Invest Appalachia

We are excited to see that the Trust for Civic Life is doubling down on Central Appalachia as a critical region for their efforts to revitalize civic life in small towns and rural communities. Congrats to our regional partners who were awarded "Civic Entrepreneur" grants! WV HUB Black By God THE WEST VIRGINIAN Hemphill Community Center Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky Northfork Local Food The RiffRaff Arts Collective PODER Emma The Industrial Commons https://lnkd.in/eGqHTjbe

The recent Executive Order on “Reducing the Federal Bureaucracy” has raised serious concerns about the future of the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund—a critical resource for economic opportunity in underinvested communities. At the Appalachia Funders Network (AFN), we stand alongside our CDFI members, who are the backbone of economic resilience in our region. CDFIs are more than financial institutions—they are engines of opportunity. They provide affordable capital where traditional banks will not, supporting everything from small businesses and community facilities to affordable housing and disaster recovery. Across Appalachia, CDFIs have leveraged every $1 in public investment into an average of $8 in private capital, catalyzing local economies that have long been overlooked by mainstream financial systems. In times of crisis, CDFIs step up—whether that means keeping small businesses afloat, financing housing in rural communities, or investing in disaster recovery after historic floods. Weakening the CDFI Fund would be a direct hit to the communities that need investment the most. We are proud to support these incredible CDFIs in the Appalachia Funders Network: Appalachian Community Capital, Mountain BizWorks, Mountain Association, REDF, Partner Community Capital? , Redbud Financial Alternatives, Inc., and BetterFi. We also deeply value our Community Development Entity partners, whose strategic use of the CDFI Fund's New Markets Tax Credits Program is instrumental in unlocking investment and fostering prosperity in Appalachia. AFN’s Community Development Entity partners include The Innovate Fund, Rural LISC, Locus, and Truist Community Capital. For generations, people in these mountains have built strong, self-sustaining communities despite historic underinvestment. CDFIs have been critical partners in that work—financing local businesses, supporting homeownership, and making sure capital reaches the people and places too often overlooked. Their work is not just essential—it is transformational, shaping a future where Appalachian communities can build prosperity on their own terms. At a time when rural communities need access to affordable capital more than ever, weakening the CDFI Fund would be a step in the wrong direction. We call on funders, policymakers, and investors to stand with Appalachian CDFIs, protect this vital funding, and ensure that these institutions remain strong and effective for the communities that depend on them. #CDFIsInvest #ProtectTheCDFIFund #Appalachia #EconomicOpportunity #CommunitiesFirst

Fahe is providing a Disaster Impact Needs Survey for residents whose households have been impacted by the recent flooding in KY, WV, VA, or TN. Responses will inform Housing Can’t Wait’s potential recovery housing opportunities. All information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for the purpose of assisting households affected by the disaster. To fill out the survey, visit?https://lnkd.in/eem23F4w All impacted residents are also encouraged to connect with local emergency management and to document and report all damage. Read more at Housing Can’t Wait:?https://lnkd.in/epMzsjrk

It is with heaviness that we watched the flooding unfold and impact our communities in Eastern Kentucky, Southern West Virginia, Southwest Virginia, and Tennessee yesterday and overnight. This morning, we sit with the shock, and reality, of this being the second region-wide and catastrophic flood within six months, and less than three years following the catastrophic flooding that hit Eastern KY and parts of Southwestern Virginia in the summer of 2022. And now, in the immediate aftermath, our communities prepare for snow and frigid temperatures. In this state of shock amongst our team and partners, we are reminded of the importance of the ongoing nature of recovery work and the absolute necessity of building regional resiliency on a systems-wide scale. As a network, we remain committed to the Central Appalachian region, and all those who live within it. We are staying abreast of all updates and initiatives as they occur; for now, donate to the following causes, each of which we can vouch for, and tap into the local mutual aid networks that provide information/updates from the ground, as well as immediate relief. Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky - Appalachia Crisis Aid Fund (KY):?https://lnkd.in/gyyPUj5b eKY Mutual Aid (EKY):?https://lnkd.in/e-EFEJs9 Lonesome Pine Mutual Aid (SWVA):?https://lnkd.in/eVsPX92k Cumberland Mountain Mutual Aid (SWVA):?https://lnkd.in/epnfQab5 Care Collective of Southwest VA (SWVA):?https://lnkd.in/ebE7PpPP More information: https://lnkd.in/eUzTPtui?(edited)? Appalachian Flood.png ?

Do you live in a community that was impacted by flooding and/or considering a FEMA buy-out? IA has worked with our partners from SBP to create this reference document outlining the program to help inform community partners’ decision making. A huge thank you to Jeff Fugate, Brendan Muckian-Bates, Katherine Garvey, Nicholas Shanahan, Samuel Taylor, Brent Sturlaugson, the SBP team including Angela Calabro, and others for sharing their valuable insights and expertise as Invest Appalachia conducted research on this topic. Please feel free to share this resource with community partners impacted by Hurricane Helene and other natural disasters. Extra thanks to IA's Intake Specialist Makala Gray for leading this project. https://lnkd.in/eG5yGnmN

Calling all Western North Carolina partners, check out this exciting opportunity with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy to support recovery & resilience efforts post Hurricane Helene!

Fascinating report from our friends at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond on the Philanthropy Gap in Rural America, which calls attention to funding disparities that negatively impact regions like Appalachia that are already historically under-resourced. New research shows that rural areas, which account for 20% of the US population, receive a mere 3% of all philanthropic grantmaking according to Andrew Dumont (down from previous estimates of 7%). Tony Pipa notes that federal funding programs focused on rural have their own challenges, including bias towards population density and match requirements that are difficult when funding resources are so constrained. "Rural communities are often places where traditional market structures don't work as well. Public funds and private philanthropic funds play a more important catalytic role in rural places than they might elsewhere." Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation's Jennifer Giovannitti, the WV HUB, Impact Investments at RWJF and Invest Appalachia's Community Investment "Framer" Training program with the Richmond Fed are cited as examples for funders to follow, as the report calls for "a willingness on the part of funders to invest in an area over decades rather than years". "Replacing jobs in a dying coal industry with jobs in a factory is the easiest way to get the same scale of economic development, but we don't see it as durable and we don't see it as necessarily advancing long-term community wealth building," says Invest Appalachia CEO Andrew Crosson. "Our approach is much more focused on slow, steady, bottom-up community-based economic development." https://lnkd.in/eT_pkKx6

IA serves on the advisory board for the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, which is providing grants for environmental justice and resilience projects in EPA region 3, which includes Virginia and West Virginia. The deadline is January 25 - learn more and apply here! https://lnkd.in/e6MK5Ark

Are you ready to inspire recovery in Appalachia? Apply for Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)'s INSPIRE Initiative! As we continue to invest in recovery-to-work projects ARC is seeking proposals to help Appalachians overcome substance use disorder, re-enter the workforce and contribute to their communities. Learn more and submit your Letter of Intent using the link below. Deadline for submissions is February 14. https://lnkd.in/ev_cnmjN

IA is seeking to hire a Director of Investment, Investment Associate, and Strategic Communication Manager! ?If you’re interested in joining our small but mighty team, you can find more information on our website or by scanning the QR code below. https://lnkd.in/egryptQj Accepting applications for Director of Investment and Investment Associate until January 27th. The deadline for applying to the Strategic Communication Manager closes this Friday, January 17th. #impactinvesting #Appalachia #ruraldevelopment #remotework #socialfinance #squadgoals