Events

Make it in Appalachia Series: Grow it in Appalachia – Can the Ohio River Valley become a Hub for Biomaterials Derived from Industrial Hemp?

By January 1, 2024August 27th, 2024No Comments

Thursday, September 26 at 3 pm ET

HOW COULD INDUSTRIAL HEMP TRANSFORM APPALACHIA’S MANUFACTURING SECTOR?

Thursday, September 26 at 3 pm ET, Join ReImagine Appalachia for a listening session that will explore industrial hemp as a promising biomaterial for Appalachia’s manufacturing sector. This event will be hosted virtually via zoom.

Hemp, not to be confused with its ‘cousin’ cannabis, has been big news since its legalization in 2018. In this listening session, we will explore the use of industrial hemp as a biomaterial that could contribute to new sustainable growth in Appalachia’s manufacturing sector. Uses for hemp include construction products such as hempcrete as well as potential in bioplastics. Focusing on the fiber side of the plant, we will discuss the current hemp market, the future potential and the challenges that still need to be addressed. 

GUEST SPEAKERS WILL INCLUDE:

-Joanne Martin – Executive Director, Reimagine Beaver County

-Erica Stark – Executive Director of the National Hemp Association and Chair of the Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council

-Lori Daytner – Secretary Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council

A POTENTIAL HUB FOR BIOMATERIALS

This listening session will include time to discuss the preliminary research presented and seek feedback to help shape the direction of this research. Our goal is to create resources to support community leaders working to transform Appalachia into a manufacturing hub for the new clean economy. 

This event is the second part of our Fall 2024 Make it an Appalachia series, an ongoing series of presentations exploring opportunities within Appalachia’s manufacturing sector from growing feedstocks to producing final products. This series of listening sessions will explore the specific opportunities to leverage the region’s historical assets for the new energy economy and create a hub for sustainable manufacturing. Appalachians should have a say in the work to keep opportunities in the region and support the creation of a 21st century economy that’s good for workers, communities, and the environment.