01.
Coalfield Development
In Appalachian towns hurt badly by coal’s decline, empty buildings aren’t just eyesores—they represent lost jobs, disappearing communities, and fading hope. Coalfield Development was founded by Brandon Dennison, a local leader who grew up surrounded by these abandoned factories, warehouses, and storefronts. He knew his region had the potential to thrive beyond coal, but only if someone took concrete, practical steps. He started Coalfield to do exactly that.
Here is precisely how Coalfield works, step by step:
First, Coalfield Development raises funding—mainly from foundations, government grants, and sometimes local businesses—to renovate large, empty buildings in struggling Appalachian towns. These buildings might be old factories that used to employ hundreds, or big, empty storefronts along once-thriving Main Streets. Coalfield carefully renovates each space, turning what were abandoned and neglected buildings into modern, welcoming centers.
Next, Coalfield invites established local businesses to open new locations inside these renovated buildings. These businesses include practical, community-focused ventures—such as small cafés, woodworking shops, farmers’ markets, or solar panel installation companies. Because opening a new location can be risky, Coalfield makes it attractive and low-risk for these businesses by offering significantly reduced rent, handling expenses like utilities and maintenance, and actively marketing the renovated buildings to attract customers and foot traffic. This allows each business to easily see how the arrangement benefits them: they get affordable space, reduced financial risk, and built-in community support.
Coalfield then recruits local residents—often individuals who have struggled with long-term unemployment, past incarceration, or substance recovery—to participate in structured, hands-on job training programs. These residents are paid a steady living wage by Coalfield while they gain valuable job skills working directly inside the businesses operating in the renovated buildings. The program runs on a clearly structured schedule each week:
About 33 hours per week are spent learning practical, real-world skills (like carpentry, solar installation, or agriculture) through direct work experience at the businesses.
Another 6 hours per week are spent in personal development or life-skills classes, helping trainees build confidence, professionalism, and the social skills they need to succeed in stable employment.
Finally, participants spend around 3 hours each week enrolled in formal classes at local community colleges, earning credits toward recognized certificates or degrees.
Importantly, Coalfield doesn’t just offer training. They provide strong, comprehensive support, including collaborating with other local nonprofits. These partner nonprofits offer essential support services directly inside Coalfield’s buildings—for example, running GED classes, addiction counseling programs, financial literacy workshops, or childcare services—so that trainees have everything they need to stay focused, succeed in the program, and build stable careers.
When trainees finish the Coalfield program, many get hired full-time by the very businesses they've been training with. For those who aren’t directly hired, they now have valuable, practical skills that are highly sought-after by employers elsewhere in the community.
The results of Coalfield’s approach are clear, concrete, and compelling:
Once-empty, abandoned buildings are now active economic hubs, generating jobs and local commerce.
Local businesses can safely expand and thrive, knowing they have reduced financial risk and strong community backing.
Residents who were once stuck without opportunities now have meaningful job skills, stable employment, and the self-confidence to build lasting careers.
Coalfield Development isn’t just offering a hopeful vision—it's already achieving real results, right now, town by town across Appalachia. With their clear, practical model, other communities facing similar challenges can achieve the same revival—but it's not automatic. Success requires committed local leaders like Brandon Dennison, ongoing funding to renovate buildings and support trainees, and strong cooperation between businesses, nonprofits, and local government. Coalfield proves it's entirely possible, but replication takes real effort, collaboration, and persistence.
Still, the payoff is clear and powerful: healthier communities, thriving local businesses, and people regaining stable lives and renewed hope.