“The Pikeville Area Family YMCA has a commitment to addressing the health concerns in our community and developing innovative solutions to solve these issues.”

Commitment by:Pikeville Area Family YMCA

“I am committed to my community to help entrepreneurs, artisans and craftsman to understand the power and opportunities available for them on the Internet. I am also committed to help my community with the substance abuse issue.”

Commitment by:Discover Downtown Middlesboro

“To partner with other tourism attractions to make Kentucky's Appalachian Region a destination for people throughout the world. We will get the Appalachian Horse Center up and running, implement a robust marketing plan, and work with other EKY Tourism attractions to bring in tourists to expose the natural scenery, the free-roaming horses, and the unique culture. “

Commitment by:Appalachian Horse Center

“Himler Project is committed to working with Hungary, Kentucky Heritage Council, and the Project's supporting helpers and partners to provide jobs and economic growth in eastern KY via the restoration of Martin Himler's home and the founding of a national landmark site in Martin Co., KY. This national landmark will draw visitors from both America and Europe to eastern KY and will increase the number of tourists to eastern KY, increase the number of entrepreneurial establishments in eastern KY, and increase the amount of dollars spent by tourists in eastern KY. “

Commitment by:Himler Project

“Working with both recertifying Martin County as a Work Ready Community in Progress and serving on the steering committee for "Dream Martin County." Also as a high school principal, implementing more programs to improve student's soft skills and leadership abilities. “

Commitment by:Dream Martin County

“My commitment is to work to improve the burden of diabetes in the Big Sandy ADD by identifying the approximately 15% of the adult population who do not know they have diabetes, by developing a diabetes registry so diabetics can be tracked, and by making diabetes education available to all diabetics. This will be through my work with the Big Sandy Diabetes Coalition. I am also supportive of efforts to decrease substance abuse and am working to set up treatment for prenatal women who are addicted in order to decrease the burden of neonatal abstinence syndrome.”

Commitment by:J.D. Miller

“To dis-spell the perception that Appalachia is all drug abuser, lazy, uneducated, government dependents. To promote the beauty of our region. To be a part of the change in our region that will bring in business, educate our children and instill in them, the desire to return to their communities and implement change. To encourage entrepreneurship and the arts. To preserve the traditions and talents that have made Appalachia and its people unique.”

Commitment by:Helen Williams

“1. Mentoring for anyone who are interested in starting business.

2. Helping an existing company or buiness with free outside help.

3. Provide workshops for members of community.”

Commitment by:SCORE KY

“While attending the SOAR conference in Pikeville, I learned from representatives of the Christian Appalachian Project that faith can serve as the impetus for outstanding work. The people of CAP serve God by providing assistance to areas of Appalachia suffering from major catastrophic events. This matters because there are a number of areas in the region which suffer from disastrous natural events such as floods, tornadoes, and winter storms. Combined with poverty, isolation, and a lack of trained responders, these events can leave the people who live in these areas without homes and without help. In light of this learning, I plan to learn more about CAP, as well as about how I can be of help. As a Christian, I am always searching for opportunities to put my faith into action. I definitely support CAP and all that they are doing--they really are making a difference.”

Commitment by:Aaron Clark

“SOAR: Please relay our gratitude to all the SOAR staff. Everyone was more than helpful. Your organization is instrumental in so many great projects. By bring like minded people together to do great things You do great things. We truly enjoyed our selfs and met several people. We hope to form a relationship with these individuals and their communities. We defiantly hope to continue a relationship with SOAR. We would love attend the 2017 Summit. We would like to meet soon if possible. We wish to seek advice. We hope you were pleased we the SOAR app and found it beneficial. The people we spoke to had good things to say. It turned out great and in a short time. We enjoy a challenge. You may want to send an email to remind everyone to fill in out the comment cards within the app. Thank you all. You are doing a great job. “

Commitment by:Open Box Apps

“…I plan to learn more about the obstacles that stand in the way of broadband expansion in Appalachia. I will do so through research, focusing on current initiatives and success stories of broadband expansion around the United States. I will also begin to conduct research about the many ways in which to approach broadband expansion-such as municipal internet.“

Commitment by:Manuela Hincapie

“…I plan to follow up with the Appalachian Wildlife Foundation to uncover more detailed info on their plan so I can see more of what all goes into the process of establishing a self sustaining wildlife center.”

Commitment by:Brandon Pollock

“…I plan to continue becoming informed on the innovation happening in Appalachian Kentucky. I hope by doing this I am able to become an asset to the eastern Kentucky community in the future. In addition I plan to become as knowledgeable as I can on digital literacy so I can be able to provide that knowledge to others within Appalachian Kentucky.”

Commitment by:Alberto Cepeda

“The Valued Advisor Fund and The Business Valued Advisor Fund are equal opportunity providers of gap funding solutions for businesses and developments that are aligned with community goals, create significant and sustainable beneficial outcomes and are located in areas of high need, such as the areas outlined in the SOAR Innovation initiative. “

Commitment by:The Valued Advisor Fund and Businesses Valued Advisor Fund

“…Dr. Frieden mentioned the high obesity rates in the youth population and our event is a solution for that problem. By Interapt bringing jobs into Eastern Kentucky, there could be room for economic development in the area. Lastly, the young man being aware and taking the initiative to learn a new technique was impressive. He trained for a job and is working for one of the biggest companies worldwide. You can be any age and still seek room for improvement. In light of this learning I plan to apply for an internship at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. I am interested in learning more about the problems in various areas and seeking solutions to those problems. Although I want to be a doctor, I would like to be more open-minded and apply to an internship I can learn from. “

Commitment by:Tiana Moorer

“…I plan to encourage more people to be in touch with the concepts Interapt brings in our community, as this venture shapes the reality of social entrepreneurship in KY. #SOARinnovation ”

Commitment by:Andreea Teban

“…I plan to identify major problems in my community that can be solved through the implementation of new technologies. I also want to learn more about the model used by Interapt to convince its partners to use technology as a complement to their business strategy.”

Commitment by:Kenny Louissaint Nelson