Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 48

peaks. The social tapestry of the Greenbrier
Valley is also softer and tighter
knit. Folks linger around cups of dark
roast at Tootsie's Place, ask about each
other's kids while grocery shopping and,
of course, tap their horns whenever they
spot a neighbor out and about.
" I take my dog, Ava, on a long walk
CREATE
YOUR NEXT
ADVENTURE!
Wander our country roads through river valleys,
small towns and into the mountains to enjoy scenic
drives, heritage trails, and traditional local events
down Main Street every morning, " says
Phillips. " Since the town is so small, it's
inevitable that someone I know is going
to see me and honk. "
Needless to say, Southern hospitality
runs deep in White Sulphur Springs. But
that's not why Phillips traded his metropolitan
existence for a decidedly rural
one. Instead, he owes his move to Ascend
West Virginia.
A collaborative
endeavor between
West Virginia University and the West
Virginia Department of Tourism, Ascend
seeks to boost local tax revenues by offering
$12,000 in cash, plus other benefits,
to telecommuters who relocate to one of
five areas in West Virginia: Morgantown,
Greenbrier Valley, Eastern Panhandle,
Greater Elkins and the New River Gorge.
According to program director EmCome
for the day but plan to stay the night and experience the
natural beauty and the genuine hospitality of West Virginia!
Photography by Alan Kelly
ily Huguenin, the initiative officially
launched in April 2021 after receiving a
$25 million donation from Brad Smith,
the CEO of Intuit (TurboTax) and his
wife, Alys. Since then, more than 30,000
remote workers employed by out-of-state
and out-of-country companies have applied
with hopes of putting down roots
in Almost Heaven. But only applicants
who showed " a strong interest in West
Virginia and their community of choice "
have been selected, says Huguenin.
So far, 155 individuals have made the
move to the Mountain State-Phillips
included.
As a federal consultant to the United
States Department of Veteran Affairs,
Phillips spent more than 20 years living
in the metropolis of D.C. And while
the location was convenient for work, it
wasn't all that convenient for play.
" I enjoy snowboarding, mountain
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Follow us on
48 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
#VisitHardyWV
biking, hiking and camping, " he explains.
" I could travel and do those things while
living in D.C., but I just wanted to be
closer to outdoor adventure. "
Thus, moving to West Virginia-a
state that pegs itself as " Wild and Wonderful " -was
an obvious choice. " It's
http://www.VISITHARDYWV.COM http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM

Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023

Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 3
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 4
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 5
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 6
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 7
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 8
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 9
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 10
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 11
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 12
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 13
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Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 21
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 22
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Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 26
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 27
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 28
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 29
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 30
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 31
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 32
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 33
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 34
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 35
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Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 37
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Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 47
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 48
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 49
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Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 66
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - Cover4
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