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Department of Geography Colloquium Series

Date:
Location:
Classroom Building Room 110
Speaker(s) / Presenter(s):
Ben Gilmore, Director of Refresh Appalachia

"Geographies of transition and opportunity in Appalachia: rebuilding the economy from the ground up" 

Coalfield Development operates a family of social enterprises in Central Appalachia. This talk will discuss how Coalfield Development is working to rebuild the regional economy through on-the-job training, education, and personal development.  A specific focus will be placed on Refresh Appalachia, a social enterprise working to build a local food economy through farmer training, food hub development, and food access.

Ben Gilmer is president of Refresh Appalachia, a social enterprise of Coalfield Development. Ben has 15 years of experience in the non-profit, government, academic, and private sectors.  Born and raised in Russell County, Virginia, his specialties include sustainable agriculture and food systems, economic and community development, natural resource management, and GIScience.  He has worked on projects in the U.S., Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and the Caribbean.  Ben has a Masters degree in Geography from West Virginia University and a BSc. degree in Geography from Radford University.

About Coalfield Development and Refresh Appalachia:

Coalfield Development operates a family of social enterprises in agriculture, solar, construction, woodworking, reclamation, and arts-based tourism.  Coalfield Development's Refresh Appalachia is a regional economic and workforce development initiative to establish a training and development program that increases the success of farmers in Central Appalachia, strengthens local food systems, increases access to healthy food, and aggregates and distributes local products to regional markets.