Appalachian Community Capital: Building financial resilience where it’s needed most
Appalachian Community Capital is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution that is focused on attracting new sources of capital for small businesses in underserved places in Appalachia and similar energy communities nationally.
How Appalachian Community Capital works to strengthen the small business ecosystem in the United States
- Most small businesses in Appalachia — especially those in areas historically tied to traditional energy industries — face persistent barriers to accessing the affordable capital and support they need to grow. As public and private investment shifts towards a digital economy, these businesses often lack the resources to adapt their models — and risk being excluded from emerging opportunities.
- Appalachian Community Capital (ACC), a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI), is working to change that trajectory. ACC raises and deploys capital for small businesses in underserved Appalachian communities, helping them participate in and benefit from new economic opportunities.
- As a capital intermediary, ACC supports a network of 34 regional CDFIs and mission-driven lenders by unlocking scale — deploying debt, grant funding, and capacity-building resources that strengthen the small business support ecosystem.
Program overview
Our work together
- The partnership between Mastercard Strive USA and Appalachian Community Capital launched the Resilient Appalachia Data Initiative (RADI) in August 2024, which is part of the ACC inclusive data hub. RADI is a platform designed to equip regional CDFIs and the businesses they serve with data insights to support the transition to a more sustainable and inclusive economy. The initiative builds capacity, develops an investable pipeline, and delivers high-impact portfolio growth in core areas related to climate-resilience and climate mitigation outcomes. Through this initiative, Appalachia has the potential to become a ‘living laboratory’ for development, replication and scale of impactful, community-led climate finance models regionally and nationally. This initiative focuses on the following core areas.
- Regenerative Agriculture: Aims to innovate the circular economy in agriculture, leveraging the region's substantial farming output. Addresses barriers for low- and middle-income communities, encouraging leadership in sustainable farming practices.
- Multiplier Innovation Initiatives: Boosts revenue for regional entrepreneurs and reduces financial risks in these models.
- This work took on new meaning after Hurricane Helene hit part of the region in September 2024, affecting over 20,000 businesses and highlighting the urgent need to integrate resilience financing into the region’s economic development strategy, RADI enables regional CDFIs and small businesses to track risk exposure, develop resilience strategies, and access resilience-smart financing. ACC’s broader resilience strategy combines financial product innovation, risk modeling, and policy advocacy to protect vulnerable enterprises and jobs.
By the numbers
- ACC provides products and services to small businesses in 13 states and 423 counties
- RADI's resilience project pipeline has already identified more than 500 investable opportunities (as of July 2025)
- Since 2020, ACC and its members have created 4,700+ jobs and deployed more than $3 billion in loan capital
Our goal
Build a climate-resilient and inclusive regional economy in Appalachia
By the numbers
Become a partner
Interested in being a partner for change?
Together we can empower millions of small businesses globally with innovative digital solutions that boost resilience, growth, and inclusion. Your organization's expertise can help bring impactful programs to scale, deepen local reach, and create meaningful change in the small business ecosystem. Be part of a vibrant partner community driving real economic impact.
Donna Gambrell
Appalachian Community CapitalThis work is not only about clean energy or economic growth. It’s about equipping our communities with the tools to weather future storms — literally and financially.
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