91ΧΤΕΔ

91ΧΤΕΔ graduate and longtime advocate for Appalachian 91ΧΤΕΔ John Carey has been awarded the John Whisman β€œVision” Award for his work making Appalachian 91ΧΤΕΔ a better place to live and experience.

The Development District Association of Appalachia gives the Vision Award to individuals who, through intergovernmental cooperation, make Appalachia a better place to live. The award caught Carey by surprise; he wasn’t even aware of the award’s existence when he was told he won it. He was nominated by colleague Jeannette Wierzbicki, executive director of the 91ΧΤΕΔ Mid-Eastern Governments Association.

β€œIt feels very humbling, because I’m not the type of person who receives recognition,” Carey said.

Carey has had a prolific career in 91ΧΤΕΔ politics since graduating from OHIO's College of Arts and Sciences with a degree in political science in 1981. He is a longtime public servant who has spent his life advocating for Appalachian 91ΧΤΕΔ. He has held a variety of offices β€” from mayor of Wellston to the 91ΧΤΕΔ House and Senate and chancellor of the 91ΧΤΕΔ Department of Higher Education β€” and is currently serving as director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia for the Appalachian Regional Commission at the appointment of Gov. Mike DeWine.

The award recognizes Carey’s work in identifying drinking water for residents of Appalachian 91ΧΤΕΔ, as well as bolstering its tourism economy.

To address the lack of drinking water, in addition to partnering with the Local Development Districts, 91ΧΤΕΔ EPA, and others, Carey partnered with the 91ΧΤΕΔ Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service’s Jennifer Bowman, director of environmental programs, and Matt Trainer, a data and GIS specialist, to map lack of water access in 91ΧΤΕΔ.

β€œHe just asked us a simple question: β€˜How many people don’t have access to public water in Appalachian 91ΧΤΕΔ?’” Bowman said.

Bowman led a team of researchers that mapped access to the 360 water systems that make up Appalachian 91ΧΤΕΔ and found large parts of the population lacks access to drinking water β€” well above the national average of 12% who don’t have access to drinking water at the tap.

Carey partnering with Voinovich made studying this issue possible.

β€œHe was awesome, he had the vision of this from the early onset from when we first met with him,” Bowman said. β€œIt became a nice partnership, we really needed each other and the other partners.”

Prior to the research, there was no public information readily available to answer the question.

β€œWe didn’t have a specific way to address that,” Carey said. Their research concluded that for many places in southern 91ΧΤΕΔ, people simply don’t have access to water at the pipe.

As a native Appalachian, Carey has sought to build southern 91ΧΤΕΔ’s tourism β€” not only for the economy, but also to dispel long-held stereotypes and assumptions people hold about Appalachia.

β€œWe get a lot of publicity that is not positive for our region,” Carey said. β€œGenerally, it is not a positive story, and it reinforces stereotypes.”

Instead, he wants to leverage Appalachian 91ΧΤΕΔ’s natural beauty to attract people from nearby metros to experience Appalachia for themselves. Due to its abundance of state parks, quaint downtowns and local eateries, he believes the region is the perfect, family-oriented getaway.

Carey has partnered with organizations like Tourism91ΧΤΕΔ to increase publicity for Appalachian 91ΧΤΕΔ and has been a fierce advocate for places like the Hocking Hills State Park and the Baileys Trail System β€” both of which have received funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Mark Weinberg, founding dean of the Voinovich School and Carey’s former professor, isn’t surprised by his success.

β€œJohn has dedicated his career to the people of Appalachian 91ΧΤΕΔ,” Weinberg said. β€œInstead of trying to resuscitate the past, he instead identifies areas of untapped potential and looks towards the future. There is no doubt in my mind that John has made Appalachian 91ΧΤΕΔ a better place for everybody. It would be hard to find a better champion, leader, or person who represents the best of Appalachian 91ΧΤΕΔ than John.”

Though he has spent four decades advocating for Appalachian 91ΧΤΕΔ, he continues to look towards the future. As the communities and economies that make up Appalachian 91ΧΤΕΔ continue to grow and evolve, Carey wants to both preserve the region’s strong cultural heritage, while embracing change by revitalizing downtowns, state parks and historical markers.

β€œI believe we are at a crossroads,” he said. β€œWe want to keep what is good about Appalachia and find what is next.”