Jul 31, 2026 10:00 AM via Zoom
Aug 7, 2026 10:00 AM via Zoom
Data center development is expanding rapidly across the Midwest, driven by financing models that create pressure for swift construction.
This deep dive examines whether this growth is sustainable or a potential bubble that could result in stranded assets. Advait Arun of the Center for Public Enterprise joins the discussion to analyze this “Bubble or Nothing” dynamic and how industry funding shapes the rush to build.
Partners are working to address the increasingly more urgent issue of disaster resilience from the local to the federal level. Key to this work are both local resilience efforts and ensuring that federal policy on disaster mitigation reflects the knowledge and wisdom of the communities who have survived disasters firsthand.
Facilitator: Brendan Muckian-Bates, Appalachian Citizens Law Center
Key Takeaways:
ReImagine Appalachia is working to finalize the Appalachian Manufacturing Action Plan (AMAP). Participants in this discussion provided feedback and insight into this new endeavor as we explore seeking organizational endorsements, forming an Appalachian Manufacturing Advisory Board, taking AMAP on an Appalachian Roadshow, and developing an AMAP federal policy platform.
Facilitator: Bay Epperly, ReImagine Appalachia
Key Takeaways:
Robotics and AI will be important and manufacturing skills could be developed within local workforces.
Maintaining agency over the plan, centering local diverse voices (which include manufacturers), and clear organization during implementation, is needed to avoid developing re-enactment of exploitation. This requires a process for getting representatives from across Appalachia that can report to a coalition about opportunities for organizing in their geographic area. To broaden input and gather local perspective, state-based reps could sit on the advisory board within sub-committees.
The AMAP roadshow should start with the manufacturers themselves. We need to speak their language to rally interest in circular economy implementation. It could be useful to lean on manufacturing extension partnerships to organize with local economic development authorities on a streamlined plan focused on specific sites. Console Energy and Longridge Energy were identified as other potential partners. “Remade” initiative of federal DOE, Rise PA grant, and American Manufacturing Community Collaborative are other good groups to consult
Creative Placemaking and community art / murals is a key component of the brighter future we want to build for Appalachia. Participants discussed ways we can ensure the stories, culture and arts of Appalachia are part of the conversation when we talk about prosperity.
Facilitator: Blaise Reader, ReImagine Appalachia
Key Takeaways:
Appalachia has generated tremendous amounts of wealth–but historically, the wealth created by our workers did not stay in our communities or contribute to the vitality of our region. This session focused on the importance of expanding programs such as pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, and targeted hiring in Appalachia to reconnect our disconnected workers, address barriers to employment, and make sure that new investments build local wealth.
Facilitator: Ted Boettner, Ohio River Valley Institute & James Kunz III, PA Foundation for Fair Contracting
Key Takeaways:
Capital stacking is the strategic layering of different funding sources to finance a project, development, or business acquisition. For example, different institutions can have different tolerance of risk or prefer to support different project stages. Participants came to this session to learn more about capital stacking and other strategic approaches to finance projects and diversify funding sources.
Facilitator: Andrew Crosson, Invest Appalachia
Key Takeaways:
In this breakout session, participants helped outline federal policy priorities for the upcoming year. They reflected on the areas of potential for forward progress and the policy issues that most need Appalachia’s involvement. Methods that can help support local communities as they look to shape the federal policies that impact them were also shared.
Facilitator: Jessica Arriens, National Wildlife Federation
Key Takeaways:
As Appalachian communities work to redevelop vacant sites like shuttered coal plants or reimagine existing industrial operations, reuse and circular manufacturing will help increase regional sustainability, prosperity, and competitiveness for the future. Join experts from groups already engaging with reuse around the region to discuss how circular manufacturing can be further implemented through projects like waste collection systems, eco-industrial park models, co-location, the reuse of shuttered coal plants and more.
Facilitator: Bay Epperly, ReImagine Appalachia
Key Takeaways:
With the federal funding landscape dramatically changed, how can Appalachian communities and businesses adapt their messaging to appeal to environmentally responsible and socially conscious private investors?
Facilitator: John Neurohr, Jr. & Gina Pelusi, Clear Point Communications
Key Takeaways:
You don’t need a big budget for video/audio storytelling. If you have a phone and a compelling story to tell, that can be enough- Frankly, it can feel more authentic.
The rapid growth in the data center industry brings increased need to ensure that new development is good for workers, communities, and the environment. This session included a discussion of data centers as well as a broader conversation around what’s next and what’s needed to ensure responsible development in the region.
Facilitator: Betony Jones, Data for Progress & Doug Bloch, Senior Advisor, Workshop
Key Takeaways:
CBAs succeed when labor–community coalitions are strong enough to intervene locally and shape terms and conditions of development.
An investor profile can help communities attract private sector development. ReImagine Appalachia has created new resources like our Manufacturing Assets Map to make data more accessible to communities – as we look to shape this next phase of our work, how do we ensure our region is on the map for investors?
Facilitator: Daniel Flynn, ProsperAmerica
Key Takeaways:
This was the first part of a Regional Collaboration for Policy Solutions track. In this breakout session, participants discussed how we can increase collaboration between universities and communities to maximize the effectiveness of our time and resources especially as budgets tighten for both groups. It was agreed that universities can be a major asset in our communities because they can help increase capacity and understanding. Throughout the breakout, participants shared a number of examples on collaborations with higher education, future projects that could be explored further, and the challenges that still need to be addressed in order to advance this type of work.
Facilitator: Alan Letton, Marshall University
Key Takeaways
Highlighting successful partnerships between academic and community partners and discuss lessons learned/possible replicable models
This was the first breakout session in the Appalachian Manufacturing Action Plan track. The conversation in this breakout focused around building a policy platform to increase investments in Appalachia’s clean technologies such as batteries, renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, industrial hemp, and bioplastics. Participants discussed how we can strengthen supply chains to make Appalachia a hub for those technologies as well as the barriers to developing manufacturing in the region that policy could help fix.
Facilitator: Rike Rothenstein, ReImagine Appalachia
View Recording Here:
Key Takeaways
Developing Manufacturing policy priorities as part of this work
New development in the region has started to form a clean energy manufacturing corridor along Route 33
Ohio’s new behind the meter laws could be leveraged to attract manufacturing and form co-located hubs.
Moving from the research phase to implementation is a challenge for new businesses in the bio-based and renewable energy manufacturing sector. Support for balancing costs and forming partnerships would be helpful.
Moving forward, ReImagine Appalachia could contribute by:
Outreach to key stakeholders in the region followed by a “roadshow” presenting about the work
Regional practitioners helped shape strategy for effective messaging in divisive times, noting why this work is critical for communications in our region. Challenging discussions lie ahead, particularly with the rapid development of data centers and the turbulent new political reality.
Facilitator: Ernie Britt, We Make the Future
Key Takeaways
In this first session of the Responsible Data Center Development track, participants discussed how we can ensure data centers are operating efficiently and in locations that make the most sense. This conversation covered strategies such as co-location with industries in need of waste heat, as well as former industrial sites such as shuttered coal plants and brownfields rather than greenfields. Participants raised a number of questions about the factors that need to be kept in mind as communities explore their priorities and policies for new data center development which need further attention as work around this responsible data center development continues.
Facilitator: Deborah Stine, Science and Technology Policy Academy
Key Takeaways
Studies have shown stark disparities between philanthropic investment in Appalachia compared to the rest of the country. Yet, our region is a model for innovative programs when given the tools. How can we advocate for a more equitable distribution of resources? Are there new strategies to pitch the region to funders?
Facilitator: Ryan Eller, Appalachian Funders Network
Key Takeaways:
Collaboration is key to lift all of the great work in the region together.
Key Takeaways
Collaboration is key to lift all of the great work in the region together.
