Building Eastern Kentucky. Together.

Posted on 22 hours ago

The future of Eastern Kentucky is not something that happens to us.

It is something we build.

Every new business.
Every job created.
Every student who discovers a new opportunity.
Every downtown revitalized.
Every partnership formed.
Every community that chooses to move forward.

None of these things happens by accident. They happen because people care enough to show up, work together, and invest in the future of the place they call home.

That simple idea sits at the heart of the 2026 SOAR Summit, presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission.

This year’s theme, Building Eastern Kentucky. Together., is more than a slogan.

It is a reflection of how progress happens across our region.

Progress Requires Partnership

No single organization can solve every challenge.

No single community has all the answers.

No single leader can create the future alone.

But when people come together to share ideas, build relationships, learn from one another, and take action, remarkable things become possible.

That is why the SOAR Summit exists.

For more than a decade, the Summit has served as a gathering place for the people who care about the future of Eastern Kentucky.

Entrepreneurs.
Educators.
Students.
Employers.
Healthcare professionals.
Community leaders.
Nonprofit organizations.
Elected officials.
Federal and state agencies.
And every day citizens who simply want to see their communities thrive.

A Summit Designed Around Participation

This year’s Summit has been intentionally designed to create even more opportunities for those voices to be heard.

Attendees will experience practical workshops, engaging breakout sessions, the return of TenTalks, expanded networking opportunities, and the EKY Experience, an immersive showcase of the innovation, talent, industries, culture, and opportunities shaping Eastern Kentucky today.

The focus is simple:

Less passive listening.
More participation.
More collaboration.
More opportunities to learn from one another.

Because the people closest to the challenges often hold the best solutions.

Learning from What Works

Across Eastern Kentucky, people are creating opportunities every day.

They are launching businesses.
Creating jobs.
Supporting students.
Expanding healthcare access.
Strengthening communities.
Preserving culture.
Building partnerships.
And solving problems.

This year’s Summit will place a greater emphasis on sharing those stories and equipping attendees with practical ideas they can take home and put into action.

Because some of the most important solutions for Eastern Kentucky are already being developed by the people who live and work here every day.

More Than a Conference

The Summit is where ideas come together.

The Summit is where connections become partnerships.

The Summit is where conversations become action.

For some attendees, the most valuable moment may be a workshop. For others, it may be a conversation in the hallway. Or a connection made during the EKY Experience. Or an idea shared during a TenTalk.

The value of the Summit is not measured solely by what happens on stage. It is measured by what happens after attendees return home inspired, equipped, and connected.

Looking Ahead to the Principal Officer Plenary

The Summit will conclude on Friday, October 9, with the Principal Officer Plenary Session, presented by the University of the Cumberlands, at the Corbin Arena.

The plenary session serves as an opportunity to reflect on progress, discuss opportunities ahead, and reinforce a shared commitment to the future of Eastern Kentucky.