Rural Support Partners is a mission-focused management consulting firm. We work to expand the impact of community economic development and philanthropy across Central Appalachia while innovating the field of rural development globally. Rural Support Partners works hand in hand with with rural leaders, organizations, and networks to create transformative change in Appalachia’s communities. We serve in several capacities: 1) Backbone support organization: working with regional networks and value chains to guide vision and strategy, support aligned activities, build public will, advance policy analysis, and mobilize funding 2) Facilitator: In our seat or in front of a group, RSP works to support the development of common analysis, collective vision, and shared action. 3) Strategic thought partner: helping our partners think deeply and strategically about a situation. We bring data, regional perspective, and strategic connections to this role. 4) Coach: growing the confidence, problem solving skills, and management capacity of our partners by listening deeply, fully, and actively. We draw forth people’s wisdom, knowledge, and skills by asking good questions, and we add value to the conversation with the knowledge, ideas, and connections that we have. 5) Connector: Connecting people, efforts, and resources in any and every way possible.