Legislation over the past two decades has shaped the dominant view of adult literacy as addressing gaps in well-defined, measurable skills. As rural communities face unprecedented challenges, this one-size-fits-all view of adult literacy does not consider the unique local context of rural communities or involve those communities in defining their own needs and goals. This chapter describes a rural community in southern Appalachia and the work of a diverse group from all sectors of the community who developed a partnership to strengthen adult literacy as part of community development. The project extended over five years and involved strengthening participation in a community-wide partnership focused on basic skills as a part of community development. Although unique to the local context, lessons learned from this project may be valuable for adult educators who are working with rural communities to strengthen adult literacy. The authors begin by describing the county, its educational programs, and the development of the partnership. Next, they note the lessons learned, and address the potential applications of this story for other adult literacy efforts in rural areas.