Program Archive

Information on program activities including outreach meetings, application and selection, Technical Assistance RFQ process, and Investor Convening.

Program Participation (2019/2020)

To participate in Opportunity Appalachia and receive technical assistance for project prospectus development and support for OZ capital raising, we encourage you to:

  • Join the informational webinar, December 9, 2019. See Webinar information below
  • Attend state outreach events in Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia, to be held January 2020. See dates and venues below.
  • Submit the Opportunity Appalachia application to participate, see below for the link to the application and submission dates. It is anticipated that 15 communities/projects/businesses will be selected to participate in the Opportunity Appalachia program. If you have questions about the application, please contact the lead state partner in your state, see below.

Opportunity Appalachia welcomes applications targeting one OZ community and welcomes applications targeting several OZ communities/counties that have compatible development strategies. Opportunity Appalachia will review applications with one or more OZ projects identified for investment.

APPLICATION FOR PARTICIPATION (PDF)

Application Deadline: March 2, 2020 5:00 pm ET
Applications must be submitted via the Online Application Form to be considered for program support.

Technical Assistance (2020/2021)

The types of technical support to be provided by the Opportunity Appalachia program include:

  • development of investment prospectus, preparation of pro forma financial projections, structuring of projecting financing,
  • market research
  • demand assessment, operations planning, identification of project developers business operators, outreach for project finance
  • outreach to OZ investors
  • other types of assistance.

This support will be provided on contract by experienced business and development partners. It is anticipated that support of $30,000 – $75,000 will be provided for each applicant, averaging $50,000 per applicant.

Entities interested in providing Technical Assistance must complete the Request for Qualifications RFQ, below. (RFQ applications are now closed)

State Outreach Meetings (2019)

To learn more about the Opportunity Appalachia program, please attend a session.

Program Launch Webinar

December 9, 2019, 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Appalachian Regional Commission Federal Co-Chair Tim Thomas will open this Webinar, which will provide an overview of the Opportunity Appalachia program and present how your community and OZ project can participate.

West Virginia

January 13, 2020

Bridgeport Conference Center, Bridgeport, West Virginia
Sen. Shelly Moore Capito and Sen. Joe Manchin have been invited to open the program.

Agendas will be available shortly for these State Outreach and Information Meetings.

Ohio

January 14, 2020, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Buckeye Hills Regional Council, Marietta, Ohio
John Carey, Director – Governor’s Office of Appalachia will open the program. (Snow date: January 27.)

Registration and agendas will be available shortly for these State Outreach and Information Meetings.

Virginia

January 27, 2020, 10:00 am – 2:00pm

Higher Education Center, Abingdon, Virginia
Erik Johnston, Director – Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development has been invited to open the program.

Closing Remarks

4:30 –4:40 PM

Reflections on the day’s conversations.

Donna Gambrell
President & CEO
Appalachian Community Capital

INVESTOR CONVENING / CAPITAL RAISE

Opportunity Appalachia investor outreach has occurred through both an OZ Investor Convening February 23-24, 2021, and outreach and support from the Steering Committee and Technical Assistance providers.  The highly visible Investor Convening was held to highlight OZ communities and related investable transactions.  Pre-vetted National Impact investors and Opportunity Funds (QOFs) with compatible interests were invited to attend, a curated web-based platform hosting prospectus / pitch decks was available to assist investors pre-event, and the event included pitches from investment-ready OZ communities.

TA providers and the Steering Committee also leveraged their local and national relationships to introduce promising community transactions to vetted and interested investors.  These outreach and placement efforts involve support for introductory meetings and if possible, site visits.

More information on the Investor Convening, February 23 – 24, 2021 here.

This program is supported by grants from