Thriving mining, forestry, agriculture, and chemical industries once supported local economies in the Central Appalachian Coalfields region, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. This region remains among the most impoverished in the United States, making local concern about the economic impact of phasing out coal as an energy source far from groundless. However, the region is well-positioned to embrace a vibrant, diverse economy, including manufacturing, service industries, renewable energy development, tourism, and a revived forest products industry.

OUR APPROACH: Experts in economic modeling, rural sociology, ecology, forestry, tourism, and policy, are collaborating with community economic development practitioners who understand the unique culture, opportunities, and constraints of the Central Appalachian Coalfields.

This team is made possible in part by the generous support of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (www.ddcf.org). The mission of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation is to improve the quality of people’s lives by offering grants that support performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research, child well-being, and preserving the cultural and environmental legacy of Doris Duke’s properties.