The Community Collaborative, Inc., is a consortium composed of West Virginia organizations involved in various aspects of community development in West Virginia. It was founded on the recognition that long-term progress in troubled communities depends on a wide range of programs, that such progress is usually a cumulative effect of many efforts, and that programs can amplify the cumulative effect by working together. This approach leads to synergy between diverse programs and more effective ways for organizations to carry out their individual missions by building on each others' work.

The Community Collaborative brings together higher education, government agencies and non-profit organizations. Among the members are the West Virginia Development Office, West Virginia University Extension, the Center for Economic Options, the Governor's Cabinet for Families and Children, the Center for Rural Health Development, the West Virginia Rural Development Council, USDA Rural Development and Brushy Fork Institute.

Originally conceived as a vehicle for networking and exchanging information, the Collaborative now conducts it's own programs, planned and jointly operated by the member organizations. These have included a multi-county community development program now in its third year of ARC-funded operation, a fellowship program and a facilitation training series.

To learn more, visit the West Virginia Community Collaborative's web site.