Shaping Our Appalachian Region

What Shaping Our Appalachian Region does

Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) is a nonprofit economic development organization founded in 2013 and headquartered in Pikeville, Kentucky. SOAR serves all 54 Appalachian Regional Commission counties of Eastern Kentucky, addressing population loss and economic stagnation in the aftermath of the coal industry's decline. The organization operates an integrated four-program platform: EKY Runway (job readiness and career navigation with wraparound support), Eastern Kentucky Talent Network (free membership platform connecting job seekers to employers), SOAR Innovation (Kentucky Innovation Hub providing accelerator programs, legal clinics, and mentorship for entrepreneurs), and EKY Remote (nationally recognized remote worker and entrepreneur relocation program). In 2025, the EKY Runway Program placed 108 people into meaningful employment generating $5M in new wages, the Talent Network added 953 members and surfaced 6,721 job opportunities, and SOAR Innovation served 139 entrepreneurs across 29 counties. EKY Remote has facilitated 62 family relocations from 28 states, generating an estimated $11.2M in annual economic impact with $32.9M projected for 2026.

SOAR's go-to-market is community-led and relationship-driven, relying on embedded coaches, hiring events, employer partnerships, and word-of-mouth referrals rather than digital marketing. Major employer partners include Framatome, Kentucky Power, WECTEC/Westinghouse, Pikeville Medical Center, and Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentucky, with new 2026 partnerships expanding into Tri-State Building Trades Unions and the KCTCS nuclear energy training program. Revenue mechanics are entirely grant-driven: SOAR is funded through government agencies and foundations, most notably a $40M EDA Recompete grant (2024), $8M KNEDA inaugural grant (2026), $600K Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission grant (2023), and a $100K Kentucky Power economic growth grant (2022), supplemented by smaller contributions from GitLab Foundation, Economic Recovery Corps, One Clay County, and others. All programs are offered free of charge to participants. Leadership includes Executive Director Dr. Reed Adkins (newly appointed), COO Joshua Ball, and a board chaired by Kim McCann with members appointed by Co-Principal Officers Congressman Hal Rogers and Governor Andy Beshear.

Name

Shaping Our Appalachian Region

Legal name

Shaping Our Appalachian Region

Website

https://soar-ky.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shaping Our Appalachian Region is a nonprofit economic development organization serving all 54 Appalachian Regional Commission counties of Eastern Kentucky. It operates integrated workforce development, employer matching, entrepreneurship support, and remote worker relocation programs through free services funded by government and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development and Economic Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional Education Service Agencies (ESAs/BOCES/Intermediate Units) (EDADABAC)

Keywords

• Workforce development
• Economic development services
• Talent network platform
• Entrepreneurship accelerators
• Remote worker relocation

Headquarters

HQ city

Pikeville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: SOAR operates as a nonprofit organization primarily funded through grants from government agencies, foundations, and economic development organizations. Major grants include funding from the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission ($600,000), Kentucky Power Economic Growth Grant program ($100,000), Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority ($8M inaugural grant), and various other government and foundation sources.
2. Program Services: Free workforce development programs and services to job seekers including the Eastern Kentucky Runway Program, Eastern Kentucky Talent Network, and SOAR Innovation. Programs are offered at no cost to participants, funded through grants and partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) is a nonprofit that delivers free workforce development, employer matching, entrepreneurship acceleration, and remote worker relocation services to residents and employers across 54 Appalachian Regional Commission counties in Eastern Kentucky. The core offering is an integrated four-step service platform that takes participants from digital skills training through employment placement, business launch, or geographic relocation into Eastern Kentucky.

Product overview

Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) is a nonprofit economic development organization serving Eastern Kentucky that operates an interconnected suite of workforce development, talent placement, entrepreneurship support, and talent attraction programs. The core offerings include: EKY Runway (job readiness and career navigation), Eastern Kentucky Talent Network (employer-job seeker matching platform), SOAR Innovation (entrepreneurship and startup support hub), EKY Remote (remote worker and entrepreneur relocation), and the Nuclear Workforce Opportunities Program (technical training for nuclear energy careers). Programs like Digital Skills Workshops, Career Readiness Workshops, Social Enterprise Accelerator, Startup Appalachia Accelerator, 1CC Launch + Leap Accelerators, Legal Clinics for Entrepreneurs, Founders Fit Bootcamp, and the Mentor Network provide specialized services supporting the main programs. The organization functions as a platform of integrated services rather than a single product, with multiple program areas working together to achieve the goal of connecting 15,000 Eastern Kentuckians to work by 2030/2035.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EKY Remote: A nationally recognized remote worker relocation initiative that attracts skilled remote workers to Eastern Kentucky, offering personalized relocation support and incentives to help families settle successfully.
• SOAR Innovation
• Eastern Kentucky Talent Network
• Eastern Kentucky Runway Program
• Social Enterprise Accelerator
• Startup Appalachia Accelerator

Products and services

• Eastern Kentucky Runway Program (EKY Runway) Free workforce readiness program serving Eastern Kentucky adults seeking employment, providing personalized training plans, one-on-one coaching, peer mentorship, digital skills training, criminal record expungement support, transportation and childcare assistance, and direct pathways to employer hiring events.
• Eastern Kentucky Talent Network Free membership platform connecting job-ready candidates across Eastern Kentucky with employers and hiring events, providing early access to job listings, training opportunities, and coaching services through the Eastern Kentucky Talent Network Facebook Group and other channels.
• SOAR Innovation Regional Kentucky Innovation Hub serving entrepreneurs and tech-enabled startups across 29 Eastern Kentucky counties, providing mentorship, programming, accelerator services, legal clinics, investor connections, and resources to launch, grow, and scale businesses.
• EKY Remote Worker Relocation Program Nationally recognized program that recruits remote-capable workers, families, and tech-enabled entrepreneurs to relocate to Eastern Kentucky, providing personalized relocation support, housing and school guidance, community integration assistance, and local incentive programs across 25+ participating counties.
• Nuclear Workforce Opportunities Program Workforce development program connecting Eastern Kentucky job seekers to nuclear energy careers through employer partnerships with Framatome and WECTEC/Westinghouse, hands-on technical training at the TEK Center, and 16-week KCTCS training programs covering safety/OSHA, blueprint reading, mechanical and electrical systems, PLCs, and troubleshooting.
• Social Enterprise Accelerator Free mentorship, training, and business growth program under SOAR Innovation that helps local Eastern Kentucky entrepreneurs build social enterprises addressing community challenges in childcare, housing, transportation, healthcare, and workforce.
• Startup Appalachia Accelerator Free 12-week hybrid accelerator program for Eastern Kentucky entrepreneurs that provides mentoring, resources, and training to help founders develop investment-ready businesses.
• 1CC Launch + Leap Accelerators

Quantifiable outcome

• 108 people gained meaningful employment through EKY Runway Program in 2025
• +11 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Partnership with KCTCS to launch nuclear energy workforce initiative. 16-week training program (15 hours/week) covering safety/OSHA, blueprint reading, mechanical systems, electrical systems, PLCs, and troubleshooting. Funded by GitLab Foundation and KNEDA. Designed to connect Eastern Kentuckians to careers in nuclear energy.
• WECTEC Staffing Services LLC (Westinghouse subsidiary)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026WECTEC, a subsidiary and staffing agency of Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, partnered with SOAR for hiring events focused on nuclear outage work. Currently 40+ Eastern Kentuckians working in nuclear outage roles across the country through this partnership. Offers hourly wages of $36-$41+ with per diem and travel covered.
• Tri-State Building Trades UnionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Partnership with Tri-State Building Trades Unions and its affiliated unions to expand access to careers in skilled trades across Eastern Kentucky. Includes boilermakers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, ironworkers, and others. First opportunity at April 28 hiring event in Grayson, KY. Apprenticeship programs offer earn-while-you-learn pathways.
• Ashland Community and Technical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026ACTC Career Services partnering with SOAR and Kentucky Power for hiring events at the Technology Drive Campus in Grayson, KY. Venue host for WECTEC and Tri-State Building Trades hiring events. Career services partnership for student and community connections.
• Frost Brown Todd AttorneyssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 September 2025Legal partnership providing quarterly, no-cost virtual legal clinics for Eastern Kentucky founders. Attorney Derrick Maultsby Jr. delivers practical guidance on startup formation, intellectual property, fundraising, and employment law. Sessions designed to close the legal access gap for rural entrepreneurs.
• FramatomecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Nuclear energy industry partner conducting multiple hiring events through the Eastern Kentucky Talent Network. Extended 47 job offers at one event including 6 direct hires. Training at Lynchburg, Virginia facility with potential earnings of $50,000+ annually. David Bailey, Supervisor: 'SOAR's experienced leadership has helped create an amazing partnership that has opened the door for the wonderful people of Eastern Kentucky.'
• TEK CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Training partner for hands-on technical training in nuclear energy workforce development. Participants gain skills, certifications, and support needed for nuclear careers.
• Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) ManchestersupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Host venue for One Clay County Launch + Leap Community Showcase event. Partnership supporting entrepreneurship events in Clay County.
• SPEDA (Somerset-Pulaski County Economic Development)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025SPEDA President Chris Girdler: 'Partnering with Shaping Our Appalachian Region on the remote work initiative has been a great investment for Somerset and Pulaski County.' SPEDA is a participating community in EKY Remote providing support and incentives for new families.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• National Skills Coalition: National workforce policy and advocacy nonprofit focused on skills training for lower-wage, lower-skilled workers. Not a direct service competitor but operates in the same workforce development ecosystem with overlapping funder networks and policy priorities.
• Center for Rural Strategies: Kentucky-based nonprofit supporting rural communities through media, communications, and policy advocacy. Operates a complementary role to SOAR's direct-service model, focused on narrative change and federal policy rather than direct program delivery.

Direct peers

• Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program: Eastern Kentucky workforce development nonprofit operating employment and training programs across the same 23-county region SOAR serves. Most directly comparable workforce services peer in overlapping geography.
• Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky: Regional place-based foundation serving Eastern Kentucky counties with overlapping geography to SOAR. Comparable as a community-embedded nonprofit deploying philanthropic and public funding for workforce, entrepreneurship, and community development in the same 54-county footprint.
• Fahe: Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises, a regional CDFI nonprofit operating across the broader Appalachian region. Comparable mission-driven intermediary model combining grant administration, capacity building, and program delivery in distressed rural counties.
• Invest Appalachia: Place-based impact investing and community development nonprofit focused on Appalachian Kentucky. Comparable as a regional economic development intermediary with grant-making, capacity building, and program delivery across overlapping geography.
• Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation: Long-standing community development financial institution (CDFI) and economic development organization serving Eastern Kentucky and adjacent Appalachian counties. Directly comparable regional economic development nonprofit model with overlapping employer and entrepreneurship support programs.

Broad incumbents

• Appalachian Regional Commission: Federal-state economic development partnership serving the 13 Appalachian states including Kentucky. Operates as the broader umbrella funding body for organizations like SOAR; comparable in mission scope but at a much larger federal scale rather than a single nonprofit intermediary.
• Rural LISC: National rural community development intermediary of Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Comparable model as a rural-focused capacity-building and program-delivery nonprofit with workforce, housing, and economic development programming across distressed U.S. regions.

Regional players

• The Advancement Foundation: Southwest Virginia-based community development nonprofit operating a regional business incubator and workforce programs across neighboring Appalachian counties. Comparable entrepreneurship-and-workforce intermediary model in an adjacent distressed rural region rather than Kentucky.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/soar-ky
• Facebookfacebook.com/SOARKY1
• Xx.com/SOAR_EKY

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments4 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shaping Our Appalachian Region