Kicking Off Our Workforce Development Training (PATH 2026)

Healthy forests depend on skilled people to care for them, but across the Appalachian region, there isn't enough forestry workforce capacity to support private land management. Limited career opportunities and a lack of accessible entry-level career paths have made it difficult for new workers to enter the field, creating a growing shortage of forestry professionals. As a part of the design of our forest management carbon program, we're helping address that challenge by supporting the Central Appalachian forestry workforce with training programs. By creating opportunities for individuals to gain experience, develop practical skills, and begin careers in forestry, we're investing not only in healthier forests but also in the communities that depend on them. 

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Through landowner enrollment in ACE's forest carbon projects, participating landowners receive professional forest management plans that outline practices to improve long-term forest health and resilience. These recommended stewardship activities, like invasive species management, timber stand improvement, and other sustainable forestry practices, not only benefit the forest but also create opportunities for a skilled local workforce trained to carry out this important work. 

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Our Partnerships

ACE would not exist without collaboration. The communities of Appalachia are at the heart of everything we do, which is why we value partnerships with organizations that share our commitment to conservation, workforce development, and community impact. That’s why we came together with Coalfield Development Corporation and West Virginia University's Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative this June (2026) to kick off a paid on-the-job training initiative in Logan, West Virginia, modeled after Coalfield Development's Professional Accelerated Training & Hiring (PATH) Program.

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ACE is piloting a forestry workforce development training program in West Virginia and Kentucky that focuses on increasing skills and preparing employees for forestry and natural resource management positions.  Through the experience and wisdom of our partners at Coalfield Development, the forestry program has been able to build on proven workforce development models, creating meaningful opportunities that strengthen both people and the places they call home. West Virginia University (WVU) has also been an invaluable partner, providing grant funding that has built upon the forestry upskilling to include stormwater cleanup training. By working together, we're able to amplify natural resource skill training while creating lasting benefits for Appalachian communities.

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Coalfield Development Corporation

Since 2009, Coalfield Development has focused on rebuilding the Appalachian economy from the ground up by supporting individuals who face significant barriers to employment, including justice-involved and recovery-system-involved individuals. Coalfield Development features the PATH Program (Professional Accelerated Training & Hiring) model, an intensive workforce program built to equip displaced workers with stable, future-proof skills.

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West Virginia University (WVU)

Thanks to grant funding from West Virginia University, ACE has expanded its stormwater cleanup efforts through community cleanup projects and hands-on training opportunities. As a valued partner, WVU continues to support our work by helping strengthen local communities and promote environmental stewardship across the region. 

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The PATH Program Recap: Summer 2026

ACE and Coalfield recruited 20 participants for this training from Logan and Mingo Counties, most of whom were unemployed or underemployed at program entry. All of the participants were enrolled with Region's Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) and WV Adult Education. The participants were referred to Jobs and Hope and The REACH Initiative for additional support services that go beyond the six-week PATH Training. 

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Here is how the 6-week program unfolded:

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Week 1 (Orientation & Readiness)‍

During the first week of the training, Coalfield Development spent time working one-on-one with participants to assess any barriers to employment they may be facing. They worked to develop a plan to overcome those barriers over the course of the training, and to get each person connected to resource providers who can support them in long-term barrier removal. The goal of this is to help with things like reinstating driver’s licenses and removing similar employment barriers. Coalfield took several participants during that first week to obtain their photo ID, social security card, and birth certificate.

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Week 2 (Core Safety Certifications)‍

Week 2 focused on gaining the necessary safety credentials needed to secure a career in forestry or other trade skill jobs. Each participant had the opportunity to earn their OSHA 10, First Aid CPR AED, Woodchipper Safety, Chainsaw Safety, Stop the Bleed, Wilderness First Aid, and HAZWOPER 40 certifications.

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Weeks 3 & 4 (On-the-Job & Field Training)‍

While one cohort worked in the field, the other focused on curriculum blocks, rotating the following week. During the Appalachian Carbon Exchange (ACE) forestry track, trainees learned tree identification (dendrology), forest inventory techniques, forest management prescriptions, logging road construction, and invasive species removal. Trainees also participated in daily trail building work, balancing class portions with active field applications.

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Week 5 (Hazardous Materials)‍

Trainees expanded their environmental resource skillsets by undergoing specialized hazardous substance training, making them safer and more versatile job candidates.

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Week 6 (Stormwater Cleanup & Final Certifications)‍

Using the grant funding brought in by WVU, the final week kicked off with a focus on stormwater cleanup. As the week progressed, they focused on job-readiness skills like resume building, practice interviews, WIOA & OJT applications, and wrapped up the week with a job fair, Northstar proctored exams, and exit interviews.

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Connections with Employers

The ultimate goal of this program is about more than handing out certificates—it’s to help provide people with employability and long-term careers. That’s why the program hosted a targeted hiring fair directly after the training’s completion. Coalfield Development provided dedicated job matching support, working closely with the trainees to polish their final resumes, navigate the application process for active regional openings, and practice through interview preparation. 

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Participants made connections with many relevant fields, such as union, environmental consulting, and vegetation service employers. The class began with 20 participants and ended with 17 people graduating from the program, leading to an 85% program completion rate. Two of those graduates secured local employment by the program’s end. In total, 156 certificates were earned among all of the participants, including the safety certificates, Northstar digital literacy certificates, and program completion certificates

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Coalfield is completing monthly follow-ups with the program’s participants to determine if more graduates were employed and/or connecting them with employment opportunities in the area. Overall, we’re happy to have helped turn six weeks of hard work into immediate employment opportunities by directly connecting workers with regional employers.

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Join Us For Future Workforce Development Opportunities

Missed out on the latest training session? No worries! More workforce development opportunities await.

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If you’re interested in partnering on our future workforce programs, please reach out to us at community@appalachiancarbonexchange.com. And for those who are interested in finding work, keep an eye out for future training programs across the region.