Since the beginning, The Holler’s mission has been to bring hope and opportunity to the Appalachian region. To know why hope and opportunity are such a big deal to us, it helps to know a bit of the region’s history.
Coal mining and production accounted for a considerable portion of the Appalachian economy from the mid-1800s onward. Coal mining provided well-paying jobs for thousands of people across the region.
The Appalachian coal industry thrived during times of war when supplies needed to be transported across the country. In many ways, Appalachian coal miners helped fuel the allies to victory in the Second World War.
The coal mining industry is no longer what it once was in the region. Coal production fell by over 65% in Appalachia between 2005 and 2020. The decline in this industry affected the whole country, but Appalachia was hit hard because it was such a large sector of the economy.
When you combine the economic hardship associated with the decline of coal with the negative stereotypes that have been formed, it leaves many people in the region feeling hopeless with few opportunities.
The Holler was founded to bring hope and opportunity to a region that seemed to have lost them. In the beginning, we did this by helping businesses grow by taking advantage of digital marketing. We did this because we know that when local businesses thrive, whole communities thrive. Jobs are created, people take pride in what they do, and more money stays in the local economy.