MotorVision co-founder Timothy Millhouse believes collaboration is essential to the continued growth of Eastern Kentucky’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
That belief brought Millhouse to the 2026 Shaping Our Appalachian Region--SOAR--Summit, held Oct. 7–9 in Corbin, Ky. The annual gathering attracted approximately 1,200 attendees, bringing together entrepreneurs, business owners, elected officials and economic development leaders to discuss the region’s economic future.
Millhouse co-founded MotorVision with Dr. Elijah Jensen in Owingsville, Ky. in 2024. The company designs and manufactures specialized sensors that help industrial businesses monitor equipment and identify potential maintenance issues before they become serious problems.
Millhouse credits collaboration with helping MotorVision reach its current position. Having experienced its benefits firsthand, he wants to see more Eastern Kentucky entrepreneurs working together to build businesses and strengthen the region’s economy.
Eastern Kentucky’s notoriously mountainous terrain isolates many communities, making it difficult for entrepreneurs to connect. Long, complicated commutes can further hamper opportunities.
“Coming together is crucial for us as just Kentuckians,” Millhouse said. “If we're going to take and build industry, we have to do it together.”
SOAR was founded in 2013 by then-Gov. Steve Beshear and U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers to bring together entrepreneurs, business owners and community leaders across Eastern Kentucky. The initiative sought to develop strategies to diversify the region’s economy as its coal industry, long an economic lifeblood of Eastern Kentucky, continued to decline.
Over time, entrepreneurship became a larger focus of its programming. SOAR Innovation, which helps plan the event, is one of Kentucky’s six entrepreneurship hubs.
SOAR Director of Entrepreneurship Danna Barnett said the summit provides entrepreneurs with opportunities to establish relationships, learn from other business owners and discover critical resources.
“One of the greatest benefits of the SOAR Summit for entrepreneurs is the opportunity to make connections they may not have access to otherwise,” Barnett said. “Whether it's meeting potential partners, learning about available resources, or connecting with other business owners who have faced similar challenges, the Summit brings so many opportunities together in one place. Our goal is for entrepreneurs to leave not only with new ideas, but with meaningful relationships and a clearer understanding of the support available to help their businesses grow.”
During the summit’s closing session, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Rogers announced 10 grant awards totaling $47.95 million for projects across Eastern Kentucky. The funding will support broadband expansion, water and natural gas infrastructure, workforce development, healthcare technology, emergency services, tourism and industrial development.
The largest award, $25.7 million, went to the Somerset-based Center for Rural Development to expand high-speed internet access to more than 3,000 homes across 12 counties. The investment aims to improve digital connectivity in rural communities, potentially expanding access to remote employment, telehealth services, educational resources and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Another theme that emerged during the summit was Eastern Kentucky’s potential to participate in emerging industries, including energy, technology, healthcare and advanced manufacturing. Geopolitical strategist John Sitilides highlighted these opportunities in his keynote address, stressing the need to prepare the region for an evolving global economy.
Realizing that potential, however, will require collaboration among the region’s existing institutions, business leaders and emerging entrepreneurs.
Jensen emphasized to Middle Tech that bringing these stakeholders together is one of the summit’s most important benefits, as their collective input is needed to address Eastern Kentucky’s longstanding economic challenges and develop strategies for sustainable growth.
“It's really been good to connect with not just entrepreneurs, but the community itself — the politicians, leaders and decision-makers that are trying to help us grow together,” he said.
