Opportunity Appalachia brings new investment to Central Appalachian communities, creating jobs and businesses that support sustainable growth. We work with community real estate development projects that drive economic restructuring and diversification in underinvested areas.

Opportunity Appalachia provides access to technical assistance and supports capital raise activities for participating projects.  As a technical assistance matchmaking program, we connect project sponsors with experienced providers to advance project readiness. Services range from architectural design and engineering to market assessments, financial projections, business plan development, and preparation of tax credit incentive materials. Importantly, we actively identify and engage investors, serving to lift up OA’s selected projects that otherwise would not reach larger investor audiences, demonstrate their investment potential, and connect to suitable investment partners.

Since 2020, we have supported 86 projects seeking to raise $700 million in financing and create 4,700 quality jobs. Our investment priorities include downtown development, housing, manufacturing, IT, healthcare, education, food systems, clean energy, and heritage tourism and recreation—primarily in rural communities.

Our portfolio of high-impact projects offers both strong social returns and attractive financial returns. Social benefits include the creation of 4,700 quality jobs, including opportunities for individuals in recovery, the long-term unemployed (such as former coal industry workers), and minorities and women. Increased investment in minority- and women-owned business enterprises, including minority developers and technical assistance providers, is also a program priority.

$15.5 million in seed capital helped start ACC: The Appalachian Regional Commission, foundations, and other partners made a lead investment of $3.5 million in equity and operating support. Bank of America, Calvert Foundation, Deutsche Bank, and Ford Foundation provided $12 million specifically for small business lending in the region.

ACC closed its first capital raise in June 2015. Between 2015 and 2017, it deployed $11 million of the $12 million in leveraged debt. The remaining $1 million in capital commitment was tapped in 2017 for making small business loans in Appalachian counties in Georgia. Since 2015, ACC has deployed $33 million. ACC members report that, to date, they have financed 130 loans for small businesses and have helped to create or retain almost 3,000 jobs (40% of these jobs are occupied by low-income persons).

In 2023, ACC expanded its mission to provide capital, leverage private capital, and provide other forms of financial assistance for the rapid deployment of low- and zero- emission products, technologies and services at a national level. In doing so, ACC established a national class of membership to include aligned organizations focused on creating meaningful economic opportunity in energy communities nationally.