The Local Exchange strengthens rural economies and community resilience by cultivating meaningful local connections and promoting holistic wellbeing through hands-on education, small-business development, and collaborative food and wellness initiatives.
Vision Statement
We envision thriving Appalachian communities where wellness, connection, and self-reliance are part of daily life— where families are nourished by the food they grow, supported by neighbors they know, and empowered by local economies they help build.
Through deep community ties, lifelong learning, and shared prosperity, The Local Exchange works toward a future of healthy families, resilient communities, and sustainable rural livelihoods.
Service Area
The Local Exchange serves communities across Cabell, Lincoln, Wayne, Mason, Putnam and Kanawha counties in southern West Virginia — a region defined by rich agricultural heritage, strong community values, and a growing movement toward homesteading, self-reliance, and local resilience.
These counties represent a mix of small towns, rural homesteads and small farms, and transitioning agricultural communities, where access to local food systems, small-business support, and family wellness resources are increasingly vital to long-term sustainability.
By focusing on this six-county area, The Local Exchange builds deep, place-based connections that strengthen both families and local economies — creating models of rural regeneration that can be replicated across Appalachia.
The Local Exchange is a 501c3 nonprofit organization currently serving 6 counties in southern West Virginia, and we are in the community building business!
We strive to create a more sustainable, resilient community of families and entrepreneurs with a "do it yourself" attitude, promoting small-scale agriculture, homesteading, artisanal makers, specialty producers, and more.
We have been in operation since 2024, and have supplied education and supports for families and individuals seeking organic gardening education in our area. However, we are working to expand our education, services, and footprint to build more opportunity for small business growth and individual family resilience to further create access to homegrown, fresh foods and locally sourced and handcrafted products.
Our motto, like a true Homesteader, is to use what our communities already have in place as resources to build the skills, knowledge, and relationships our people want to obtain so that their businesses and families can thrive.
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