SOAR (Shaping Our Appalachian Region) announced on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 announced they have been awarded new funding. Jarrod Arnette, Executive Director of SOAR, explained what the new funding will allow. He said the funding will allow SOAR to triple its staff. Jason Rainey deputy executive director of the office of entrepreneurship ship for the Kentucky cabinet of economic development called the announcement an historic day in the state of Kentucky for entrepreneurship, specifically for eastern Kentucky.  Arnette said the work to expand SOAR directly lines up with work in partnership with EKCEP and several other partners around the idea of an Appalachian Technology Council.