While small business owners are key to building the local economy here in the mountains, not being able to afford health insurance is a huge challenge faced by many. The Affordable Care Act – some call it “Obamacare”- will offer tax credits for businesses with less than 25 employees to help with the cost of […]
Todd Howard used to work in the coal industry. He now farms and helps run the Floyd County, KY Farmers Market. Todd spoke at the Appalachia’s Bright Future conference and his message was that transition to a more diverse economy isn’t going to come from outside — “It needs to start in my community of […]
Fishermen in the Northeast have been making a transition from work as cod fisherman — an industry that has been part of the region’s heritage for generations. Brendan Smith shared valuable lessons on what has been a sometimes difficult transition for these folks at the Appalachia’s Bright Future Conference.
Central Appalachia loses more than 130 acres of forestland everyday, as economic pressures force families to clear their land. Nearly 90 percent of forestland is privately owned and less than 5 percent of that land is under sustainable management. An innovative pilot program called the Appalachian Carbon Partnership is working to reverse this trend. A […]
