The Indiana-based Land Betterment Corporation is a “restoration economy” company that fosters the restoration of former coal mining sites and the revitalization of former mining communities.
On January 5, 2021, the firm took stock of its accomplishments in 2020, a year in which many organizations found progress difficult, due to the economic impact of COVID-19.
Kirk Taylor, President of Land Betterment commented, “during a year of uncertainty and challenge, our team forged a path of resilience and progress. Instead of asking ‘why us’, we asked ‘why not us’. From sponsoring the upcoming season of the Middle Tech podcast, to remediating several former coal mines, to employing over 40 individuals we have collectively had a great year of progress.”
Some of their more significant 2020 milestones include:
eko Pike
EKO PIKE – before
Land Betterment started – and completed – the site remediation, reclamation, and readiness for its future eko Pike village location.
It’s located in Raccoon, Kentucky, just outside of the city of Pikeville, Kentucky.
A former coal industrial site, Land Betterment has completely transformed the nearly 4-acre lot of prime real estate into a site that is ready for the next phase of development by the company in to an eko Village.
Coal Craft Spirits
COAL CRAFT SPIRITS SITE – before
During 2020, Land Betterment made significant progress in completion of the site remediation and readiness of the future Coal Craft Spirits distillery located just outside the town of Jasonville in southwestern Indiana.
Located on a former thermal coal mining site, Coal Craft Spirits pays tribute to the rich history of this region while bringing new, diverse industries to an area that is under transition.
With reclamation and site preparation nearly complete, Land Betterment will look to its next phase of Coal Craft Spirits in 2021 with the design and implementation of the distillery and site transformation into a community center that will be the pride of the region.
Entrepreneur Zone
In 2020, Land Betterment was able to secure a key office building in Hazard, Kentucky – in the heart of an Appalachian community in transition – to provide the opportunity to establish a center and hub for entrepreneurs and small, growing businesses.
EKO PIKE – after
Land Betterment is partnering with several colleges, governmental organizations, and other support groups to bring many resources into one facility. When completed, the Entrepreneur Zone will spur additional new industries in a region in transition.
“I can’t express enough gratitude to our stakeholders,” commented Mark Jensen, Executive Chairman of Land Betterment. “The guidance which our board members provide is phenomenal and I want to personally thank each of our dozens of individual investors who see the same vision which we do. We will work tirelessly to achieve the goals we have all set forth.”
While 2020 was a monumental year for Land Betterment, the company is excited about what the coming 2021-year will bring. Land Betterment will continue its expansion of its reclamation and environmental remediation business, while starting on the next phases of its eko Villages, Coal Craft Spirits, Betterment Recycling, Pollinate, and Betterment Harvests (including its vertical farming division, Vertical).
COAL CRAFT SPIRITS SITE – after
Land Betterment Corporation, an Indiana Benefit Corporation, is an environmental solutions company focused on fostering a positive impact through upcycling former coal mining sites to create sustainable community development and job creation.
The Company utilizes a complete solution-based lifecycle program to restore and rehabilitate the environment and revitalize communities in need of change and opportunity.
Land Betterment accomplishes this by identifying un-reclaimed, run-down and neglected coal mining sites, fixing the environment through reclamation and remediation, and then repurposing the land to support a sustainable business that serves the community.
Land Betterment firmly believes that with real solutions it is possible for restoration of impacted areas to live side-by-side long term employment, while building sustainable and safe surroundings for communities and our planet.
All photos courtesy of Land Betterment Corporation. Featured photo shows the Entrepreneur Zone building.