What We Do

Supporting Economic Alternatives in the Mountains (SEAM) threads together bold entrepreneurial ideas and community investments in the High Country through participatory decision making. At a locally-sourced dinner, three selected proposals are presented to the community. Dinner attendees then choose to fund each project at three levels (60%, 30%, and 10%) of the crowd-sourced funds raised through the dinner tickets.

Who We Are

A High Country Local First project, SEAM seeks collaborative relationships with local organizations and initiatives. For our fifth dinner (on April 25th), we are thrilled to partner with The New Public House in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, as well as Ascent Business Network. For our fourth dinner, we were pleased to partner with The New Public House, Ascent, Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, and Appalachian State University's Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship. For our third dinner, we were pleased to partner with Sustain Appalachian, which guides Appalachian State University's sustainability commitment, and Lost Province Brewing Co. a locally-focused brewery and restaurant in Boone, North Carolina. Partners for previous community-investment dinners include Art of Oil, Basil's Fresh Pasta & Deli, CoBo Sushi Bar & Bistro, and Greening My Plate Week. 

Community Investments

Participatory investment empowers communities to "vote with their dollar." Presented with proposals from local applicants, friends and neighbors invest directly in the projects of their choosing. This process cultivates relationships between community members and local entrepreneurs, challenging the traditional funding model. Participatory investment is a public dialogue, aimed at supporting community values and building a more resilient place-based economy. Supporting Economic Alternatives in the Mountains (SEAM) seeks to strengthen High Country communities through democratic community investments, which value place, participatory decision making, sustainability, and bold ideas.