Mountain Music Exchange owners hope new model of trade-ins, online sales will usher in new era of doing business in EKY

Mountain Music Exchange...

Walking into Mountain Music Exchange in Pikeville, Ky., is a bit jarring. From the outside, the shop on Highway 23 looks nondescript enough. There’s an old radio-record player combo on one side of the lobby, next to a plush leather couch where parents wait on their children receiving...
Young eastern Kentucky entrepreneur creates his own opportunity

Young eastern Kentucky ...

By: Ivy Brashear Many people like to have a purpose behind the work they do – a reason why they do that work and what keeps them doing it. For Garrett, Ky., native Shane Hamilton, having purpose behind the work he does is more like a life mantra. “I have goals. I have a ‘why:’ ‘Why do I...
First official Trail Town in eastern Kentucky wants to develop economy around designation

First official Trail To...

By: Ivy Brashear Livingston, Ky., is a small place. At last count in 2010, the total population was 226 people. Main Street isn’t long enough for a single stoplight. Even when the L&N Railroad first came through town in 1870, Livingston stayed small. But the town’s size hasn’t kept...
MACED helps create possible new economic model for rural communities

MACED helps create poss...

By: Ivy Brashear The City of Berea in Madison County, Ky., hopes the Berea Artist Accelerator, an innovative new program born of a unique set of partnerships, will help plug the leak of Berea College graduates fleeing town after graduation, and in the process, become a model example for...
‘Central Appalachia is in mourning:’ New radio documentary details grief of losing coal in the region

‘Central Appalach...

“All over Appalachia, people are in different stages of mourning this thing that’s put dinner on the table and shaped culture for as long. Some are even starting to talk about transition – about Appalachia past coal.” So starts a piece from a new radio documentary...
Eastern Kentucky Transition stories in statewide media

Eastern Kentucky Transi...

At least two examples of economic transition in eastern Kentucky were in the media recently. Roundabout Music Company in Whitesburg was featured on Kentucky for Kentucky’s blog last week. Co-owners Matt Carter, Josh May, Jonathan Hootman and Ben Spangler spoke with KFK about what...
One reporter gives good, comprehensive report about Appalachian Transition

One reporter gives good...

There has been some relatively dire (and somewhat bias) reporting about Appalachia coming from the national media lately. But at least one news outlet is looking at a more broad and complete picture of the region – a picture that showcases the outstanding transition work happening all...
Transition Stories: Whitesburg businesses build something together

Transition Stories: Whi...

One thing Amelia Kirby and David Fisher both knew when they opened businesses in downtown Whitesburg was that they wouldn’t get rich. They knew it was about something larger. I. Summit City When Kirby and her partner, Joel Beverly, opened Summit City Lounge in 2007, they had a feeling...