About
At PROGRESS Appalachia, our work begins with a simple belief: that Appalachia already holds the strength, skill, and creativity needed to thrive. Through our three core pillars—Appalachia Grows, Appalachia Builds, and Appalachia Thrives—we channel that strength into action.
Each pillar represents a cornerstone of regional resilience: food sovereignty and agricultural innovation, construction and energy infrastructure, and the workforce and community systems that sustain both.
Together, these focus areas form more than programs—they create a networked ecosystem of people, partners, and projects designed to break cycles of poverty, economic decline, and disinvestment.
By linking higher education, industry, and local innovation, PROGRESS transforms individual projects into interconnected systems of development that strengthen entire communities across seven Appalachian states.
Advanced Housing
Sustainable & innovative housing solutions that provide stability & growth
Agriculture
Sustainable farming practices that support local economies
Public-Private Partnerships
Collaborative efforts between organizations to maximize impact
Workforce Development
Training programs that prepare participants for future-proof careers
Impact & Vision for the Future
Our goal is to make sure opportunity isn’t limited by geography. We focus on strengthening rural economies through innovation and ensuring historically underserved communities have equitable access to the resources needed to thrive.
