SOAR still important, b...

One week ago today, the Shaping Our Appalachian Region Initiative hosted it’s second summit in Pikeville, Ky. If readers will recall, SOAR started with much fanfare, excitement and anticipation two years ago. Since it’s inception, SOAR has been funneling millions of dollars...

Kentucky students are j...

Editor’s Note: The following is a guest blog post from a guest blogger. The views and opinions expressed in this guest blog do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Renew Appalachia or of the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED). Six proud,...
A Place Worth Fighting For

A Place Worth Fighting ...

Given all the negative reporting about Appalachia’s problems and the subsequent “brain drain,” it may seem surprising that there are young people who are committed to their homes and communities, who feel an unbreakable tie to the mountains and who want to make their homeplaces better....

We Cannot Wait

Foothills Eco-Agri-Tourism Corporation (FEAT) and the UK Cooperative Extension Service hosted a workshop for entrepreneurs interested in advancing their ideas at Morehead’s Regional Enterprise Center in West Liberty, KY earlier this week (see post for details). Entrepreneurs working in...

Wendell Berry Asks̷...

Legendary Kentucky author, farmer and academic Wendell Berry contributed the following piece to the Appalachia-focused issue of the Solutions Journal: For more than 100 years the coal-producing counties of eastern Kentucky have been dependent on the coal industry, which has dominated...

Solutions Journal Turns...

Solutions, a publication “devoted to showcasing bold and innovative ideas for solving the world's integrated ecological, social, and economic problems”, has dedicated the platform of its fourth issue to highlighting needs and opportunities related to Central...

Saving the Small Town G...

Recognizing the important role community grocers play in rural areas, the Center for Rural Affairs has developed a resource called “Saving the Small Town Grocery Store”.In addition to providing local access to food items, community grocery stores serve as a social hub for small towns and...