Paul Wright is the Director of Investment for the Invest Appalachia Fund.
Throughout an extensive investment career, Paul has worked to cultivate healthy, resilient, and equitable communities through financial opportunity. As a seasoned economic development finance professional, he has worked in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) and Entrepreneurship Support Organizations, both in urban and rural areas. Working alongside mission-driven lenders, traditional banks, and community stakeholders, Paul takes an impact-first approach to deploying flexible, patient, and risk-tolerant capital where resources are needed most.
Wright’s former roles in CDFIs include Vice President for Enterprise Development for Mountain Association (formally MACED), where Paul served a 52-county service area of Eastern Kentucky communities, primarily focused on small business lending and technical assistance. While at Mountain Association, he led financial product development and managed investor compliance for federal and private foundation grants. He also was Senior Program Officer for Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a Texas CDFI, where he administered $1 million per year in community-led grants, performed audits, and managed a nationally recognized program of his design called GO Neighborhoods.
Though Paul became the first Director of Investment in 2025, his story with Invest Appalachia (IA) dates back to 2016, when he participated in the process that gave rise to the Fund. He helped shape and lead IA’s professional capacity-building initiative, Community Investment “Framers” Training, and served on IA’s investment committee since its founding. As Director of Investment, Paul provides oversight and direction for all aspects of the investment process, including deal structuring and underwriting. Additionally, he is tasked with balancing IA’s portfolio across IA’s target sectors, geographies, and project types, ensuring seamless alignment of investment strategy with the mission.
Paul holds an MBA in Economic Development from Eastern University, where he was a Tony Campolo Scholar. He earned a BS in Business Administration from Birmingham-Southern College and maintains his Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential through the International Coaching Federation and community of practice as a member of Coach Approach Ministries.
Paul lives with his family in Berea, KY, and enjoys regular hikes, kayaking, and walking in the Berea College Forest.
“Connecting the beautiful people and places of Central Appalachia to much-needed capital is part of my mission in life and my commitment to the common good.”
