ReImagine Appalachia Midyear Roundup

July 10, 2026

Believe it or not, 2026 is half over — a great time to pause and reflect on the work we’ve done, and what we still have to accomplish this year. So far, the ReImagine team has spent a lot of time on the road participating in, or facilitating, discussions on building sustainable regional opportunities. Notably, in mid-June we hosted an event at the Pittsburgh Foundation that provided support for applicants for the RISE PA, industrial decarbonization grant, which aims to help factories across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania cut air pollution by 20 percent!

Additionally, we just wrapped up our Summer 2026 Manufacturing Roadshow Discussion Series, where we collaborated with local stakeholders to strengthen and connect advanced & sustainable manufacturing efforts across the region to build new opportunities.

But that’s just scratching the surface. Below, you can access all the educational materials we have produced on sustainable manufacturing, disaster resilience, responsible data center development, and culture.

Summer 2026 Manufacturing Roadshow Series

This summer, we took our Appalachian Manufacturing Action Plan on the road to build the foundation for better job opportunities, easier access to growing markets, shared energy & waste management services, and improved sustainability &competitiveness in the region’s manufacturing sector. The summer gatherings were designed to educate, inspire, and activate communities that are ready to build a new vision for the Ohio River Valley of Appalachia and a bright future.

Manufacturing Roadshow Media Hits

RISE PA Industrial Decarbonization Series

ReImagine Appalachia and partners hosted a grant-making assistance event at the Pittsburgh Foundation to help attendees craft applications for the $52 million in available funding from the RISE PA program. Now in its second round, the RISE PA industrial decarbonization program is awarding medium- and large-scale grants to industrial facility operators with projects that cut factory emissions by at least 20 percent. State officials, as well as awardees from the last round, were on-site to provide guidance to new applicants. Labor leaders and community benefits experts also led workshops to help attendees factor community benefits and fair labor components into their proposals. Projects that increase the social good are eligible for up to 30 percent bonuses.

Providing clarity in turbulent times, our latest reports shed light on major changes to federal agencies and tax credits + what actions can be taken to protect continuity under new rules.

Watch recordings of our educational webinars from the last quarter, broken down into four categories:

New economy

Disaster resilience

Nonprofit lobbying

Responsible data center development

Telling the story of hope, we produced three new videos of Appalachians reflecting on regional challenges and devising innovative, community-led solutions!

Artist collaborations #AppalachianArtistShoutout

Showcasing Appalachian talent and defying stereotypes, our artist highlight series is our chance to collaborate with painters, craftspeople, and musicians to celebrate regional creativity.

Manufacturing explainers #ManufacturingBreakdowns

Our manufacturing breakdown series explains processes and clarifies complex terminology used in both advanced and traditional manufacturing. The goal is to raise awareness for the sector and its inextricable link to the region.

Wednesday Wins #InfrastructureWinsWednesdays

With our Wednesday Wins series #InfrastructureWinsWednesdays showcases the progress our region – we tell the story of small regional triumphs using colorful and engaging carousel decks. In order to forge a path to a brighter future tomorrow, we have to take inventory of the progress we’re making today!

Please check out some of our most recent posts and be sure to follow us on Instagram for more inspiring wins!

Bright Spots #BrightSpots

Complementing our Wednesday Win series, our Bright Spots series highlights the longer waveform regional successes that develop slowly and often escape headlines. Through our collective efforts, progress in the region is steady, even when slow, and that’s what this series calls attention to.

Press statements

We put the word out about important legislative actions, shared sign-on letters, and used our collective platform to demand that Congress not turn a blind eye to Appalachian communities while enriching large corporations. See below, our complete list of statements, advisories, and releases in 2025.

Media hits

That’s what we’ve got so far this year. Let us know if there’s anything you’d like to see more of in Quarter Three! I hope to see you at some of our upcoming events!