This paper describes the formation of the Appalachian Consortium, assesses its impact after one year of operation, and examines its future development. Consortium goals were to provide in-service, staff development opportunities for the instructional faculties of the consortium's member colleges (three community colleges and a state university) and through these activities to become an integrative resource focusing on regional developmental needs. The consortium chose to concentrate on three dimensions of the development process: professional, curricular, and institutional. A competitive "mini-grant" proposal procedure was selected to effect the development process. The first competition round took place in December 1977 and the second in March 1978. Seven proposals were approved covering such subjects as reading, art, political science, education, mathematics, nursing, and biological science. The consortium coordinator initiated a series of processes necessary in realizing consortium goals; these included publishing a quarterly newsletter, residential consultation, and opening a consortium office. The first year of the consortium seemed to support the validity of the concept in engaging staff development needs. A staff development proposal format is appended. (TR)