January 29, 2024
The theme of this year’s 2024 Strategy Summit was “Celebrating Our Victories; Visioning What’s Next to Build an Appalachia That’s Good for Our Workers, Communities, and Climate.” Our conversation continued to focus around implementation efforts related to Congress’ passage of a monumental federal climate infrastructure package (the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act) as well as telling the story of its success in bringing back hope to a region long left behind.
We had nearly 500 registrants sign up for this virtual event and were honored to provide a space for a diverse set of regional stakeholders and partners to come together to talk about our shared vision and action plan for the region.
Check out some of this year’s responses:
Missed our summit? Wondered what was happening in the other breakout rooms? This blog breaks down the main takeaways while providing notes and recordings for you to catch up!
Day 1: Make it in Appalachia: Local, Sustainable, Equitable
Day one of the 2024 Summit was all about the sustainable manufacturing potential in the region.
Watch the recording here:
Our Keynote speakers included (swipe through):
Our panelists helped us to reflect on what the future of Appalachia as a manufacturing hub within the green economy might look like. Over the course of the day, we considered the actionable steps we could take to make climate-friendly manufacturing practices a reality in Appalachia, discussing the sustainable products that could be manufactured, the infrastructures like shuttered coal plants that could be repurposed, the qualities of high quality jobs and diverse training pipelines and various ways we can ensure this transition is rooted in community vision.
Following an introduction by Andrew Dalhgren and Tanu Kumar of Urban Manufacturing Alliance emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusion within manufacturing and best practices, we got the chance to hear about the work of each of the other four panelists.
- Tom Reed of Catalyst Connection shared his experience with connecting manufacturers with training and resources and offered insights on spreading funding that allows companies to update manufacturing facilities to thrive in the new energy economy.
- Jacob Hannah then spoke about the Coalfield Development Corporation and their work training program that aims to give people with barriers to employment the skills and connections needed to secure quality jobs. The Coalfield Development Corporation’s program demonstrates how prioritizing wraparound services can strengthen circular and sustainable economies and communities.
- Jen Gilburg focused her presentation on Pennsylvania’s coal plant playbooks, which outline redevelopment plans for shuttered coal plants to drive economic growth and community development within the state.
- Jen Seifert then discussed her work with New Leaf Justice Enterprises, which provides job training and two years of secure housing for survivors of domestic abuse. The program allows survivors to process their trauma in a safe environment and eventually re-enter the workforce with new skills. The success of New Leaf Justice Enterprises speaks to the value of workforce training programs and wrap around benefits as we envision this new green manufacturing sector.
In the roundtable conversation following the individual presentations, the panelists shared some encouraging success stories that remind us of the importance of centering workers and providing pathways to employment to make manufacturing mutually beneficial for the environment and communities that have faced a history of exploitation.
During the breakout sessions following the speakers’ remarks, attendees chose between four workshops which addressed different aspects of the conversation around fostering a green manufacturing hub in Appalachia.
Breakout sessions (click the arrow to read notes and recordings):
Workshop 1A: Building a Circular Manufacturing Ecosystem in Appalachia
Description: This session, facilitated by the Appalachian Sustainable Business Network and the Urban Manufacturing Alliance, focused on developing a collective action plan for scaling a regional manufacturing ecosystem in Appalachia, such as mission driven industrial development and entrepreneurial ecosystems (aka a “Made In Appalachia” initiative).
Facilitators: Lou Tierno (ltierno@asbnetwork.org), Appalachian Sustainable Business Network & April Niver (april.niver@mail.house.gov), Representative Matt Cartwright’s office
Summary from notes: This breakout session focused a lot on where participants would like the Appalachian region to end up related to sustainable manufacturing and what they believed it would take to reach those goals. A lot of examples from other regions and countries came up showcasing good case studies of circular economies and programs supporting circular manufacturing and ecosystems. Regulations, funding support, and prioritization were key issues brought up when discussing obstacles to reaching circular ecosystems. Some of the solutions mentioned surrounded education on circular manufacturing, reaching policy and decision makers with planned strategies, and working to fix regulatory systems.
Next steps: Ideas for match making, partner connections, education, thought leadership, advocation, creative solutions, companies to develop plans, regulations and infrastructure focuses, and many other ideas for action plans!
Workshop 1B: Developing an Action Plan for ReImagining Shuttered Coal Plants from Blight to Manufacturing Hub
Description: One of Appalachia’s biggest assets are its shuttered coal plants. These sites have access to rail and water transportation infrastructure as well as a heavily reinforced electrical grid system. How do we target federal resources towards redeveloping these sites into manufacturing hubs while ensuring the community and workers have a say in the process? From start to finish: What does an action plan for redeveloping a shuttered coal plant into an eco-industrial park look like? Join ReImagine Appalachia and RMI in building a support network of capacity building organizations, and a repository of resources, working together to empower residents and workers in coal plant communities with the information, support and resources they need.
Facilitator: Sam Mardell, RMI (smardell@rmi.org)
Takeaways:
1- Resources out there that are helpful for thinking through possibilities for sites (there are some gaps with access
2- Connection basis: resources alone aren’t enough- need to form connections to take action- transform asset into action (Identify actors that are present and able to engage with communities and finance with the diversity of coal funding programs now available- DOE, EPA
Workshop 1C: Industry & Inclusion: Developing strategy for building pathways out of poverty into high quality manufacturing jobs
Description: As we grow clean and efficient manufacturing in Appalachia, how do we ensure women, Black and low-wage workers are included in the quality jobs created? This session will focus on best practices and strategies to include in a regional action plan and will be informed by Urban Manufacturing Alliance’s Industry and Inclusion Program
Facilitators: Tanu Kumar (tanu@urbanmfg.org), Urban Manufacturing Alliance, Michelle Burris (burris@tcf.org), The Century Foundation & Stephen Herzenberg (herzenberg@keystoneresearch.org), Keystone Research Center and ReImagine Appalachia
Next Steps:
-Research to document if lower wage apprenticeships have lower completion rates including for women and people of color.
-Flesh out what best practices from union construction on these diversity/job quality issues would look like adapted to manufacturing.
-Convening with United Auto Workers to see how ReImagine Appalachia can help with its Electric Vehicle organizing push
-Loved the services offered to help workers get work and get to work!
-Not creating an echo chamber
Workshop 1D: Make WHAT in Appalachia?
Description: ReImagine Appalachia has started exploration into what products for which Appalachia can realistically become a hub. Ideas include turning coal waste into green building materials, mining coal ash ponds for rare earth minerals that go into battery technology, biomaterial alternatives to single use plastics and green steel.
Facilitator: Mark Shanahan (mark.shanahan@newmorningenergy.com), New Morning Energy, LLC.
Summary: Everyone is talking about how manufacturing is growing in America, with reshoring, federal grants, and healthy markets, but what should we focus on, and how do we collaborate, to promote the goals of equity, justice, and building wealth? What should Reimagine focus on as reasonable targets for growing manufacturing in the region?
We must balance short-term needs for jobs and economic stability with the longer-term challenge of identifying lasting products of the future. In today’s discussion, we must identify the near-term potential and longer-term investment needs.
As we look towards the bright future of Appalachia and imagine green manufacturing’s place there, this first day of the summit has made it clear that we must embrace new ideas with flexibility, focus on repurposing the resources that already exist such as shuttered coal plants, and effectively support all workers through fair wages, benefits and training programs. The case studies presented on day one have shown how a shift to sustainable and inclusive manufacturing practices have already had positive impacts on communities throughout Appalachia with the promise of so much more.
Day 2: Stories of Hope: ReImagining Appalachian Communities with Federal Climate Resources
We heard from Appalachian community leaders about how federal climate infrastructure resources are allowing communities and workers in the Ohio River Valley to reimagine their futures for our communities and workers in the Ohio River Valley region of Appalachia. We addressed the following: How can we use incremental successes to communicate the extent of new opportunities for the region? What’s the story we need to be telling and why does it matter?
Watch the recording here:
Our Keynote speakers included (click to swipe through):
Breakout sessions (click the arrow to read notes and recordings):
Workshop 2A: Proactively Developing a Set of Community Benefits Principles
Description: More and more federal funding opportunities require companies to incorporate the use of community benefit plans in project proposals. How can we work together to develop a shared set of community benefit principles?
Facilitators: Amanda Woodrum (amanda@reimagineappalachia.org), ReImagine Appalachia & Esther Baldwin (esther@blackappalachiancoalition.org), Black Appalachian Coalition (BLAC)
Summary:
Many federal funding opportunities require companies to incorporate Community Benefit Plans (CBPs) into their project proposals. In fact, as part of the Biden Administration’s Good Jobs Initiative, the federal Department of Energy essentially requires these CBPs to be incorporated into project proposals in order to be considered for funding. These CBPs must be based on the DOE’s four foundational policy priorities:
- Engaging communities and labor;
- Investing in America’s workers through quality jobs;
- Advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility through recruitment and training; and
- Implementing Justice 40, which directs 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to flow to disadvantaged communities.
Can we work together, as a broad group of stakeholders in the Ohio River Valley, to ensure that companies do more than the bare minimum and develop a set of mutually agreed upon community benefit principles?
Workshop 2B: ReImagining Our Communities with New Federal Funding
Description: Appalachia is at an unprecedented moment for community development opportunities. What barriers are communities facing? How can we help each other identify technical assistance and other resources for community and economic development? How do we translate federal opportunities for our region?
Facilitators: Natalia Rudiak (natalia@reimagineappalachia.org), ReImagine Appalachia, County Commissioner Sherene Hess (shess@indianacountypa.gov), Indiana County, PA Sustainable Taskforce
Notes: The time for Appalachian communities to apply for federal funding is now. However, lack of resources and capacity, overwhelming application processes, and fast turnaround times are a few of the barriers communities face when accessing these unprecedented federal resources. In an effort to help connect communities with federal grants, we will be taking a deep dive into the nuts and bolts of the EPA Community Change Grant on February 1st from Noon-2PM ET. You can register here to join this informational session on Zoom.
Workshop 2C: Natural infrastructure and workforce development: How can they work together for new job opportunities that help respond to the climate crisis and create pathways for workers?
Description: There is expanded funding for natural infrastructure as a solution to absorb carbon, prevent flooding and repair damaged minelands. We can combine natural infrastructure and workforce development projects to create new opportunities for workers left behind, returning citizens, and workers and communities hit hard by the opioid crisis.
Facilitator: Jessica Arriens (arriensj@nwf.org), National Wildlife Federation
Notes: There are opportunities to create a significant number of quality jobs within the growing green infrastructure sector that are positioned to help both the environment and local economies in a win-win situation. We should work with communities to take advantage of new policy and funding opportunities as well as workforce development programs such as the Climate Corps and The Trade Institute and Land Force in Pittsburgh to overcome barriers to employment.
Workshop 2D: Communications & the Federal Climate Infrastructure Package
Description: How can we most successfully tell the stories of our wins in Appalachia? What are the stories that need to be told? How can we work together to share our vision and our victories?
Facilitator: Tracy Sabetta (tsabetta@initiativeohio.com), National Wildlife Federation & Moms Clean Air Force Ohio
Workshop 2E: Co-ops in the New Energy Economy
Description: Appalachia has a long history applying cooperative innovative solutions to identified problems, employing the use of producer coops, purchasing and consumer coops, as well as worker-ownership models. Increasing need to identify innovative solutions to the world’s climate problems could help push Appalachia’s cooperative spirit to the front of the line to become leaders in the new energy economy.
Facilitators: Wendy Patton (wendy@reimagineappalachia.org), ReImagine Appalachia & Christina Clamp (cclamp@asbnetwork.org), American Sustainable Business Network
The Strategy Summit concluded with a discussion about Policy Priorities for Appalachia in 2024. Our panelists provided a brief update on the Congressional landscape, and the broad impacts it has on work in the region. How can we work together to help shape our Congressional policy priorities for 2024 and reimagine a brighter future for Appalachia?