Geographic Focus for Investments

The Southern Appalachian Fund will invest in low-income census tracts in Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Appalachian counties of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Click here to see a map of the targeted region. A low-income census tract is defined by federal statute. Low-income census tracts include geographic areas that meet one or more of the following descriptions:

• census tracts or equivalent county divisions with a poverty rate of 20 percent or more;
• census tracts or equivalent county divisions located within a metropolitan area, and that qualify for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (i.e., in which 50 percent or more of the households have an income below 60 percent of the area median gross income);
• census tracts or equivalent county divisions not located within a metropolitan area, and which have a median household income that does not exceed 80 percent of the statewide median household income;
• a HUBZone;
• an Urban Empowerment Zone (EZ) or Urban Enterprise Community (EC); or
• a Rural EZ or Rural EC.

In determining whether or not a business is located in a targeted census tract, the following information source will be helpful.

• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Web site

If your business is not located within a low-income census tract within the targeted region, the Southern Appalachian Fund will not consider an investment in your company.