This document outlines the agenda for a three-day gathering in Asheville, North Carolina from March 19-21, 2013. The gathering's purpose is to accelerate Appalachia's economic transition by harnessing networks and partnerships between organizations. The agenda includes sessions on creating funding partnerships for rural Appalachia, showcasing local development efforts in food, energy and health, and strategizing to support entrepreneurship and promising sectors in the region. Site visits, working groups, and discussions aim to strengthen collaboration between grantmakers and move the group's work forward.

1. “Harnessing the Power of
the Network to Accelerate
Appalachia’s Transition”
March 19, 20, & 21, 2013
Asheville, North Carolina
Gathering Agenda: Tuesday, March 19, 2013
A Capital Idea: Creating Funding Partnerships for Rural Appalachia
(Renaissance Hotel, Windsor Ballroom A&B)
10:00 a.m. Registration Opens (Windsor Corridor)
12:00 p.m. Lunch &Welcome Remarks
 Todd Greene, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
 Kim Zeuli, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
 Paul Kaboth, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
12:30 p.m. How Can Directed Capital Jumpstart Community Change?
 Dave Wilhelm,Founder of Woodland Venture Management
1:15 p.m. Framework for Lending and Investment in Appalachia
 NDC
1:45 p.m. The Art of Co-Lending: Real Projects and Partnerships at Work
 NCIF
 BB&T
 MACED
2:45 p.m. Being a Community Finance Leader in Rural Appalachia
 Shaw Canale, Mountain Bizworks
 Clint Gwin, Pathways Lending
 Dave Prosser, Freedom First Credit Union
 Banker: TBD
3:45 p.m. Coffee Break
4:00 p.m. Angel Funds: The Opportunity of Private Equity
 Tom Parkinson, Adena Venture Fund
 Ray Moncreif, Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation
 Becky Ceperley, Greater Kanawha Valley Community Foundation
 Angel Investor: TBD
5:00 p.m. Closing Remarks
Appalachian Cultural Sharing Celebration
(On Broadway, 49 Broadway Street)
6:30 p.m. Welcome Session
 Cherokee Preservation Foundation (confirmation pending)
 Opening Cherokee Blessing
7:40 p.m. Cultural Sharing Performances
 Appalachian Music by TBD
 Cherokee Historical Association’s Mountain Side Theater
 Latino Performance: TBD
 Andrea Clarke, Photography Exhibition: “Urban Renewal in Asheville”
9:30 p.m. Closing Remarks

2. “Harnessing the Power of
the Network to Accelerate
Appalachia’s Transition”
March 19, 20, & 21, 2013
Asheville, North Carolina
Gathering Agenda: Wednesday, March20, 2013
7:30 a.m. Registration Opens(Windsor Corridor)
 Morning refreshments available
9:00 a.m. Official Opening &Welcome (Windsor Ballroom A&B)
 Welcome to Asheville, North Carolina
o Elizabeth Brazas, President of the Western North Carolina
Community Foundation
 Re-grounding in the Goals, Purpose, & Vision of the Network
o Sandra Mikush, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation
10:00a.m. On-the-Ground Site Visits(Transportation between the site
visits and hotel will be provided)
 Session Objective:Showcase local development efforts and capture the key
ideas, lessons learned, and strategies to grow entrepreneurs and develop
promising sectors of food, energy, and health in other Appalachian
communities.
o Food Systems
- Hosted byAppalachian Sustainable Agricultural Project & Blue
Ridge Food Ventures with support from food based
entrepreneurs Smoking J’s Fiery Foods, and others.
o Energy
- Hosted by Land of Sky with support from FLS Energy and Blue
Ridge Biofuels, EvolveEnergy, Catawba Valley Eco Complex,
and the Mountain Associations for Community Economic
Development.
o Health as Economic Development
- Hosted by the Bent Creek Institute with support from
entrepreneurs in rural health services and integrative healthcare
sectors.
o Growing Entrepreneurs
- Hosted by Mountain BizWorks with support from AB Tech
Community College, Chamber of Commerce, and other local
organizations.
12:00p.m. Working Lunch & Strategic Discussions at Site Visit Locations
 Session Objective:Define the types of capacities, policy changes, and
investments needed to grow entrepreneurs and develop the promising
sectors of food, energy, and health.

3. “Harnessing the Power of
the Network to Accelerate
Appalachia’s Transition”
March 19, 20, & 21, 2013
Asheville, North Carolina
3:00 p.m. Participants Return to the Renaissance Hotel
Snacks and coffee available
3:30p.m. Reconvene for Reports &Reflections From Across Each Site Visit
 Share reflections and define critical connections through strategic
conversations
5:00p.m. Closing Remarks by Earl Gohl, Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian
Regional Commission
 Vision for coming together as a region to accelerate the economic
transition
5:30 p.m. Adjourn
6:30 p.m. Networking Social –Grantmakers Only(Top of the Plaza)
8:00 p.m. Dinner On Your Own
Please see your packet for a list of area restaurants.

4. “Harnessing the Power of
the Network to Accelerate
Appalachia’s Transition”
March 19, 20, & 21, 2013
Asheville, North Carolina
Gathering Agenda: Thursday, March 21, 2013
(Grantmakers Only –Windsor Ballroom A&B)
8:00 a.m. Morning Refreshments
8:30 a.m. Welcome &Opening Remarks
9:00 a.m. Site Visits Reflections & Analysis
 Sessions Objective: Deepen our collective learning and analysis around
ways to support entrepreneurship and grow the promising sectors of
energy, food, and health.
10:00a.m. Re-imagine our Shared Vision &Strategy for Appalachia’s Economic
Transition
 Session Objective:Define the fundamental strategies, principles, and
sectors that can help bring our vision for Appalachia’s transition to life.
(Review a working document that integrates our vision, analysis, and
ideas from past gatherings)
10:30 a.m. Break
 Coffee available
10:45 a.m. Network Business Meeting
 Session Objective:Review ways to structure a financially sustainable
funder-driven network (including a membership dues structure), and gain
consensus on the Network’spolicies and procedures.
12:00 noon Lunch Service Begins
12:15 p.m. Moving Our Collective Work Forward
 Session Objective: Review the successes of our current working groups
(Food Systems and Startup Appalachia), and launch new working groups
on topics such as energy, health, and social justice.
1:15 p.m. Closing Remarks & Gathering Evaluation
1:30 p.m. Adjourn