Rural Action is a member-based nonprofit organization founded in 1991, dedicated to fostering sustainable economic, environmental, & social development in Appalachian Ohio. It focuses on building local wealth, restoring the environment, and developing leadership through initiatives in sustainable agriculture, forestry, watershed restoration, and zero-waste projects.
It supports entrepreneurs in the creation of jobs & utilization of local assets to build a sustainable economy. It leads efforts for watershed restoration, water quality monitoring, and sustainable forestry. It operates programs (like the Chesterhill Produce Auction) to connect growers with consumers, alongside Farm to Food Pantry programs. It runs environmental education programs for schools and manages Zero Waste Event Productions. It assists landowners with technical support, grants, and sustainability planning.
Mission and Vision
Rural Action’s mission is to build a more just economy by developing the region’s assets in environmentally, socially, & economically sustainable ways. Its vision is a region with clean streams & healthy forests, a place where thriving family farms, meaningful livelihoods, and vibrant communities exist for everyone. Its core work focuses on growing local businesses & jobs, restoring the environment, and cultivating the next generation of leaders.
Key Program Areas
It’s key program areas include (1) sustainable agriculture, strengthening local food systems via the Chesterhill Produce Auction, “Produce Prescriptions” for healthcare, and mentorship for beginning farmers; (2) watershed restoration, leading efforts to improve water quality, particularly by addressing acid mine drainage from pre-regulation coal mining operations; (3) zero waste programs, promoting a circular economy through recycling education, waste assessments, and social enterprises like Upcycle Ohio; (4) sustainable forestry, working with landowners on the production of non-timber forest products, like ginseng; and (5) environmental education, connecting youth to outdoor learning & career paths in natural resources.
Auction. Photo courtesy of Rural Action
Community Impact and Scale
Rural Action has a network of eight offices and over 600 members throughout Appalachian Ohio. It directly serves approximately 58 Ohio counties, with a primary focus on the 32 designated Appalachian counties. It hosts one of the country’s largest rural development programs through AmeriCorps, mobilizing 80 members annually for direct service. It incubates businesses that serve community needs, such as True Pigments (turning mine pollution into paint). Rural Action is governed by a Board from across Appalachian Ohio, with strong private sector involvement. The Board oversees co-CEOs Bryn Sowash and Joe Brehm, who manage a staff of 55 full-time equivalent staff.
Community Development
Its community development approach is the result of decades of work to increase local control over the region’s assets. Appalachian Ohio is still recovering from the effects of extractive industries, especially timber & coal mining, which declined by the mid-twentieth century. Such industries and their decline resulted in widespread environmental degradation, unemployment, population loss, and weak economies.
Photo courtesy of Rural Action
To counter these forces, the region needs development from within that is consistent with its assets; achieving this goal requires the wide adoption of sustainable systems and practices. To do this, Rural Action brings people together to understand their options and support local development & decision making. Educating young people on the region’s natural history & heritage is a long-term strategy for ensuring good resource stewardship and job creation.
Rural Action facilitates change by supporting communities in understanding & controlling their assets, building appropriate & accessible infrastructure, and connecting assets & infrastructure to markets both within & outside the region.
Incubating Social Enterprise
Social enterprises incubated by Rural Action include UpCycle Ohio Thrift Store, The Community Makerspace, The Roots of Appalachia Growers Association, The Call Before You Cut Campaign (now an Ohio Department of Natural Resources program), Chesterhill Produce Auction, Zero Waste Event Productions, and True Pigments.
Your Support Makes a Difference
Your Donation to Rural Action supports programming, education, and outreach in the Appalachian Region. With your support, Rural Action can reach more families, support more entrepreneurs, and improve the environment in Appalachian Ohio. The first $20 of your donation is applied towards membership dues; above and beyond this amount will be considered a tax-deductible gift to the organization. To apply your donation in honor or memory of another individual, a comment may be added to the form. If you would like to discuss an in-kind gift, gift of property or stock, or corporate matched gifts, please contact Rural Action.
