The overall goal is to generate sustainable livelihoods for Appalachian Ohioans while honoring the industrial and craft narratives of this region — an opportunity emblematic of many rural communities impacted by the coal industry. These counties sit in the Hocking Valley and Pomeroy coalfields, where generations of families built their livelihoods, communities, and local economies around coal-related work.

The loss of coal jobs has affected more than direct employment. It has weakened local spending, reduced property values, and contributed to population loss as residents, especially younger workers, leave in search of more stable opportunities. As households and businesses have left the region, local institutions, small businesses, and public services have also been strained.

These changes have also affected the cultural life of the region. Many traditions tied to coal-era communities — craft skills, foodways, music, and other heritage practices — have been passed down through families that settled in the coal towns. As the coal economy has declined, so too has the economic base that supported many of these traditions. River and Seam responds directly to this transition by helping local residents turn cultural assets into economic opportunity, building pathways for tourism, entrepreneurship, and paid work.