Opportunity Lives Here: How Community Innovation Centers Are Reinvigorating Appalachian Ohio

What does it look like when a school becomes the heartbeat of an entire community? Take a look at Appalachian Ohio, where a wave of investment is transforming local schools into catalysts for change.

In 2024, the State of Ohio launched the Appalachian Community Innovation Centers program, a bold investment designed to transform school facilities into true community hubs that offer healthcare services, workforce training, and flexible community spaces under one roof. SHP had the privilege of supporting four of these centers, in Bridgeport, New Lexington, Chesapeake Union, and Fayetteville-Perry, respectively.

Each project was shaped by the community it serves, and each one reflects a shared conviction: that thoughtful, responsive design can strengthen communities and improve lives.

We explore how these projects came together, the design strategies behind them, and what they mean for the future of these communities in our newest executive brief, Where Opportunity Lives: How Community Innovation Centers Are Reinvigorating Appalachian Ohio.