Sustainable Economic Development through Entrepreneurship Opportunities and Assets and Higher Education - Spring

Commissioned by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), this capstone examines how community colleges can catalyze sustainable economic development in Appalachian Kentucky. Facing persistent poverty, economic decline linked to coal industry contraction, and limited entrepreneurial infrastructure, the region requires diversified development strategies. Through economic analysis and institutional assessment, the team identifies sustainable agriculture and environmental remediation as high-potential sectors aligned with regional assets and workforce capabilities. The report evaluates KCTCS’s existing programs and resources, highlighting opportunities to strengthen curricula, workforce training, and cross-sector partnerships.

The team proposes system-level initiatives, including the establishment of an Institute for Sustainable Development, a KCTCS Business Incubator, and coordinated entrepreneurship programming. These recommendations aim to integrate education, network-building, and infrastructure support to overcome barriers such as limited capital access and fragmented institutional coordination. By embedding entrepreneurship within culturally appropriate and regionally grounded sustainability initiatives, the project reframes community colleges as engines of structural transformation. The report concludes that KCTCS can play a pivotal role in facilitating a just economic transition—leveraging education and innovation to foster resilient, locally rooted development pathways in Appalachian Kentucky.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Capstone Workshop.