Our Mission
To strengthen our region by uniting creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship.
Our Vision
A vibrant region where creative professionals are visible, empowered, and valued—supported by opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive in a competitive economy.
Our Values
Innovation, Collaboration, Empowerment
Our Story
Since 2014, Create Appalachia has championed creative entrepreneurs—especially those blending art and technology to launch new businesses and spark economic growth. We’ve built a powerful network through partnerships with East Tennessee State University (ETSU), the cities of Johnson City and Kingsport, Sync Space, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and others.
We define “creative entrepreneur” broadly, including professionals in digital media, film, design, photography, fine arts, culinary arts, and beyond. We support them by:
Leading local and regional economic development initiatives
Delivering workshops, listening sessions, and research (including the Arts & Economic Prosperity study)
Designing programs and events that amplify visibility and long-term sustainability for creative businesses
Our goal? A thriving community of makers and innovators who elevate both quality of life and economic opportunity across the region.
THE CENTER FOR ART AND TECHNOLOGY
Our flagship facility in Kingsport, TN serves as a micro-enterprise incubator and professional development hub. Designed specifically for creative professionals, it offers:
Affordable access to industry-standard software for digital media, film, photography, and design
Flexible co-working spaces and private office memberships
A curated environment that fosters innovation and collaboration
SUPPORTED BY
We are proud to be funded by grants from:
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
Tennessee Digital Communities Grant
SouthArts
TVA Marketing Grant
Tennessee Arts Commission (Arts Build Communities)
USDA Rural Business Development Grant
By providing access to affordable co-working and business incubation space, professional development and entrepreneurship training, mentoring, and technical resources, we hope to mitigate the “brain drain” caused by the large number of skilled graduates that are currently leaving the region upon graduation due to the lack of highly-paid, skilled jobs.
We plan to incubate not only businesses,
but a thriving digital arts industry.
What We Offer
Coworking & Private Offices
We have 2 fully-equipped centers for digital and traditional artists to utilize in Johnson City and Kingsport.
Regional Partnerships
We are all about collaboration and are proud to work with other non-profits and economic development partners.
Professional Programs
Get an in-depth course on digital marketing, photography, and more. Click here for more information and our upcoming classes.
Our Footprint
The Create Appalachia Center for Arts & Technology serves the following counties in Northeast Tennessee, and in the adjacent states of North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky.
• Tennessee
Cocke, Hancock, Carter, Claiborne, Grainger, Greene, Hamblin, Jefferson, Johnson, Unicoi, Hawkins, Sullivan, Washington
• North Carolina
Ashe, Mitchell, Watauga, Yancy, Avery, Madison.
• Virginia
Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Wise, Grayson, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, Alleghany, Smyth, Washington.
• Kentucky
Bell, Harlan, Letcher
Testimonials
This was so, so helpful to me. I’m starting to get a direction/image of what I want my business to be, but this gave me so much of a framework to help develop it!
Thank you so much! This is such a special place and we have so many creatives. We’re so thankful that you’re investing in us!
Hannah was great! Looking forward to more. (Attended “The Story That Gets You Noticed”)
Board of Directors
Cher Cornett, Founder and Past President,
Associate Professor, ETSU Digital Media, Johnson City, TN
Davin Brown, President,
Untethered Media,
Kingsport, TN
Barbara Raymond,
Vice-President
Kingsport, TN
Jonathan Purdie,
Treasurer
Eastman Credit Union
Kingsport, TN
Crystal Phillips, Secretary
Owner/Office Manager, JWP Rentals,
Kingsport, TN
Jon Luttrell
Director of Community Relations,
Bristol, TN
Alex Veatch,
CEO + Creative Director,
Letterpress Communications,
Marion, VA
Sam Barnett,
Brand Think Plus, LLC
Johnson City, TN
Amy Greear
VP of Institutional Advancement,
Gate City, VA
Tom Raymond
Owner, FreshAir Photography,
Johnson City, TN
Anne Darden
Northeast State, Assistant Professor of English
Johnson City, TN
Ked Meade,
Director of Tourism and Economic Development,
Big Stone Gap, VA
Dr. Katie Hoffman, Executive Director,
Appalworks,
Sulphur Springs, TN
Sarah Stewart, Member-at-Large,
Holland & Knight,
Erwin, TN
Partners
Grant Funding Provided By
Documents
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