Appalachia Meets World Episode 103 - Rural Broadband from a Co-op in Appalachia with Keith Gabbard

It's Derby Week!  In this episode Neil and Will sit down with Keith Gabbard, CEO of the People's Rural Telephone Cooperative or PRTC in McKee, KY.  It doesn't matter where you live, in this day and age everyone deserves an equal opportunity at broadband access.  PRTC is delivering just that in one of the more rural and underserved areas in the country - in turn making Jackson County one of the most connected small communities in the nation.  Putting "connectivity over profit" PRTC has become a best practice in how you can transform a community by being a "doer" and providing opportunity where there once was none.  Take a listen as Keith describes what (and how) PRTC has done in this slice of Appalachia and how much it has benefited the residents in the place he has always called home.  Keith believes what PRTC is doing is similar to the quote from his favorite PIRATE - " If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on the Earth."  You might even hear Neil and Will's picks for the Derby and how they unexpectedly celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the  process.  Also, don't forget the #App Biz(s) of the week: Paris Signs;  and Annie's Flooring and Commercial Services - and find out why we are celebrating them on THIS WEEK!       

People's Rural Telephone Cooperative - https://prtcnet.org/ 

Kentucky Derby (Official Site) - www.kentuckyderby.com/ 

#AppBiz:

Paris Signs - www.parissigns.com 

Annie's Flooring and Commercial Cleaning Services - www.anniesflooring.com 

National Small Business Week (and award winners) - www.sba.gov/national-small-business-week 

Appalachian News: 

Rural Action Receives USDA Funding - https://ruralaction.org/news/2023/usda-funding-will-support-appalachian-farms-and-food-businesses/ 

Rural Partners Network - www.rural.gov/ 

Rural Partners Network and Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation Forum (Pineville, KY) - www.arc.gov/event/rural-partners-network-community-forum-in-pineville-ky/ 

Heritage Ohio and Buckeye Hills Regional Council Workshop (Downtown Revitalization) - www.eventbrite.com/e/financial-tools-incentives-for-downtown-revitalization-workshop-tickets-607595152457