Appalachia’s coal country is struggling to diversity its economy amidst the collapse of the coal industry. SOAR, or Shaping Our Appalachian Future, is an effort begun 6 years ago by Rep. Hal Rogers and then Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear to rebuild the regional economy. The Ohio Valley ReSource’s Sydney Boles attended the annual meeting and reports that SOAR’s big bets on high speed internet and industrial development are experiencing challenges on the ground.