CDFI – Southeast Kentucky Economic Development (SKED) is an organization that provides lending programs, business recruitment, and expansion assistance, as well as training opportunities to support small businesses and economic growth in the Southern and Eastern Kentucky region. Through their services, SKED has helped numerous clients secure financing solutions, establish operations in the area, and […]
Read MoreCDFI – The Mountain Association is an organization that helps businesses, non-profits, faith groups, local governments, and homeowners in Eastern Kentucky reduce their energy costs and achieve savings through expert energy efficiency solutions. Their work has resulted in significant annual savings for clients like Lee County Government ($20,000), Hemphill Community Center ($8,900), and the Stafford […]
Read MoreCDFI – Human Economic Appalachian Development (HEAD) Corporation is a Community Development Financial Institution that provides small business loan funding, financial and technical assistance for startups, as well as debt financing, business planning, and deal structuring services to small and mid-sized companies in central Appalachian communities across Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Their mission […]
Read MoreRevolving Loan Fund – The Gateway Area Development District’s Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) provides debt financing for businesses unable to obtain adequate market financing, with the capital replenished as loans are repaid and recycled into new loans. The RLF aims to support economic growth and job creation/retention by filling financing gaps for eligible activities like […]
Read MoreCDFI – Frontier Housing is a non-profit organization that builds homes and provides various housing services in 22 counties across Eastern Kentucky, including financial coaching, mortgage lending, energy-efficient construction, and home repair and rehabilitation. They offer grant and loan funds for projects such as HVAC repair/replacement, accessibility improvements, energy efficiency upgrades, ramps, safety repairs, and […]
Read MoreRevolving Loan Fund – The FIVCO Area Development District’s Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program provides a locally controlled source of capital to help finance start-up and expanding businesses whose projects will create jobs in Boyd, Carter, Elliot, Greenup, and Larence counties in Kentucky. The RLF is intended to fill credit gaps in the local financial […]
Read MoreRevolving Loan Fund – The Cumberland Valley Area Development District’s Revolving Loan Fund program provides gap financing to assist business start-ups and expansions in various sectors like industrial, commercial, agricultural, and tourism within its eight-county service area. The fund aims to create or retain one full-time job for every $20,000 loaned, with loan terms varying […]
Read MoreMicroenterprise Loan Program – Community Ventures is a non-profit organization based in Kentucky that provides various services and programs aimed at strengthening communities, including financial counseling, neighborhood revitalization, small business support, and affordable housing initiatives. It has a team of professionals dedicated to different areas such as lending, equity investments, business development, and housing assistance, […]
Read MoreRevolving Loan Fund – Big Sandy Area Community Action Program (BSACAP) provides a range of services to support low-income individuals and families in eastern Kentucky, including assistance with housing, energy bills, job training, education, and healthcare access. The organization works collaboratively with local communities and government agencies to address poverty and promote self-sufficiency in the […]
Read MoreThe Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union operates as a Community Development Financial Institution that serves individuals and communities in the Appalachian Region.
Read MoreMajor philanthropic organizations are advocating for a significant expansion of agroecology and regenerative farming methods to address the global food systems challenges. They emphasize the importance of supporting small-scale farmers and promoting biodiversity to create resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.
Read MoreA Minnesota company has introduced the world’s first regenerative organic vanilla extract, promoting sustainable farming practices that restore soil health. This innovative product aims to address environmental concerns while offering consumers a premium organic vanilla experience.
Read MoreSoil and the human gut contain approximately the same number of active microorganisms, while human gut microbiome diversity is only 10% that of soil biodiversity and has decreased dramatically with the modern lifestyle. We tracked relationships between the soil microbiome and the human intestinal microbiome. We propose a novel environmental microbiome hypothesis, which implies that […]
Read MoreThe largest, FREE, most comprehensive *directory of Black Farmers, The Index is a guide connecting you to traditional and non-traditional growers. From row crop farmers, ranchers, vegetable and fruit producers to beekeepers, fisherfolk, foragers, vintners & more.
Read MoreCountless valuable resources to help your farm keep growing. Access our complete library with a wide array of specialized resources on regenerative farming. Fill in the password below to access.
Read MoreInflation Reduction Act (IRA) provided an additional $19.5B over 5 years for climate smart ag through USDA’s NRCS
Read MoreRockefeller Foundation committed $4.6M in grants for equitable & community-directed approaches to prevent, manage, and treat diet-related illnesses in the US. Funding will support grantees advancing Food is Medicine interventions
Read MoreA landmark framework for the fashion and textile industry to understand, communicate, and invest in regenerative agriculture. The Regenerative Agriculture Landscape Analysis is the first report that gives the fashion and textile industry a framework and toolkit to credibly understand, implement and describe the benefits of work in this space. Emphasizes regenerative agricutlure’s roots in […]
Read MoreThriving Comm program for underserved climate impacted- Oct. 6 email from Sandi Curd
Read MoreThe Growing Climate Solutions Act has supports such as the National Milk Producers Federation, the National Pork Producers Council, and the United State’s Cattlemen’s Association. The Growing Climate Solutions Act is a pretty smallbore response to the problem of climate change, but has gained support from both sides.
Read MoreThe Great Resignation has taken many by suprise, nearly two-thirds of U.S. workers are looking for a new job.
Read MoreLand degradation is recognized as one of the world’s most pressing environmental problems. Scientists warn that 24 billion tons of fertile soil are being lost each year, largely due to unsustainable agriculture practices. Agave and mesquite grown together for one of most effective carbon sequestration land restoration methods in the world.
Read MoreLaura Lengnick on the power of story, city-region food systems, and regenerative economics. The first behavior of a resilient food system is a network of mutually beneficial and recirpocal relationships, second is regional self-reliance, adn third is to make it possible for the local accumulation of wealth.
Read MoreThe idea is to designate just 5% of key government spending that typically bolsters large established companies to boost entrepreneurs instead. it would help reverse a current bias in gov. toward older entrenched businesses. 5% of government contracts should go to “new entrant” businesses that have never won government contracts before. Local Workforce Development Boards […]
Read MoreA maker is also a customer, who buys materials. Or a parent, training the next generation maker. Or a resident of a particular city. Those are all self-defined roles. However, that same maker might also be a retailer, who deponds on others to buy her products. Or a leader in a local civic association. Makers […]
Read MoreThe challenges run deep, and the solutions require innovative thinking around equal access to economic opportunity, healthcare, education, healthy food, financial serviecs, and more to enable all people to thrive. We are active investors in many of these categories, and we are committed to working with founders of all backgrounds, non-profits focused on these areas, […]
Read MoreScientist have found that the nutritional content of plant-based meat and real beef “differ widely.” Several studies have urged countries to reduce their meat and dairy production in order to stay within the safe limits for greenhouse gas emissions from cattle.
Read MoreThe pandemic highlighted the need for local & regional food sources, advocates are calling for federal help & making recommendations, Congressional dems & republicans say ensuring a younger generation of farmers can enter the business is key to upholding local & regional supply chains needed for emergencies, general domestic food production & to meet growing […]
Read MoreGeneral Mills, ADM, Cargill, McDonald’s, and The Nature Conservancy are among 10 companies forming a national market to incentivize the adoption of sustainable farming practices, they are forming a national market by 2022 to incentivize the adoption of farming practices that build soil carbon and improve water conservation. Talks for the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium […]
Read More