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Presented by:
Bringing You Home for SOAR Summit 2026
For years, many Eastern Kentuckians felt they had to leave home to build a future
to find a career, start a business, or pursue new ideas. Today, that is changing.
Across the region, employers are hiring locally, students are connecting to real career pathways,
and entrepreneurs are launching companies that serve communities right here.
Opportunity is no longer something you have to go somewhere else to find. It’s being built in Eastern Kentucky.
The 2026 SOAR Summit is where that progress comes together.
This premier Appalachian Networking event is designed for everyone:
- Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs
- Community & Economic Development Advocates
- Educators & Workforce Development Experts
- Tech & Innovation Enthusiasts
- Local Government Officials
- Students & Aspiring Creators
Special Thanks to Our Event Sponsors:
Last Year’s Summit – By The Numbers
1
Attendees
1
Exhibitors
1
Speakers
1
Sponsors
representing
1
States
1
Kentucky Communities
1
Kentucky Counties
1
KY Appalachian Counties
What You Have to Look Forward To
2026 Principal Officer Plenary Session
Date | Location
Sponsored by
Congressman Hal Rogers
U.S. Congressman, KY 5th District
Governor Andy Beshear
Governor, Commonwealth of Kentucky
Robert Stivers
Kentucky State Senate President
Joe Craft
President and CEO of Alliance Resource Partners and L.P. Philanthropist in Chief, Craft Philanthropy
Meet the 2026 SOAR Summit Featured Speakers
The Eastern Kentucky Experience: Expo and Exhibit Hall
Presented by
An Exhibit Hall Experience Unlike Any Other
SOAR Summit attendees connected with over 1,000 other participants and organizations that shared the mission of Eastern Kentucky at the EKY Experience Expo and Exhibit Hall. From August 27-28 at the Corbin Arena, regional businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, and community initiatives were on full display, putting the work of our region front and center.
The EKY Experience was free and open to the public. This opportunity was one of the largest events of its kind in Appalachia Kentucky.
PurposeWorks: Public Job & Work Resource Fair
PurposeWorks 2025 was a chance to connect with real career opportunities all in one place. Held inside the SOAR Summit’s EKY Experience Expo Hall on August 27 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., this free public work and job resource fair features local employers, training providers, and mentors was ready to help you take the next step. Whether attendees were just starting out, switching careers, or re-entering the workforce, PurposeWorks was designed to meet them where they are.
Sponsored by
The SOAR Summit Wouldn’t Have Been Possible Without
Our Corporate Partners
