible strolling paths featuring fruit trees and berry bushes, promoting community engagement with nature and local food production. - Breaks Interstate Park Commission – Breaks Interstate Park River Trail Construction ($25,000)
Through a long-standing partnership with the Central Appalachia Climbers Coalition, grant funding will support construction of new trails that create safe access to the lower canyon and expand outdoor recreation opportunities. - Clinch Valley Soil & Water Conservation District – Lebanon Wetland Enhancement Workshop ($16,140)
This initiative will support wetland enhancement efforts and educational programming, building local capacity for conservation and environmental stewardship. - Cumberland Mountain Fur Fish & Game Association – Facilities Upgrade ($8,250)
Funds will support facility improvements that enhance the organization's ability to serve its members and the broader community. - Dickenson County IDA – Community Honey Processing Center ($25,000)
This project will establish a shared honey processing center to support regional beekeepers, expand youth education opportunities and strengthen the agricultural economy. - Southwest Virginia Community Foundation – Bush Mill Enhancement Round 2—Telling Our Story ($15,000)
Building on previous enhancements at the historic Bush Mill, this second phase will focus on interpretive storytelling that deepens public understanding of the site's cultural and natural heritage. - The Gap Partnership Foundation – Memorial Skate Park Picnic and Pavilion Project ($22,599)
Grant funds will support the addition of a picnic area and pavilion at Memorial Skate Park, creating a welcoming community gathering space for residents and visitors of all ages. - Town of Cleveland – Cleveland Park Access & Enhancement ($15,000)
This project will improve access and amenities at Cleveland Park through construction of an ADA-accessible walking path and the planting of native trees, enabling residents to more fully experience the park, including its bridge and boardwalk. - Town of Gate City – Gate City Farmers Market ($15,000)
Funds will support the development of a farmers market that connects local producers with residents while strengthening the community's local food economy. - Town of Pennington Gap – Leeman Field Park Restroom ($14,000)
This project will add restroom facilities at Leeman Field Park, improving the usability, accessibility and overall visitor experience of this community recreational space.
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. Learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s work in Virginia at nature.org/virginia and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.
The Cumberland Forest Limited Partnership, managed by The Nature Conservancy, owns more than 250,000 acres in the coalfields of Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Cumberland Forest utilizes an impact investment approach to manage these lands for sustainable forestry, climate resiliency, renewable energy, recreational uses and economic opportunities for people and communities.
The Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation is committed to supporting initiatives and organizations that align with its mission to cultivate resilient communities and ecosystems in the places the Worrells called home. The Foundation focuses its grantmaking in specific Virginia counties in Greater Charlottesville, Far Southwest Virginia, and Surry County. Grantmaking focus areas include increasing economic mobility and well-being, preserving natural assets, and family legacy initiatives. To learn more, visit AGWorrellFoundation.org.