Our History
The Mountain Association was established in 1976 as the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development, or MACED, by eight community organizations in Eastern Kentucky and Southwestern Virginia.
1976
By establishing MACED, the organizations could provide economic development assistance to local efforts in the mountains.
The founders were intentional about combining “economic development,” which increases standard of living, community options and opportunities, with “community development,” which allows the community to make development decisions, while increasing leadership capacity.
1978
MACED began providing support to small businesses and organizations, and began making its first business loans the following year.
The organization also developed its five-year vision that remains the core of our work today.
1980
Over the next three decades, MACED started or supported several programs.
These included the Eastern Kentucky Bankers Consortium for Mortgage Lending, Citizens Water Task Force, Kentucky Local Governance Project, Women’s Initiative Networking Groups (WINGS), Forward in the Fifth, the Central Appalachian Network (CAN), Appalachia Funders Network, and the Appalachian Carbon Partnership.
1995
A tract of old growth forest is discovered in Harlan County.
A group of conservationists formed the Kentucky Natural Lands Trust (KNLT) as a MACED program to protect the forest, along with other critical land in the Commonwealth. KNLT later became a stand alone affiliate, and the Mountain Association continues to provide them back office support today.
2008
MACED launches an energy savings program then called Energy Efficient Enterprises, or E3.
Through this work, we have saved businesses, organizations and homeowners more than $1.2 million dollars annually on utility bills, and facilitated the completion of more than 500 energy efficiency installations.
2010
MACED launches a residential energy savings program, called How$mart Kentucky.
In 2010, How$mart was approved by the Kentucky Public Service Commission and began serving homeowners and renters in Eastern Kentucky.
2011
The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy (KCEP) was established as a MACED program.
KCEP promotes inclusive policies that address systemic inequity and injustice in the Commonwealth. Since it was established, KCEP has grown substantially, adding staff and doubling down on research and advocacy on the most pressing budget and policy challenges, including healthcare, tax reform, criminal justice, and higher education. In 2020, they will become an affiliate of the Mountain Association, though we will continue to provide back office support.
2011
MACED opens its third office in Hazard.
With this office, MACED began to do more intensive place-based community development work.
2017
MACED begins to offer Airbnb training and begins to support the What’s Next EKY?! Network.
Our New Energy Internship program also launched this year, and has since trained seven individuals, six of whom are now employed in Eastern Kentucky doing energy efficiency and renewable energy work.
2019
MACED makes its first solar loans to non-profits and businesses in Letcher County.
We have helped facilitate or finance more than 30 solar installations in Eastern Kentucky. We also launched our Appalachia’s New Day storytelling campaign this year, and have shared more than 50 stories of change-making in our communities to date.
2020
MACED becomes the Mountain Association and releases a new five-year plan.
Our new strategic plan, our renewed mission, and our deepening commitment to equity came together with this 2020’s truly unique moment in history: a global pandemic with unprecedented impact on lives and economies; the rising tide of voices with the movement for Black lives, and justice for all who have been oppressed, overlooked, disrespected or disregarded.
We invite you to read more about this change in our 2021-2025 Strategic Plan and to join us on the journey of building a new economy, together.
