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$1B hydropower project to create 2,300 temporary jobs
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PINEVILLE — A $1 billion energy infrastructure project in Eastern Kentucky is moving forward in Bell County. Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) announced Monday that Rye Development has submitted its final license application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the Lewis Ridge Pumped Storage Project. The submission marks
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Holler to Holler, Hand in Hand
BY JOSHUA BALL There’s a moment when the world, a region, stands still. When the rain won’t stop. When the rivers swell, creeping higher and higher until they are no longer rivers at all… but walls of water, tearing through everything in their path. Homes, memories, lifetimes… gone in an instant. And then comes the
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SOAR COO clarifies process for FEMA
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN EASTERN KENTUCKY — As flood-impacted Kentuckians await disaster relief, SOAR COO Joshua Ball sought to clarify why individuals cannot yet apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In a statement Tuesday, Ball explained that while the federal disaster declaration has enabled public assistance, which allows local and
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Ricky Skaggs, Noah Thompson, Larry Cordle to play CMH Tribute Show on July 13
The “Million Dollar Holler” will be represented well at the Country Music Highway Tribute Shows in Louisa next week. Economic development nonprofit SOAR announced the lineup for a two-day festival-style celebration set to take place in downtown Louisa on July 12 and 13.
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Starlink donation bolsters emergency connectivity in Martin County
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Emergency Management and first responders will soon have improved connectivity thanks to a donation of a Starlink RV unit facilitated by Joshua Ball, chief operating officer of SOAR, and Dalton Stevens of Stevens Media Services. This effort addresses a critical communication gap that was brought to
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Dream Appalachia Poverty Conference highlights challenges
BY PHILL BARNETT MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Dream Appalachia Poverty Conference convened Thursday and Friday in Inez, highlighting recent efforts to combat poverty and improve living conditions in the region. Organized by Addiction Recovery Care (ARC), Thrive Community Coalition, Appalachia Reach Out (ARO), and Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR), the event attracted community leaders,
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SOAR Gala honors economic achievement in eastern Kentucky
BY PHILL BARNETT MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PRESTONSBURG — The 2024 SOAR Gala was a showcase of accomplishments and the forward momentum of Appalachia Kentucky. Presented by Kentucky Power and hosted by Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR), the gala recognized individuals and organizations across 42 Appalachian counties who have made significant contributions to the region’s economic development
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SOAR Innovation POWER team ignites entrepreneurial ecosystems in eastern Kentucky
BY PHILL BARNETT MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PIKEVILLE — In a significant development for the region, Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) unveiled its Innovation POWER team, poised to transform eastern Kentucky’s economy. Bolstered by a nearly $1.5 million Appalachian Regional Commission POWER grant awarded in October 2023, the team will develop a technology-focused entrepreneurial ecosystem across the
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SOAR announces Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition location
BY BUGS DIXON MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Shaping Our Appalachian Region announced this week that its 2024 Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition will be held at the historic Ashland Train Depot April 11, 2024. Applications are due at the end of December. This event, presented by Community Trust Bancorp and supported by KY Innovation, seeks to
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Pikeville Medical Center receives $2.76 million to expand AVA Center and healthcare training
PIKEVILLE — The Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program has announced that Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) will be awarded $2.76 million for a jobs training program and the expansion of the Appalachian Valley Autism (AVA) Center satellite campus in Floyd County. At the 2023 SOAR Summit, Governor Andy Beshear and a spokesperson from U.S.
