Host Joel Skene speaks with Annie Forrest of the REDF Appalachian Growth Fund, a mission-driven initiative scaling social enterprises in Appalachia. Their conversation ranges across job creation, the region’s unique challenges and opportunities and the role of impact investing in building a sustainable ecosystem for employment-focused social enterprises.
Chapters:
- 00:00 Introduction to Community Capital Live
- 02:48 Exploring the REDF Appalachian Growth Fund
- 06:00 Understanding Employment Social Enterprises
- 08:54 The Role of Capital in Appalachia
- 12:03 Funding Structures and Loan Types
- 15:05 Real-World Examples of Impact
- 17:50 Navigating Investor Expectations
- 20:55 Building a Sustainable Ecosystem
- 23:52 Long-Term Vision for Employment Social Enterprises
- 26:56 Networking and Collaboration in Community Capital
- 29:32 Future Strategies and Challenges
- 32:35 Conclusion and Next Steps