As 2024 draws to a close, we at the Rural Growth Initiative are filled with gratitude for the unexpected opportunities to make a difference beyond our usual focus on economic development. When our colleague Billy Parrish in Brevard, NC, highlighted the urgent need for blankets, we knew we had to step up. With the incredible support of our community, Nathan H Nevels our Regional Director for Appalachia and Executive Director Paul Daniele raised nearly $2,000 and delivered close to 100 blankets to families in western North Carolina. It has and will be incredibly cold this year and many individuals remain in need of assistance in the wake of Hurricane Helene. We’re grateful to the anonymous donors, friends, family, colleagues, and even our local Walmart and Kroger for contributing to this effort. A special moment for our Executive Director Paul Daniele was delivering these blankets alongside his sons preparing shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child program. As we move into 2025, we encourage everyone to seek opportunities to support those in need, whether through community initiatives or helping those impacted by natural disasters. Together, we can continue fostering compassion and generosity in the year ahead. #CommunityService #OperationChristmasChild #RuralGrowth #YearInReview #Gratitude
Rural Growth Initiative
非盈利组织
Columbia，South Carolina 191 位关注者
Our mission is to put rural communities on a path to sustainable growth while preserving character and culture.
关于我们
The Rural Growth Initiative (RGI) was started in 2022 but was formally established in 2023 by a group of individuals with a passion for bettering rural communities and making a difference. Our goal is to bring innovative solutions and integrity to foundation work in rural areas, particularly in the Southeastern United States. RGI continues to build their team and is actively looking for Advisory Board members.
- 网站
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RuralGrowthInitiative.org
Rural Growth Initiative的外部链接
- 所属行业
- 非盈利组织
- 规模
- 2-10 人
- 总部
- Columbia，South Carolina
- 类型
- 非营利机构
- 创立
- 2023
地点
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主要
获取路线
1320 Main St
Suite 300
US，South Carolina，Columbia，29201
Rural Growth Initiative员工
动态
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This morning we were thrilled to share about how Botetourt County is building a remote work ready community. Members of our County Administration and Economic Development Teams were able to share the work that we have been doing in partnership with our colleagues at the Roanoke Regional Partnership and the Rural Growth Initiative to support the remote workers that live in our county as well as attract these types of workers to live in our beautiful little part of Virginia! Thank you to John Provo and the entire team at the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement for letting us share our successes, opportunities and strategies to make Botetourt County a Certified Remote Work Community! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gy3cAtDr #remotework #workfromhome #economicdevelopment Virginia Association of Counties Virginia Economic Development Partnership
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We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Nathan H. Nevels II to the Rural Growth Initiative team as our new Regional Director for Appalachia! With over 32 years of experience as an educator, principal, and grant writer, Nathan has dedicated his career to uplifting Southeastern Kentucky communities. His leadership as the Economic Development Director of McCreary County, where he spearheaded initiatives that transformed local economies, is a testament to his passion and commitment. Nathan's hands-on experience, from recruiting at-home workers to revitalizing McCreary County’s business spaces and airport, showcases his remarkable ability to drive economic growth. His deep-rooted connection to Appalachia and his personal journey inspire us as he joins RGI to help other struggling communities regain prosperity. Please join us in welcoming Nathan Nevels to our team! Together, we look forward to making a lasting impact in the Appalachian region.
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Just returned from an unforgettable visit to Benham, Lynch, and Cumberland in Harlan County, Kentucky, deep in the heart of Appalachia—truly one of the most beautiful places in America and an incredible place to live and raise a family. The history here is rich, but it’s the breathtaking landscapes and the unwavering community spirit that make it so special. We spent much of our time discussing strategies to reverse population declines and bring new growth into these incredible communities. The tender love and care that local residents pour into their homes and neighborhoods is inspiring. We had the privilege of meeting with both seasoned and emerging leaders who are dedicated to helping the Tri-Cities area thrive. As the Rural Growth Initiative Executive Director, alongside Billy Parrish and Nathan Nevels from McCreary County, it was an honor to be part of this important work. While challenges remain, particularly around housing and downtown revitalization, the hope and positivity we witnessed are what truly stand out. I’m excited to share a few photos that capture that spirit of hope, with more to come as our work continues. Special thanks to Tri-Cities Main Street program and Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College for being incredible hosts! Jonathan Bennett for coordinating, Nathan Nevels, Billy Parrish for joining the Rural Growth Initiative team.
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Our team just returned from a productive trip for Lynch, Benham, and Cumberland in Harlan County Kentucky. More to come as we work with these communities in the months and years to come!
Just returned from an unforgettable visit to Benham, Lynch, and Cumberland in Harlan County, Kentucky, deep in the heart of Appalachia—truly one of the most beautiful places in America and an incredible place to live and raise a family. The history here is rich, but it’s the breathtaking landscapes and the unwavering community spirit that make it so special. We spent much of our time discussing strategies to reverse population declines and bring new growth into these incredible communities. The tender love and care that local residents pour into their homes and neighborhoods is inspiring. We had the privilege of meeting with both seasoned and emerging leaders who are dedicated to helping the Tri-Cities area thrive. As the Rural Growth Initiative Executive Director, alongside Billy Parrish and Nathan Nevels from McCreary County, it was an honor to be part of this important work. While challenges remain, particularly around housing and downtown revitalization, the hope and positivity we witnessed are what truly stand out. I’m excited to share a few photos that capture that spirit of hope, with more to come as our work continues. Special thanks to Tri-Cities Main Street program and Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College for being incredible hosts! Jonathan Bennett for coordinating, Nathan Nevels, Billy Parrish for joining the Rural Growth Initiative team.
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Our Executive Director and Advisory Board members Dr. Adam Cheeseman and Curtis Lee spent some time with Dr. Kyle Wagner the President of Northeastern Technical College today. What an amazing day filled with hope and excitement!
Today felt like history in the making! I had the honor of facilitating a meeting between Dr. Kyle Wagner, President of Northeastern Technical College, and Dr. Adam Cheeseman from Doddridge County, West Virginia. Their collaboration epitomizes the power of knowledge transfer between two professionals at the top of their fields, separated by 400+ miles and the Appalachians, but brought together with intentionality. Dr. Cheeseman shared insights from their remarkable journey—elevating their school district from 53rd to consistently ranking in the top 10 counties in WV (FYI - there are only 55 counties in WV). This was attributable in part to groundbreaking workforce development and "whole-child" strategies. These experiences were a fitting connection to Dr. Wagner's cutting edge approach to technical education being implemented here in South Carolina. For background, over a year ago, Adam and I first met at the Investing in Rural America Conference in Roanoke. I am immensely grateful to Tom Barkin, Erika Bell, and the entire team at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond for their foresight in the value of knowledge sharing and the free exchange of ideas. Returning home this evening, I was greeted by a rainbow, a fitting symbol of hope and promise from above. ???????? At the Rural Growth Initiative, with incredible team members like Curtis Lee and Adam Cheeseman, we feel privileged to be leading efforts to facilitate the sharing of innovative ideas across the nation. We've been on the ground pushing hard on multiple fronts to solve the most pressing challenges in our rural communities and we are just getting started - we look forward to announcing much more in the coming weeks. ?? Special thanks to Lauren Odems and Sherrie Chapman for making this happen! #RuralGrowthInitiative #WorkforceDevelopment #EducationRenewal #CommunityLeadership #InvestingInRuralAmerica #RuralGrowthInitiative #RuralSC
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Our Executive Director Paul Daniele recently made it big in Hollywood! Our team travels extensively though the southeast looking for and meeting with leaders of rural communities that are stepping forward to reinvigorate their communities. #ruralsc
I finally made it to Hollywood… errr…. ….South Carolina, that is! ?????? During my visit I had a fantastic meeting with Mayor Chardale Murray where we discussed the bright future of this charming town. As the executive director of the Rural Growth Initiative, our team is eager to explore potential partnerships like this to preserve Hollywood’s unique culture and natural beauty while growing in a sustainable way. We also talked about the crucial role of agriculture in the area’s heritage, which must be protected amidst development pressures. #HollywoodSC #RuralGrowth #RuralSC
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Our Executive Director Paul Daniele recently made it big in Hollywood! Our team travels extensively though the southeast looking for and meeting with leaders of rural communities that are stepping forward to reinvigorate their communities. #ruralsc
I finally made it to Hollywood… errr…. ….South Carolina, that is! ?????? During my visit I had a fantastic meeting with Mayor Chardale Murray where we discussed the bright future of this charming town. As the executive director of the Rural Growth Initiative, our team is eager to explore potential partnerships like this to preserve Hollywood’s unique culture and natural beauty while growing in a sustainable way. We also talked about the crucial role of agriculture in the area’s heritage, which must be protected amidst development pressures. #HollywoodSC #RuralGrowth #RuralSC
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Our Executive Director Paul Daniele just spent some time in Cheraw, South Carolina over the last couple weeks. Amazing trips of opportunity, reflection on incredible success, all coupled with hope for the future!
Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Cheraw, SC—often hailed as the "Prettiest Town in Dixie." As one of South Carolina’s oldest inland towns, founded in ~1740, Cheraw combines a rich history of agriculture, a more recent history of manufacturing, all combined with abundant outdoor activities. This makes it a perfect setting for both living and working. As the Executive Director of the Rural Growth Initiative, I'm grateful that we focus on empowering rural areas. A highlight of my visit was meeting with Dr. Kyle Wagner, president of Northeastern Technical College (NETC), and discussing NETC’s innovative strides in education and workforce alignment similar to what Dr. Adam Cheeseman and his team has done in WV. It was a pleasure discussing with Robert Wolfe, Curtis Lee and Austin W. Saggus how rural communities like Cheraw are ideal for attracting a talented workforce, thanks to scenic charm, friendly people, good values and growing digital connectivity. I’m excited about the future and the role these communities will play in a dynamically changing economic landscape. #RuralGrowth #Innovation #WorkforceDevelopment #RemoteWork #NETC #Cheraw #PrettiestTownInDixie
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