Accelerating Appalachia biz accelerator now accepting applications

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Kimberly Hunter of Accelerating Appalachia and Susan Von Frank of Grow Journey.

Kimberly Hunter of Accelerating Appalachia and Susan Von Frank of Grow Journey.

Accelerating Appalachia is a great program. Here’s the press release:

Accelerating Appalachia’s mission is to build a network of nature based businesses and organizations, entrepreneurs, investors, suppliers, customers, and mentors with a shared passion for the natural world to catalyze business growth, social justice and positive ecological impacts by providing education to this network.

Asheville area graduates include Riverbend Malt House, Smiling Hara Tempeh, River Island Apothecary, Green River Picklers, Underdog Crew, Appalachian Botanical Alliance, and Carolina Ground, among others from the Western North Carolina and Appalachian region.

Accelerating Appalachia Call for Applications!

Are you interested in scaling the impact of your nature-based venture to accomplish more good for people and the planet? Accelerating Appalachia participants are businesses, entrepreneurs and social enterprises developing scalable technologies, solutions to environmental problems, regenerative practices in food production and land management, or unique nature-based products are encouraged to apply. The program will be held in Kentucky and Asheville, NC, USA in Spring, 2016. Limited partial scholarships are available.

Within six days (two 3-day sessions) we cover a business curriculum tailored for nature-based enterprises that includes customer acquisition, marketing, financials, preparing for investment, supply chain development, and customer lifetime value. All participants join our network of like minded entrepreneurs, organizations, businesses, industry leaders and sector specialists. You walk away with an honest and clear assessment of where your business stands for the long haul by spending intensive, focused time developing components of your business or enterprise necessary to scale.

For more details and to apply by the January 31, 2016 deadline, click here.

Sectors may include: Farming, Food, Clean Energy, Forest products (natural building) and non-timber forest products (ginseng, mushrooms, fruit & nut trees), Fiber/ Textiles, Craft Brewing/ Distilling, Botanicals/Wellness Products, Outdoor Industry

Accelerating Appalachia is collaborating and partnering with multiple enterprises and organizations from across the region, including: Brown-Forman, Iroquois Valley Farms, Kiva Zip, Kentucky Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute, Kentucky Distillers Association, University of Pikeville, University of Kentucky, Warren Wilson College, Venture Asheville, Ouita Michel Restaurants, Village Capital, Big Path Capital, Kentucky Center for Ag and Rural Development (K-CARD), MACED, Appalachian Food Summit, Community Farm Alliance, Local Foods Network, Kentucky Proud/Appalachian Proud, Grow Appalachia, Rural Scale, and many more.

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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