Chelsey Hodge is a collaborative leader dedicated to strengthening rural communities through economic development, research, and capacity building. As an ERC Fellow with SERCAP, she supports projects such as small business development, childcare needs assessments, and tourism initiatives that enhance quality of life across Virginia. Chelsey holds a Master’s in Industrial & Organizational Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University and owns Ascend With Purpose LLC, a small business focused on empowering rural communities. Passionate about actionable data and local partnerships, she works to create lasting systems that foster resilience and opportunity.
Over the next 30 months, Chelsey hopes to strengthen the economic ecosystem within the communities she serves by supporting both immediate priorities and long-term capacity building. She aims to work alongside local partners to advance projects such as childcare needs assessments, lodging and tourism studies, and small business development services that provide actionable insights and pathways for growth.
ERC Project
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Host Organization:
Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (SERCAP)
Interested in supporting this project or learning more? Contact the ERC program team here.
