About Us

Our Mission

Inspiring the courage to grow, activating the creativity to innovate, and cultivating communities of opportunity in central Appalachia through four core capabilities:

  • Designing and Scaling New Programs in Emerging Sectors
  • Incubating and Investing in Well-Paying Employment Social Enterprises
  • Facilitating Personal, Professional, and Academic Growth for People Facing Barriers to Employment
  • Advancing, Completing, and/or Managing Community Based Revitalization Projects

Our Vision

Resilient rural communities with socially and financially thriving economies which create the
community conditions for all kinds of people to unlock their full potential, power, and purpose.

Our Values

Gumption

  • No complaining or whining
  • Commit to excellent work
  • Fully participate; dive in
  • Believe in yourself, each other, and your community
  • Do hard work towards big goals

Grit

  • Doggedly pursue solutions
    to problems
  • Follow through
  • Reflect; be fully present
  • Find the joy
  • Learn and grow

Grace

  • Stay humble; continually improve
  • Trust and relationships are top priority
  • Take time to listen, especially
    with whom you differ
  • Value each other’s unique strengths
  • Be genuine and honest

Our Theory of Change and Team Principles

Our team principles help us set priorities and shape decision-making. They bring our organizational strategies to life and guide us in how to apply our theory of change day-in and day-out. As with all of our work, our principles are grounded in our values and vision, but they are more specific and tangible.

(Impact Statistic as of January 2023.)

13 Years Rebuilding Appalachia

This interactive timeline was created to give you a glimpse of accomplishments throughout our first 13 years.

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

We have played a key role in attracting over $100 million in new investment to the region.

(Impact Statistic as of January 2023.)