Rural Growth Initiative

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.

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

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

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

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

A week ago today, on a sunny and cool day I had the pleasure of hosting a coffee meetup in beautiful Botetourt County, VA. We brought together for the first time six remote workers from different corners of this incredible and lively county nestled among the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachians. ? A special thanks to Tiffany Bradbury, the Botetourt County Director of Communications, for joining us and sharing updates on what the county has been doing to help their community thrive! Botetourt County is truly an amazing place blessed with natural beauty and incredible broadband connectivity thanks to the hard work of many. Glad to be able to connect with all of you Valerie Rasmussen, Nadia Saklou, Christian Heilman, Emma Manchester, John Vukovich, and Angie Sumner! #RemoteWork #BotetourtCounty #Community #Networking #ProfessionalGrowth

Lake City, City? Lake City, South Carolina - it's a town so vibrant they had to name it twice in the official records, making it the one and only Lake City, City, (in South Carolina)! This quirk in government data that highlights unique character, mirrored in proud heritage and supported by strategic investments by the THE DARLA MOORE AND RICHARD RAINWATER FOUNDATION. A combination of the dynamism of the efforts of foundations, the public sector, private sector, and local government, has been crafted into a beacon of Southern charm and cultural sophistication. This delightful blend of heritage, art, and community spirit makes Lake City—or should we say Lake City City—the perfect place to live, laugh, and thrive.