The Appalachian Voice
How a skate park became a long-term disaster relief hub
What started as a simple act of checking in with each other after Hurricane Helene quickly turned into State Line Resource Station, a grassroots relief effort that has since provided thousands of people with food, supplies and long-term recovery assistance, operating out of Zionville Ramp Co., an indoor skate park in Trade, Tennessee.
Read MoreGrazing in the sun: Enterprising farmers pair agriculture with solar power
Agrivoltaics is the practice of using land for both agricultural and solar energy production. It involves traditional ground-mounted solar arrays where panels are elevated or spaced out to allow for crop production, pollinator habitats or grazing. Advocates believe that when done well, the practice can numerous environmental and economic benefits for Appalachian communities.
Read MoreGreen jobs, healthy communities: A conversation with SEEED’s Stan Johnson and JD Jackson
SEEED, a nonprofit operating in Knoxville, Tenn., provides “pathways out of poverty for young adults through career readiness training, environmental education and community engagement.” The following is a Q&A with two members of the organization’s leadership team.
Read MoreEndangered species listing could help save Eastern hellbenders in Appalachian streams
On Dec. 12, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a proposal to classify the Eastern hellbender, the largest aquatic salamander in North America, as endangered.
Read MoreCommunity-based Indigenous organization acquires property on proposed federal prison site as part of grassroots effort to create a different future for Eastern Kentucky
The Appalachian Rekindling Project held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate its recent purchase of a 63-acre plot of land within the currently designated boundaries of a federal prison proposed for construction in Letcher County, Kentucky.
Read MoreUPDATE: Pedestrian bridge opens for McAfee Knob trail crossing
Soon, Appalachian Trail hikers will be able to use a 90-foot-long, steel and concrete pedestrian bridge to move safely over Virginia 311 at McAfee Knob trail crossing.
Read MoreAnimal shelter finds the purr-fect solar solution to cutting costs
Funding for a rural Kentucky animal shelter was limited, but a cluster of federal grants made the installation of a solar array a real possibility. The project will reduce utility costs and serve as a clean energy example in a community that has long relied on the coal industry.
Read MoreHelene’s lingering toll on Appalachian businesses
Once Hurricane Helene’s flood waters receded and the rebuilding process began, many small business owners were left unsure about their next steps.
Read MoreCommunity efforts to repair private roads and bridges underway in NC, hopeful for FEMA funding
Hurricane Helene washed out or damaged thousands of private roads, driveways and bridges in late September across multiple states, but many families are still waiting for help to rebuild access to their homes.
Read MoreSolar Installation Unveiled at Buckhorn Children and Family Services Center in Kentucky
This fall, Buckhorn Children and Family services held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new solar installation, which was funded in part by the Appalachian Solar Finance Fund.
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