BAF Partners With Wyoming County EDA To Announce Writing Contest For Wyoming County

The Wyoming County Economic Development Authority is hosting a writing competition to encourage and recognize, through grant awards, new or established writers of Wyoming County, WV. The purpose is to help keep alive and inspire new historical and cultural endeavors through the craft of writing. Applicants must submit an entry to the Planning Commission comprised of writers and Wyoming County residents.  
Awards will be made based upon the merit of submitted work. There will be three prizes available for elementary students and two prizes available for each of the remaining categories. These awards are made possible by the generous gift of a Wyoming County donor, Lonnie Bailey, who created the Literature Fund for Wyoming County at BAF. Each entry will receive a certificate of participation.

Winners will be announced in Spring 2022, and there is no entry fee, although BAF encourages each applicant to submit 1-3 entries. Entries must be submitted to the Planning Commission between January 1, 2022 — March 31, 2022. 
 
Entries must be sent to the Planning Commission at 506A River Road, P.O. Box 1828, Pineville, WV, 24874 OR emailed to [email protected]. If emailing, please include “Wyoming County Writing Contest” in the subject line.

Lonnie Bailey is the author of 19 books, 18 of them being composed of poetry. His poetry has been published in 93 anthologies and his songs have been included on five CDs; he had a play performed by the Mullens Community Theater. On more than 170 occasions he has had material published in various newspapers and magazines. Lonnie Bailey’s work, both prose and poetry, has received dozens of national and international honors. Lonnie is also working on a Lonnie Bailey Scholarship with BAF to support Wyoming County students seeking higher education. Details will be released at a later date.

Anyone interested in donating to the writing contest fund may mail contributions with "Wyoming County Literature Fund” in the memo to BAF, 129 Main St. Suite 301, Beckley, WV 25801 or click the button below to donate online. If you are interested in leaving a bequest, call BAF at 304-253-3806 or email   [email protected].

Support the Literature Fund for Wyoming County