The Appalachian Prosperity Project (APP) is a collaborative partnership among the University of Virginia (UVa), UVa’s College at Wise (UVa-Wise), the Virginia Coalfield Coalition (comprised of Planning Districts 1 & 2), the private sector, and the Commonwealth. This partnership uses a systems approach to simultaneously advance the inextricably linked fields of education (Appalachians Building Capacity), health (Healthy Appalachia Institute), and prosperity (Appalachian Ventures).

Whether the APP is bringing world-class executive education to Coalfield business leaders, piloting an innovative early language literacy intervention, or providing a bridge for engineering education, this multi-faceted partnership produces results. The partnership is unique and powerful because it widely encompasses disparate stakeholders while remaining coordinated and focused. The APP views issues from many perspectives by convening public, private, and government agencies that are not often at the same table. It provides the infrastructure to transform those conversations into initiatives today while maintaining a longterm commitment to the overall mission.

This mutually beneficial alliance applies academic rigor to UVa’s outreach projects, expands student experiences, encourages the exchange of ideas, and creates new knowledge which will inform future community- and university-based shared research and partner activities.

The APP is an inspiring reflection of the spirit of the region’s people who value trust, self-determination, and perseverance. The vision is to ensure regional collaboration, generate new ideas, and establish a process to engage the social, economic, and scientific issues that exist at the interface of health, education, prosperity, and Appalachian culture. Our collective mission is to position the region in the global economy while honoring its traditions and culture, using local assets, engagement by all partners, and true collaboration. http://approject.org/.