Every year, organizations publish reports filled with numbers.

• Jobs created.
• Businesses launched.
• People served.
• Investments secured.
• Communities reached.

Those numbers matter. They demonstrate accountability, help measure progress, and show the return on investments made by our partners, funders, and communities.

But numbers never tell the whole story.

• Behind every job is someone who found purpose through meaningful employment.
• Behind every business is an entrepreneur who decided to bet on Eastern Kentucky.
• Behind every new resident is a family choosing to build their future in our mountains.
• Behind every partnership is a shared belief that our region is stronger when we work together.

That is the story of Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) in Fiscal Year 2026.

It is a story written by employers, educators, entrepreneurs, local governments, nonprofit organizations, foundations, state and federal agencies, corporate partners, and thousands of Eastern Kentuckians who believe opportunity should exist right here at home.

FY26 Impact at a Glance

• 3,900+ people served
• 526 new jobs created
• More than $20 million in new wages generated
• Average salary exceeding $38,000
• 107 events hosted
• Job placements in 30 counties

Those 526 jobs represent more than $20 million in estimated annual wages flowing into Eastern Kentucky’s economy every year.

Each initiative below shows SOAR’s commitment to using public and private investments to deliver measurable results that create opportunity, strengthen communities, and improve lives across Eastern Kentucky.

But those numbers only tell part of the story.

Let’s meet some of the people behind them.

Connecting Talent with Opportunity

FY26 Impact

• 1,300+ job seekers served
• 212 job placements
• Average salary exceeding $47,000
• Free EKY Job Board connecting employers with talent across Eastern Kentucky

Finding the right employee shouldn’t be left to chance.

Neither should finding the right job.

That’s why SOAR’s Eastern Kentucky Talent Network goes beyond maintaining a job board.

The EKY Job Board provides employers across Eastern Kentucky with a free platform to post opportunities while giving job seekers 24/7 access to career openings throughout the region. At the same time, our team works directly with employers to understand their workforce needs, identify qualified candidates, and create a pipeline to employment that results in successful hires.

Instead of hosting traditional job fairs where employers hope to meet qualified applicants, SOAR focuses on targeted hiring events, employer partnerships, and personalized connections that help businesses hire the right people while helping individuals build meaningful careers.

As workforce needs evolve, so do our partnerships.

This year, SOAR collaborated with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System to launch the Energy Training Program, preparing Eastern Kentuckians for careers in the growing energy sector while connecting graduates directly with employers.

Ready for your next opportunity?

Whether you’re searching for a job, exploring a new career, or looking to hire qualified employees, the Eastern Kentucky Talent Network is here to help.

Learn more about the Eastern Kentucky Talent Network.

Growing Businesses That Strengthen Communities

FY26 Impact

• $16.7 million in capital raised
• 38 businesses launched
• 201 jobs created
• 300 entrepreneurs served
• 41 Eastern Kentucky counties represented

Every thriving community needs entrepreneurs willing to solve problems, create jobs, and invest where they live.

Through SOAR Innovation, entrepreneurs receive coaching, mentorship, technical assistance, and access to funding opportunities that help transform ideas into sustainable businesses.

Some businesses begin with a single idea.

Others begin because someone believed they could succeed.

Entrepreneurs like Scott Stuckey demonstrate what becomes possible when innovation is supported by a strong regional ecosystem.

Community initiatives such as the Launch+Leap Accelerator in Clay County show that entrepreneurship isn’t limited to one business. It can strengthen an entire community.

Have a business idea?

Whether you’re launching your first company or preparing to scale an existing business, SOAR Innovation can help.

Learn more about SOAR Innovation.

Making Eastern Kentucky Home

FY26 Impact

• 78 households relocated
• 30 states represented
• 30 Eastern Kentucky counties impacted
• More than $7 million in new annual wages
• Average household income exceeding $134,000

Eastern Kentucky has always produced incredible talent.

Increasingly, that talent is coming home.

SOAR’s nationally recognized EKY Remote program helps professionals build successful careers while living in the communities they love.

Some participants discover Eastern Kentucky for the first time.

Others simply find their way home.

Every household strengthens local schools, supports small businesses, volunteers in community organizations, and contributes to the long-term vitality of our region.

Whether you’re returning home or discovering Eastern Kentucky for the first time, EKY Remote can help make your move possible.

Learn more about EKY Remote.

Removing Barriers. Creating Opportunity.

FY26 Impact

• 242 jobs created
• 600+ individuals served

Sometimes the biggest obstacle to employment isn’t finding a job.

It’s everything that stands between someone and the opportunity.

• Transportation.
• Childcare.
• Training.
• Documentation.
• Confidence.

Through EKY Runway, SOAR works alongside individuals to remove barriers, connect people with employers, and provide the coaching and support needed to build lasting careers.

Every participant’s journey is different.

That’s why every success story looks different.

Looking for support on your career journey?

EKY Runway helps individuals overcome barriers, access training, and connect with meaningful employment opportunities.

Learn more about EKY Runway.

The EKY Runway is funded through the EDA’s Recompete Pilot Program and serves the following counties in Eastern Kentucky:  Bell County, Floyd County, Harlan County, Johnson County, Knott County, Knox County, Leslie County, Letcher County, Magoffin County, Martin County, Perry County and Pike County.

Building the Infrastructure for Opportunity

Reliable broadband has become as essential to economic development as roads and utilities.

During FY26, SOAR helped communities secure $8 million in BEAD funding, expanding reliable broadband access to nearly 6,000 previously unserved or underserved homes and businesses across eight Eastern Kentucky counties.

Those investments will support education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, remote work, and workforce development for generations to come.

Powered by Partnerships

None of this happened because of one organization.

It happened because hundreds of organizations chose to work together.

• Employers.
• Schools.
• Community and technical colleges.
• Universities.
• Healthcare providers.
• Utilities.
• Foundations.
• Local governments.
• State agencies.
• Federal partners.
• Corporate supporters.
• Community organizations.
• Residents.

Every success in this report reflects someone who chose collaboration over competition and partnership over working alone.

Together, those partnerships are helping create a stronger Eastern Kentucky.

Join Us as We Build What’s Next

If FY26 proved anything, it’s that Eastern Kentucky’s greatest accomplishments happen when people come together around a shared purpose.

That’s exactly what you’ll experience at the 2026 SOAR Summit, presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission, October 7-9 in Corbin.

Whether you attend, exhibit, present, or simply come to build new relationships, you’ll join hundreds of leaders committed to creating the next chapter of opportunity across Eastern Kentucky.

Because the conversations we have this October will become the stories we’re telling next year.

Help Write the Next Chapter

Every opportunity highlighted here began with a partnership.

As we continue building momentum across Eastern Kentucky, we invite organizations that share our vision to become SOAR Corporate Partners and help expand opportunity throughout our region.

Together, we can continue creating lasting impact.

The Story Continues

As we celebrate the accomplishments of FY26, we’re reminded that our work is never measured solely by numbers.

It’s measured by people who discover purpose through meaningful employment.

• Entrepreneurs who build businesses.
• Families who choose to call Eastern Kentucky home.
• Communities that believe in their future.
• And partners who understand that lasting change happens through collaboration.

The story behind these numbers isn’t SOAR’s story alone. It’s Eastern Kentucky’s story. Together, we’re continuing to build momentum, create opportunities, and change lives across our region. Thank you to every partner, funder, corporate supporter, employer, educator, entrepreneur, community leader, and resident who made this progress possible. 

We look forward to continuing this work together as we build an even stronger Eastern Kentucky.