May–August 2001 Issue

Appalachian Scene: Always Leading the Way
by Lynda McDaniel

Harlan, Kentucky, resident Gayle Lawson's decades of public service earned her the 2001 John D. Whisman Vision Award, an honor given to an individual who has provided exemplary service and leadership in the Appalachian Region.

Bringing a Community Online
by Carl Hoffman

Created to fill a need for low-cost Internet access, the nonprofit Washington County Information Technology Group also provides technical assistance and free seminars for local residents new to the World Wide Web.

Ecotourism Takes Off in the "Heart of Appalachia"
by Lynda McDaniel

Local entrepreneurs in southwestern Virginia are finding new business opportunities in the area's fastest-growing industry with the help of the Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority.

Keeping the Line Open: The Mississippian Railway Cooperative
by Fred D. Baldwin

In the mid 1980s Itawamba County nearly lost its railroad, but though a series of public-private partnerships, the community found a way to keep the trains rolling.

Short Line Railroads: Local Lifelines for Business
by Fred D. Baldwin

Short line railroads are an important, although sometimes overlooked, resource for economic development. The success of the Ohio Central Railroad System shows the impact short line rail can have on a rural community.

Targeting Resources for Local Growth
by James E. Casto

Focusing state and federal dollars on targeted areas, the Kentucky Appalachian Community Development Initiative, a program of the Kentucky Appalachian Commission, helps communities fund their own strategies for economic growth.