Mountain Association for Community and Economic Development

Four years after the devastating Eastern Kentucky floods of 2022, communities across the region are still rebuilding. While significant progress has been made, the disaster further exposed challenges that existed long before floodwaters rose, including a shortage of affordable housing and the need for a skilled trades workforce. In Magoffin County, TEK Center is working to meet that need by training the next generation who will help build Eastern Kentucky’s future. 

For founder Angie Reynolds, the idea came from years spent working in human resources, where she repeatedly encountered the same problem: there simply were not enough skilled tradespeople to meet demand. 

“Everywhere I looked, employers were desperate for qualified workers,” Angie said. “At the same time, there were people in our communities who wanted a better future but didn’t have access to training that fit their lives.” 

Establishing the Center 

Following years of networking, grant writing, and planning, Angie officially established TEK Center in 2021 with a mission to prepare Eastern Kentuckians for good-paying careers in less than a year. 

Today, TEK offers accelerated training programs in electrical work, heavy equipment, welding, and industrial mechanics, with more pathways in the works in masonry, carpentry, plumbing, and industrial machinery maintenance. Unlike traditional college programs, students attend classes just two days a week and graduate in about 10 months with nationally recognized certifications. 

“Our goal isn’t to keep students in a classroom for years. It’s to help them master the skills employers need and get them into careers as quickly as possible.” 

What makes TEK unique is that the programs are employer-driven. Tradespeople help design the curriculum and serve as instructors. Many graduates move directly into positions earning approximately $77,000 annually, or union jobs making over $50 an hour, creating opportunities that can be life-changing for individuals and families across the region. Before students even graduate, TEK brings employers to campus for job fairs and recruitment events. 

Supporting the Larger Picture of a New Economy 

Without a strong pipeline of skilled workers, housing and other development projects become more expensive, timelines grow longer, and communities have fewer options. 

“When people talk about affordable housing and economic development projects, they’re often talking about materials or financing. But you also need the workforce. You need the electricians, the plumbers, the carpenters and masons who can actually build those homes and buildings,” Robin Gabbard, President of Mountain Association said. “We have to grow that workforce if we’re going to solve these larger community challenges.” 

The organization is also working to remove barriers that prevent students from enrolling. Childcare, transportation, and financial constraints often stand between students and opportunity. Tuition is approximately $10,000, but partnerships with organizations such as EKCEP can cover up to $7,000 of that cost. Additional workforce programs can assist with expenses such as gas cards, steel-toe boots, and other necessities. 

As Angie was developing the idea for the TEK Center, Mountain Association provided critical support through our Business Support program, helping TEK strengthen its foundation to apply for grants, as well as build its website and strengthen its public presence. Through participation in our SPARK Nonprofit Collaborative, TEK gained access to capacity-building resources, networking opportunities, and guidance that supported its growth. Today, the partnership continues to evolve, with additional marketing and development projects underway. 

Constructing A New State-of-the Art Facility 

In order for TEK to build out more pathways, it needs more than its existing 5,000 square foot facility. With the support of a $3+ million Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program grant, they will soon break ground on a 30,000-square-foot training center in Magoffin County. 

“The trades aren’t slowing down,” Angie said. “I believe it could take 30 years or more to catch up with the demand, and with the new center, we are prepared to tackle this challenge.” 

TEK is developing an intermediary apprenticeship program that connects students directly with employers. Businesses can bring students on three days a week while TEK assists with apprenticeship paperwork and administrative requirements. Some employers are even exploring agreements to cover a student’s tuition in exchange for a commitment to remain with the company for a period after graduation. 

As Eastern Kentucky works to address workforce participation, economic development, and affordable housing shortages, TEK Center‘s mission offers a reminder that solutions often begin with people, skills, and opportunity. By training the next generation of trades professionals, the organization is helping lay the foundation for the region’s future, one student at a time. 

The post How TEK Center Is Tackling Eastern Kentucky’s Trades Shortage   appeared first on Mountain Association.

For generations, children walked through the doors of the Colson school in Letcher County, Kentucky. Among the teachers who helped shape those memories over the decades was Shirley Sexton, who spent years teaching in the building before retiring in 1995. Like so many others in the community, she watched with sadness as the school closed and fell into disuse. 

“A lot of people around here are working two jobs, and just struggling. Everything we try to do has the goal to make things easier and more joyful for families.”

After eight years of sitting empty, in 2020, she was able to purchase the building with a vision of giving it a second life. Working closely with Martin and Melanie Holbrook, fellow community members, they began building Colson Civic Center in 2021 to serve local families with opportunities for fun and fellowship.  

Then, the following year, the 2022 flooding disaster struck. 

Flooding Setbacks

More than six feet of water rose in the building, leaving behind 18 inches of mud. The force of the flood was so powerful it pushed furniture out the doors, ruining their commercial kitchen and the heating and cooling system. For a community already facing population loss and economic challenges, the flood was another painful setback.  

However, volunteers arrived from near and far to help get them get back to serving the community. Save Our Sheep, Helping Hands from North Carolina and Team Rubicon joined in the massive cleanup effort.  

Organizations and partners stepped up in remarkable ways. Members of Kentucky-based nonprofit, Clean4Change, visited multiple times to assist with recovery work, including cleaning floors and helping restore damaged spaces. They also helped secure funding via the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky for three mini-split heating and cooling systems, allowing individual rooms to be heated and cooled efficiently within the large building. 

Planning for Long-Term Resilience

Mountain Association became another key partner in the center’s recovery and long-term sustainability. Through energy-efficiency improvements spearheaded by our Energy Team, the center upgraded its lighting system with LED fixtures. We provided additional free technical assistance thanks to support from the KY Office of Energy Policy, and facilitation for solar, with panels donated via the Footprint Project and installed via Letcher County’s own HOMES, Inc. HOMES received funding from the Solar Finance Fund to bring down the cost by $6,000. 

Combined with efficiency improvements, the impact has been dramatic. Electric bills that once ranged from $200 to $300 per month have dropped to around $40. At new rates, they are expected to save more than $2,600 per year.  

Volunteers with Appalachia Science in the Public Interest, led by Mountain Association’s Josh Bills, change out lights in the Christmas room.

This means more money can be invested directly back into the community. 

Back to Serving the Community

The center hosts food giveaways twice each year in partnership with God’s Pantry and the Letcher County Food Pantry. Every Christmas, more than 300 families visit to take photos with Santa and receive free toys. Every fall, children can explore a one-acre corn maze, pose with giant hay bale creations, and pick one of 500 pumpkins that are grown and given away. School groups visit from Letcher and Knott counties, as well as the Autism Center and Adult Learning Center. They also operate B&G Thrift Store out of the back half of the school, providing affordable clothes and household items for families. 

“A lot of people around here are working two jobs, and just struggling. Everything we try to do has the goal to make things easier and more joyful for families,” Martin Holbrook said.  

That mission is working. Parents and grandparents often come through the doors and immediately find themselves walking down memory lane. Former students wander the halls pointing out classroom or their lockers. After events, children cry when it’s time to get back on the bus because they don’t want to leave, though there’s always another event coming up they can look forward to. 

Ongoing Recovery

Even though they are back to offering activities, recovery projects continue and the list of maintenance needs is long. They are now better prepared for future flooding with flood doors, sandbags, and drain plugs ready, but the center lost nearly half an acre of land to creek erosion following the flood, and work is underway to stabilize the streambank with rock to prevent further damage. They are also looking for funding for critical roof repairs and ultimate replacement. 

Through floods, setbacks, and years of hard work, the Colson Civic Center stands today as a symbol of resilience and generosity for the people of Colson and Letcher County. 

To learn more about them visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/p/Colson-Civic-Center-100079497507885/  

The post A Shuttered School Becomes a Place for Community in Colson, Kentucky  appeared first on Mountain Association.

The conversation around data centers in Eastern Kentucky has rapidly picked up pace since we first wrote about them in November 2025 and looked at the Kentucky General Assembly’s proposals in March of this year. To help our community members and local leaders better understand the landscape, we have compiled the resource list below. This list includes Eastern Kentucky counties with current data center moratoriums, resources from partner organizations, notable projects, and feedback from elected officials. 

Mountain Association believes in community-led, transparent data center development that recognizes the importance of community benefits agreements between developers and local government. 

In-depth resources about data center development and impact: 

Data Center Development Considerations for Kentucky Communities [Blueprint Kentucky] 

The Rapid Growth of Data Centers [Kentucky Conservation Committee] 

See where data center developers are looking to build in Kentucky [Kentucky Lantern] 

Data centers in Kentucky: Resources & Information [Kentucky Resources Council] 

The largest two electrical providers in the region’s pages on data centers: 

East Kentucky Power Cooperative: Data Centers 

Kentucky Power: Data Centers Help Support Long-Term Affordability 

As of August 2026, ten out of fifty-four Appalachian counties in Kentucky have passed data center moratoriums. 

Adair | Six-month halt on data centers in effect in City of Columbia [July 8, 2026] 

Bell | Bell County passes data center moratorium, halting construction for 2 years [July 2, 2026] 

Boyd | Boyd County freezes new data centers for six months, but EastPark project is exempt [July 10, 2026] 

Edmonson | Edmonson County Fiscal Court Enacts One-Year Moratorium on New Data Centers, AI Facilities, and Crypto Mining Operations [June 8, 2026] 

Greenup | Greenup County places moratorium on data centers — Hall on TeraWulf, not included in the pause: ‘We would not do anything to harm this county’ [July 17, 2026] 

Laurel | London City Council passes 2-year data center moratorium [August 3, 2026] 

Letcher | County orders two-year halt on data centers [July 22, 2026] 

Metcalfe | Data Center Moratorium Passed [July 27, 2026] 

Nicholas | The Court approved a one-year moratorium on data centers and windmills in Nicholas County [July 10, 2026] 

Russell | Update from Mayor Simpson Regarding Data Center Moratorium in Russell [July 10, 2026] 

Notable Projects: 

Boyd County: TeraWulf announces plans to build data center in Boyd County, Kentucky [WCHS / May 27, 2026] 

Boyd/Greenup County: Kentucky’s biggest data center project to date eyes former steel mill [Courier Journal / July 22, 2206] 

Letcher County: Eastern KY officials sign secretive deal with data center venture to explore off-grid power [Herald Leader / July 16, 2026] 

Pike County: City leaders evaluating proposed data center in Pikeville, Ky. [WCHS / June 23, 2026] 

News related to the Kentucky General Assembly’s and data centers:  

OPINION: KENTUCKY CAN LEAD ON DATA CENTERSWITHOUT LEAVING COMMUNITIES BEHIND [Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers (R-Manchester) / August 3, 2026] 

Is Kentucky About to Give Billions in Tax Breaks to Data Centers? [KyPolicy / July 23, 2026] 

The post Data Center Resources for Kentuckians appeared first on Mountain Association.