BOWL Renewal Community Application Narrative Posted: May 15, 2002
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BREATHITT, LEE, OWSLEY, AND WOLFE COUNTIES
RENEWAL COMMUNITIES APPLICATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION
1. Notice of Intent to Apply
2. Identification of Nominated Area
3. Certification to Economic Condition Requirements
4. Course of Action
5. Local Crime Index Certification
6. Certification of Economic Growth Promotional Requirements
7. Public Notice Certification
8. Attachments:
- Attachment 1: Kentucky Title IV-A State TANF Plan
- Attachment 2: Jefferson Hotel Skills Center
- Attachment 3: Fund for Excellence
- Attachment 4: Regional Childcare Service Agents
- Attachment 5: Pine Ridge Regional Industrial Park
- Attachment 6: Panbown Lake Industrial Park
- Attachment 7: Lee County Industrial Park
- Attachment 8: Lone Oak Industrial Park
- Attachment 9: East Central Kentucky Workforce Report
- Attachment 10: Owsley County KREDA Proposal to Governor Paul
Patton
- Attachment 11: Kentucky Business Incentives.
- Attachment 12: Local County LGEDF Spreadsheets.
- Attachment 13: Renewal Communities Project Surveys
- Attachment 14: Champion Communities Benchmark System Report.
COURSE OF ACTION
COOPERATIVE COMMITMENT TO THE RENEWAL COMMUNITIES COURSE OF ACTION
PARTNERSHIPS AND AGREEMENTS
Located in the beautiful mountains of eastern Kentucky, and in the heart
of Appalachia, Breathitt, Lee, Owsley, and Wolfe Counties, important
regional organizations, as well as the Commonwealth of Kentucky have
been working hard to improve the economic condition of our distressed,
isolated communities. We are working to prepare our area for growth despite
the difficult obstacles we face as a result of the geographic isolation,
generational poverty, dependence on assistance, low educational levels
that have caused a lack of motivation in our people, a poor transportation
system, and, most importantly, a lack of jobs.
However grim the circumstances may seem statistically, our communities
are blessed with a population of good people who do the best they can
to enjoy life with limited resources. For the most part, our people
are happy with their quality of life and find the slow pace of community
life peaceful and enjoyable. They have gotten used to having time to visit
and talk with their neighbors. When bad things happen, our people are
there to provide support and help where they can. On the other hand,
our people want to work. In fact, many people want to have a job so badly
that they drive long distances to get to work.
Most importantly, our people have learned from their mistakes. Individuals
with little income manage their money better than most. And they
know more about what kind of community they need than most. Individuals
in our communities have committed to growth. Not only community growth,
but personal growth as well. They want an opportunity to learn and work.
They take pride in providing for their families. Our people are proud
of their mountain heritage and, due to years of struggle, have gained
a variety of experiences and skills that qualify them to assure the success
of a Renewal Community designation.
This area, from the beginning of this process, made a sincere commitment
to form a cooperative partnership in order to bring our communities
into the 21st Century. When asked, Where are you from?, one person
who moved to Owsley County within the last three years fondly replies,
Im from the 1950's. The small town way of life, like years ago, means
a lot to people. Everyone knows most everyone, and if anything happens,
everyone knows. Children are raised with less of a focus on material
lifestyles and more on the quality of lifestyle. Families are important.
They stick together in the toughest of circumstances. Although the small
town way of life is important, our people welcome job opportunities
and look forward to taking care of themselves. Many realize that with
the loss of agriculture income from tobacco farming, their livelihood
depends on available jobs.
Recognizing the benefits of the Renewal Communities designation, there
are a great number of individuals waiting on an opportunity to be involved.
Individual community members are excited about the possibility of
locally available jobs. The leaders of these counties have proven their
involvement and commitment by their work during this process and in
the past. This group is committed to the implementation of the benefits
of this designation and have committed to participate in the program
throughout the entire designation.
The partners described below, whose commitment is evidenced by their signature,
have a history of partnership and programs in the designated area. Some
of them have experience in working with currently designated Empowerment
Zones, Enterprise Communities, and Champion Communities. (Both Breathitt
and Owsley Counties are recognized Champion Communities.)
It is the desire of these partners that the public have input into every
aspect of this designation and its implementation. We have committed
to settle for nothing less. Every person counts and their input is
considered valuable. Not only does this give the public the assurance that
they are going to be included in the process, it also shows a deep respect
for individual people, not just the community.
During the past few years, we have been involved in a broad range of activities
that not only help to prepare our communities to attract business and
create jobs, but also to create an atmosphere where individuals can
gain self confidence and become self-sufficient, hard working people who
are able to care for themselves. These activities could not have been
accomplished had it not been for the active involvement and support
of numerous local, regional, state, and national partners who have
not only encouraged our participation, but also has supported our participation
through personal involvement.
The following list briefly describes the main partners in the Breathitt,
Lee, Owsley, and Wolfe Counties Renewal Communities initiative.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is dedicated to improving the quality of life
and the standard of living for all of its citizens. In the last five
years, Kentucky has made tremendous progress in a number of areas. We
have diversified the economy, invested in transportation and communications
infrastructure, improved healthcare delivery, extended education reform,
and increased the number of visitors to our state through aggressive
tourism programs.
Recognizing that Appalachian Kentucky is not advancing at the same
rate as the rest of the Commonwealth, the Governor has made a commitment
to assist our area of the state to become more economically sound.
Through the Cabinet for Economic Development, the Cabinet for Families
and Children, the Workforce Development Cabinet, the Transportation Cabinet,
the Cabinet for Health Services, and other divisions, Kentucky provides
our communities with staff and resources to assist us in becoming
more self-sustaining. Kentucky does not only encourage economic growth,
but personal growth as well.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development is responsible for creating
new jobs and new investment in the state. Programs administered by
the Cabinet are designed to support and promote economic development
within the state primarily through attracting new industries to the state,
assisting in the development of existing industries, and assisting communities
in preparing for economic development opportunities.
The Cabinet consists of the Office of the Secretary, the Office of the
Commissioner for the New Economy, the Department for Coal County Development,
the Department for Business Development, the Department of Financial
Incentives, the Department of Community Development, and the Department
of Administration and Support.
Through the regional office in Prestonsburg, the Cabinet for Economic Development
is familiar with area businesses, communities, and local leaders in economic
development. Their specialists offer assistance to Kentucky businesses
through existing and expanding business programs and site and infrastructure
development programs, including access to technical advice for communities
utilizing their single and multi-county coal severance funds. They also
work with local communities by assisting with the marketing of county
and regional industrial parks and speculative buildings.
Kentucky offers some of the most innovative tax incentives and business
development programs in the nation to new and existing businesses.
These programs are designed to help existing businesses in the state
grow and prosper and encourage new firms to join Kentuckys business population.
Low business costs, a wide range of tax and financial incentives, and
licensing and marketing assistance programs are just a few of the innovative
programs available to encourage business investments and expansion
in Kentucky.
The Cabinet for Families and Children provides human services for the citizens
of Kentucky. The Cabinets services include protection for vulnerable
children and adults, child abuse investigations, foster care, adoptions,
child support collections, cash assistance, food stamps, disability
determinations, and more.
The Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (K-TAP) is administered through
the Cabinet for Families and Children and provides financial and medical
assistance to needy dependent children in Kentucky and the parents,
or relatives, with whom the children are living. This program offers
temporary cash assistance to families in order to assist families in finding
jobs or getting training that leads to a job.
The K-TAP mission is to provide families with the tools to become self-sufficient
while ensuring children are protected and valued. Their goals are to
move their clients into full-time, unsubsidized employment, help their
clients retain jobs and, when necessary, obtain re-employment, assist
families to become self-sufficient, involving clients in work activities
in order for them to become self-sufficient before their five year
limit expires, and to ensure that children live in a safe, secure environment.
Their approach is to develop partnerships with other state agencies, local
governments, community based organizations and employers to provide linkages
for Kentucky Works participants for services to reduce barriers to
employment, to integrate services, to develop multiple strategies recognizing
the varying strengths and needs of clients and communities, to encourage
communities to develop broad based collaborations for local plans for
welfare reform and regionalized economic development strategies, and
to maximize all state and local resources. They also provide information
and support to participants enabling them to recognize their own strengths,
value work, formulate goals, choose options, and meet new expectations.
They integrate the new mission into service delivery through training
for case managers and communication with service providers.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Families and Children (CFC) is responsible for
the TANF block grant. TANF is administered by the Department for Community
Based Services (DCBS) within the CFC. DCBS offices are located in every
county. Case managers work in partnership with families to support
their efforts toward self-sufficiency. Coordinators serve as program consultants
in Kentucky Works policy and act as facilitators/resource persons with
other agencies.
The East Kentucky Corporation, created in 1990, is dedicated to increasing
sustainable employment opportunities within eastern Kentucky by marketing
the region as a good place to live and locate a business, increasing
attention to knowledge-based industries and workers, partnering with
other organizations with similar goals, helping existing businesses,
and promoting an entrepreneurial climate.
The East Kentucky Corporation owns and operates a small revolving loan
fund for assisting in financing eligible entrepreneurial businesses
at both their start-up state and their first expansion stage. In as
much as possible, the East Kentucky Corporation seeks to partner with local
commercial lenders, as well as other non-profit and public agency small
business lenders.
Kentucky River Area Development District
The Kentucky River Area Development District is a quasi governmental agency
working with city and county governments in the KRADD area to improve
the quality of life for our citizens. KRADD was officially organized
on May 13, 1968, the third of the fifteen Area Development Districts
formed in Kentucky as non-profit planning and development organizations.
KRADD serves as a representative of local units of government and
citizens throughout the area and as a communication network for cities,
counties, states, and federal governments. KRADD also serves as a center
for information and data pertaining to the Kentucky River Area. KRADD
has helped to provide a forum where Mayors, County Judge Executives,
legislators, and citizen lenders can discuss problems and projects
of mutual concern in order to improve the quality of life in our mountain
region.
KRADD serves all of the counties located within the designated zone through
physical resources including economic development, a revolving loan fund,
mapping and Geographic Information System services, public administration,
transportation planning, community resource planning and coordination
of the state PRIDE program, and human resources such as nutrition planning,
support services, the Senior Community Service Employment Program, home
care, long-term care ombudsman program, family caregivers program, community
collaboration for children, and rental assistance.
Middle Kentucky Area Development Council
The Middle Kentucky River Area Development Council integrates their services
with existing services within the community to provide a holistic approach
to services that strengthen families, address barriers to success,
and support economic growth in Breathitt, Lee, Owsley, and Wolfe Counties.
Beyond providing services to individuals, Middle Kentucky is dedicated
to the improvement of business, the availability of jobs, improved local
community government, and local services, working with these agencies
both as customers and collaboration partners in these endeavors.
Middle Kentucky programs include Workforce Investment Act programs aimed
at providing assistance with locating employment and training; Head
Start, serving children between the ages of 3 and 5 years old; LIHEAP,
a federally funded program that offers energy assistance to low-income
individuals and families through subsidy and crisis; TOPS Job Club,
a welfare-to-work initiative operated by the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated
Employment Service on site at Middle Kentucky to provide assistance
with career planning, job readiness, and life skills to aid clients in
becoming self-sufficient; Middle Kentucky Transportation, providing transportation
alternatives to places of employment, educational facilities, medical
facilities and other areas; an educational program conducted during
the fall just prior to college starting which helps low-income clients
with tuition and books; a weatherization program which assists low-income
families and those with disabilities with insulation against winter
weather through applying techniques to conserve energy and to help
utility costs become affordable; and a Title III-C Nutrition program providing
meals throughout the four county area.
Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (https://www.maced.org)
The Mountain Association for Economic Development has a history of successful
work in the designated area. The Owsley County Action Team, now an independent
non-profit organization, was part of MACEDs Sustainable Communities
Program for five years. MACEDs Business Development program complements
resources locally-owned businesses need to prosper in todays business
environment. MACED loan customers are typically unable to obtain sufficient
financing from conventional sources, but share MACEDs commitment to
building sustainable and vibrant local economies. This is best demonstrated
when a company creates jobs from within the community, and shows a
willingness to pay livable wages, build employee skills, and provide
benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans.
MACED offers below-market rates and innovative financing options by packaging
loans with both public and private sources. They have contributed to
the growth, financial stability, and long-term success of many area
businesses. The staff is experienced in helping companies reach their goals
by providing assistance with business planning, financial statements,
and assessing and meeting their capital needs.
The Southern Kentucky Economic Development Corporation is a private, non-profit
organization whose mission is to create jobs in a 27-county service area
in southern Kentucky. The organization creates job opportunities by
providing business and industry leaders access to capital and by attracting
new business to the region. They accomplish this mission by providing direct
loans, small business technical assistance, and by offering community/economic
development services to local communities. SKEDC is certified by the
U.S. Department of the Treasury as a Community Development Financial
Institution and has invested $5.1 million in 31 industries established
or expanding operations in southern Kentucky. Through SKEDC programs,
more than 1,600 new jobs have been created in the region.
SKEDC financed a 25,920 square foot speculative industrial building in
Owsley Countys Lone Oak Industrial Park through its Industrial Building
Loan Fund. This building is one of two speculative buildings funded
through the loan program. A second building is located in Jackson County.
The Industrial Building Loan Fund is made possible through a grant from
the Economic Development Administration. Through the program, SKEDC
provides funding to local communities to erect speculative buildings.
The building project must involve a minimum investment of $250,000.
Loans may only be made to purchase land and erect industrial buildings.
There are a number of other local organizations who provide services to
individuals in need and to raise the self esteem and motivation in individuals
so they can become successful, self-supporting people. There are also
many organizations dedicated to the economic growth of this area. The goals
and actions listed in this document identifies some of the major partners
who are committed to helping people become economically self-sufficient
and succeed in their jobs. In addition to many other organizations too
numerous to mention, we have established partnerships with federal agencies
including HHS, HUD, USDA, EDA, EPA, ARC, Department of Energy, Department
of Commerce, and many private foundations including the Mary Reynolds
Babcock Foundation, the Christian Appalachian Project, the Environmental
Support Center, the Southern Baptist Corporation, the Waitt Family
Foundation and many local partners including Image Entry, Farmers State
Bank, Peoples Rural Telephone Cooperative, Farm Bureau Insurance, Middlefork
Insurance, Breathitt, Lee, Owsley, and Wolfe County Fiscal Courts,
the Cities of Beattyville, Booneville, Campton, and Jackson, and many
other local sources. And, as the years go by, many new partnerships will
be created, not only with providers of services, including business,
but the individuals who represent our successes.
Signed Cooperative Commitment
The following signatures represent our overall commitment to take full
advantage of all benefits relating to a Renewal Community designation.
Most importantly, they represent our commitment to the individuals
in our community for whom these benefits are intended.
Representing the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Paul Patton Governor
Representing the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development:
Representing the Prestonsburg Regional Office of the Kentucky Economic Development:
Representing Breathitt County: Robert E. Cornett, County Judge Executive
Representing Lee County: L. C. Reese, County Judge Executive
County Judge Executive Representing Owsley County: Jimmie Herald, County
Judge Executive
Representing Wolfe County: Darrell Bumgardner, County Judge Executive
Representing the City of Beattyville: (Lee County) Charles Beach, III
Representing the City of Booneville: (Owsley County) Charles Long
Mayor Mayor
Representing the City of Campton: (Wolfe County) Richard Jett Mayor
Representing the City of Jackson: (Breathitt County) Michael Miller
Mayor
Representing the East Kentucky Corporation: Tom Jones Executive
Director
Representing the Kentucky River Area Development District:
Representing the Middle Kentucky Area Development Council:
Darrell Shouse Executive Director
Representing the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development:
Tom McRae President
Representing the Southern Kentucky Economic Development Corporation:
Greg Jones Executive Director
GOALS AND ACTIONS
GOALS AND ACTIONS
Our goals and actions represent the following four of the six criteria
outlined in the Renewal Communities Application Guide:
- An increase in the level and efficiency of local services within
the Renewal Community, such as services for residents funded through
the Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and related
Federal programs including, for example, job support services, child
care and after school care for children of working residents, employment
training, transportation services, and other services that help residents
become economically self sufficient.
- Crime reduction strategies, such as crime prevention, including the
provision of crime prevention services by non-governmental entities.
- Involvement in economic development activities by private entities,
organizations, neighborhood organizations, and community groups, particularly
those in the Renewal Community, including a commitment from such private
entities to provide jobs and job training for, and technical, financial,
or other assistance to, employers, employees, and residents from the
Renewal Community.
- The gift or sale at below fair market value of surplus real property
held by state or local governments, such as land, homes, and commercial
or industrial structures in the Renewal Communities to neighborhood
organizations, community development corporations, or private companies.
The following identifies our proposed actions that meet the required
goals.
Goal 1: To increase the level and efficiency
of local services within the Renewal Community, such as services for
residents funded through the Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families program and related Federal programs including, for example,
job support services, child care and after school care for children of
working residents, employment training, transportation services, and
other services that help residents become economically self-sufficient.
Actions:
- Provide tools to assist families in become self-sustaining.
- Create opportunities to earn a family wage.
- Focus on individual needs and regional distinctions.
- Partner with families and the community as a whole.
- Provide opportunities for education and work experience.
- Enlist the aid of other state agencies, local government and the
private sector to expand work opportunities.
- Provide access to entrepreneurial training and small business development
programs for individuals and businesses in the zone.
- Provide locally available access to basic and specific job skills
training.
- mprove access to safe, affordable childcare for working individuals
throughout the zone.
- Encourage the use of available transportation opportunities and market
this information to individuals who live within the zone.
- Provide assistance to farmers to take advantage of financial and
technical resources available.
- Expand and improve the availability of housing, including low-income,
assisted living, and emergency housing services throughout the zone.
- Create housing opportunities for individuals interested in renting
or purchasing a home.
- Improve communication between communities and schools and create
more opportunities for involvement and input.
- Improve the school drop-out rate throughout the zone.
- Utilize the 21st Century Community Learning Center throughout the
zone and offer access to individuals of all ages during and after school.
- Improve and expand educational opportunities for adults and young
people who have dropped out of school throughout the zone.
- Enhance, improve, and expand the public libraries throughout the
zone in order to offer a larger selection of materials and to improve
public access.
- Improve the publics availability to technology and technological
resources and learning opportunities throughout the zone.
- To improve accessibility to after-hours and emergency healthcare
facilities for all individuals throughout the zone.
Social Services and Assistance
The State of Kentucky has many programs that aid families to become self-sufficient.
Most notably is the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (K-TAP),
administered through the Cabinet for Families and Children. K-TAP
provides financial and medical assistance to needy dependent children
in Kentucky and the parents, or relatives, with whom the children are
living. This program offers temporary cash assistance to families in
order to assist families in finding jobs or getting training that
leads to a job. (See Attachment 1: Kentucky Title IV-A State TANF Plan,
July 2001.)
The K-TAP mission is to provide families with the tools to become self-sufficient
while ensuring children are protected and valued. Their goals are
to move their clients into full-time, unsubsidized employment, help
their clients retain jobs and, when necessary, obtain re-employment, assist
families to become self-sufficient, involving clients in work activities
in order for them to become self-sufficient before their five year
limit expires, and to ensure that children live in a safe, secure
environment.
Their approach is to develop partnerships with other state agencies, local
governments, community based organizations and employers to provide
linkages for Kentucky Works participants for services to reduce barriers
to employment, to integrate services, to develop multiple strategies recognizing
the varying strengths and needs of clients and communities, to encourage
communities to develop broad based collaborations for local plans
for welfare reform and regionalized economic development strategies,
and to maximize all state and local resources. They also provide information
and support to participants enabling them to recognize their own strengths,
value work, formulate goals, choose options, and meet new expectations.
They integrate the new mission into service delivery through training
for case managers and communication with service providers.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Families and Children (CFC) is responsible
for the TANF block grant. TANF is administered by the Department for
Community Based Services (DCBS) within the CFC. DCBS offices are located
in every county. Case managers work in partnership with families to
support their efforts toward self-sufficiency. Coordinators serve as program
consultants in Kentucky Works policy and act as facilitators/resource
persons with other agencies.
Local CFC office staff are dedicated to making sure that all clients
receive adequate information on available assistance and other opportunities
for personal growth. The workers are caring and professional and work
hard to make sure their clients understand their benefits and any time
limits they may be facing. They especially encourage clients to take
advantage of any educational and job preparedness and training programs
to prepare these individuals for work. They make many home visits to
stay in touch with those who do not keep regular appointments or find it
difficult to travel to the office. Additionally, the CFC is involved
actively in community programs and organizations and are more than
willing to assist in any projects that can benefit those they serve.
Middle Kentucky Area Development Council (MKADC) provides a weatherization
program (which served 32 homes during the last year) which provides
cost effective energy conserving home improvements to low-income families
and those with disabilities. The program focuses on insulating against
winter weather through applying techniques to conserve energy and to
help utility costs remain affordable. With current funding, they plan
to serve 45-50 homes. Additionally, they provide the Low-Income Heat
and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) which offers energy assistance
to low-income individuals and families through two components: subsidy
and crisis. Subsidy provides a one-time payment for heating costs. The
crisis component serves clients who have received disconnect notices
and will be without heat within five days. Payment amount for both
components are determined by the family size, income, and primary source
of heat used in the home, and is paid directly to the vendors. Last
year, 4,943 individuals were served through the subsidy component and
2,864 were served through the crisis component. They work through local
Community Action Agencies to gather applications for these programs.
Family and Youth Service Centers, located at each elementary and high school
in every county, work with children and families on parenting skills,
parent/child activities, and referrals to other organizations for services
or assistance.
The Caring Place, while also providing job training and support services,
offers assistance with family management skills, access to agricultural
assistance, home food processing and training, access to the food
pantry, budgeting, counseling, access to domestic violence shelters, legal
aid, disaster assistance, clothing assistance, prevention programs,
health education classes, access to drug and alcohol counseling, school
supplies, and tutoring.
Kentucky Community Care provides mental health and drug and alcohol
abuse counseling.
Education and Work Experience
We will continue working with state agencies such as the Cabinet for Economic
Development, the Department for Employment Services (DES) and the Workforce
Development Cabinet to take advantage of training opportunities offered
to assist individuals to prepare for work. These agencies have been
the backbone of training opportunities in the State of Kentucky and have
a history of important involvement throughout the state with organizations
trying to improve the lives of their people. One example of state
involvement is to provide incentives for businesses to hire individuals
and provide the necessary training by providing matching grants for
training programs.
The State of Kentucky, through the Cabinet for Families and Children, created
an independent corporation within the Cabinet for Economic Development,
called the Bluegrass State Skills Corporation (BSSC), providing grants
for customized skills training of workers for new, expanding, and existing
businesses and industries in Kentucky. Matching grants are awarded for portions
of an employers eligible costs for training Kentucky residents in job
skills ranging from entry level to advanced, including retraining, occupational
upgrading, and skills upgrading of existing employees. The BSSC works
with other employment and job training resources, and financial incentive
agencies to design a training program customized to meet the specific needs
of a company. Approved training can be provided by an educational institution,
training consultants, or by the companys own trainers. BSSC funds
can be used for curriculum development, instructor fees, instructional
materials, and the purchase of training equipment (under capacity building
programs).
BSSC can also help to cover a portion of the travel costs for the employees
of new, expanding, and existing Kentucky industries that must be sent
outside of Kentucky or the United States for training as company instructors.
The instructors must return to the company and train other employees on
similar equipment, processes, and procedures. BSSC can reimburse the
company partially for the instructor/trainers out-of-state travel and
lodging expenses. BSSC also provides existing companies the ability to
claim state income tax credits for 50% of their approved costs for occupational
and skills upgrade training costs. The credits are limited to $500
per employee and cannot exceed $100,000 per company per biennium. Training
may be provided by company employees, educational institutions, or
training consultants. Priority will be given to high performance companies
as determined by the BSSC, and total investment credits are limited
to $2,500,000 per year.
The Kentucky Workforce Development Cabinet (https://www.kycwd.org), through
the Department of Employment Services (DES) provides assistance to Kentucky
employers in the areas of employee services. The DES provides recruitment,
screening, and referral services. These services are provided at no
cost to either employers or employees. Through its local offices located
across the state, the Department performs screening of potential employees
for the individual employers selection criteria, assesses job applicants
work experience, education, and training, refers only qualified applicants
to the employer for potential interviews, assists with the initial documentation
of foreign workers, and certifies qualified job applicants whose employment
will qualify the employer for federal and state tax incentives. Recruitment
and placement services have been so successful that many employers
now accept job applications only through the DES.
The Office of Development and Industry Relations within the Workforce Development
Cabinet coordinates the Cabinet and its agencies business and industry
training activities. This office acts as a one-stop-broker for both
local and statewide needs. Industry-specific, customized training,
screening, and assessing are offered by agencies within the Workforce Development
Cabinet.
The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (https://www.kctcs.net)
provides access to educational programs at more than 100 extended sites,
centers, and campuses located across the Commonwealth. The 29 communities
and technical colleges in the KCTCS offer various human resource services
that can impact employee performance levels. The KCTCS may offer assistance
in the hiring and selection process utilized by Kentuckys new, existing,
and expanding businesses. The Work Profiling System is a structured
job analysis utilized by the community colleges to provide companies
with accurate information regarding task analysis, staff selection, employee
development, competency identification, and training needs assessment.
This system has been invaluable to Kentucky businesses in the development
of customized employee recruitment and screening processes that may
include industry-specific application screening, behavioral and ability
assessments, and structured interviewing. Each college has a business
and industry liaison available to analyze the individual needs of business
and industry and to propose ways to meet those needs. In addition,
the KCTCS Mobile Training Unit moves around the state delivering on-the-site
training in CNC, PLC, and CADD/AutoCADD. Distance learning classes, teleconferences,
and satellite feeds are part of the services offered by the colleges.
Locally, Hazard Community College provides these services through the
Lees College Campus in Jackson (Breathitt County), and by videoconference
through CenterNet and KTLN sites.
It is a goal of the Department for Technical Education and the Cabinet
for Workforce Development to create a collaborative relationship with
local school districts to enhance growth in Kentuckys educational community.
The Kentucky Department for Technical Educations state operated system
of Kentucky TECH schools provides quality technical education through
52 secondary schools known as Area Technology Centers. The primary purpose
of area technology centers is to serve high school students by enhancing
and expanding student career options that lead to continuation of education
at the postsecondary level and/or successful employment upon graduation
from high school. Students receive instruction in sound academic principles,
theory, laboratory and clinical experiences to ensure they can compete
successfully in todays changing workplace. The area technology centers
serving the designated area are located within Lee and Breathitt Counties.
The Kentucky Department for Adult Education and Literacy (https://www.state.ky.us/agencies/wforce/dael)
is a network of local instructional programs funded throughout the
state that are designed to assist adults in acquiring knowledge and developing
the potential to achieve their goals in the workplace, at home, and
in society. Their programs include adult education which offers basic
education skills to adults in their roles as learners, workers, family
members, and citizens to enable them to develop coping skills for living
and wage earning, and to better their self-concepts. The GED classes
provide adults with the skills necessary to pass the high school equivalency
exam. The Family Literacy program is an intense on-going program which
provides educational opportunities for family members to learn together.
Finally, the SKILL program provides customized workplace essential skills
classes to business and industry which enhance worker skills enabling
them to cope with their occupations and increase wage earning potential.
Adult education centers are located in each county located within the
designated zone.
The State has also created the Kentucky Virtual Library (1998), the Kentucky
Virtual University(1999), and the Kentucky Virtual Adult Education (2001)
websites available on-line. These services offer instant access to
information as well as educational opportunities. These sites offer
one-stop access to affordable college credit courses and professional development
programs as well as access to literacy information, curriculum, resources,
and services in an easy-to-use and motivational format. (https://www.kyvu.org;
https://www.kyvae.org; https://www.kyvl.org)
Locally, There are a number of available opportunities related to
job skills, job preparedness, and job placement. All compliment and
enhance, rather than duplicate services in order to offer more diverse
training programs to a broader group of people.
The Owsley County Action Team implemented a Steps-to-Success Welfare-to-Work
training program with WTW funds through the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated
Employment Program. This program was designed well, however, qualifying
restrictions kept many from attending. This program allowed us to serve
only the hard-to-serve group of individuals who have received KTAP for
more than two and a half years. This group of individuals are the hardest
to motivate. There were over 50 individuals who wanted to take the training,
however, because they only received food stamps and a medical card,
or, if they were underemployed or temporarily unemployed, were married,
or part of the working poor, they did not qualify and were not allowed to
be served.
The community has expressed a need for training programs available to anyone
who wants to receive training and who is in financial need of assistance
in getting that training. Therefore, the Owsley County Action Team has
plans to re-implement the Steps to Success training program, create
a curriculum related to the use of computer technology in a work environment,
utilize the PowerUp computer lab that will be installed soon, and CenterNet,
and will seek funding that will allow them to broaden the qualifying
guidelines so that more individuals who need training can get training.
Regarding the use of technology, the Owsley County Action Team is becoming
an important technical resource in that they have expanded the availability
and public interest in and use of computers and video conferencing capabilities.
Recently, the Action Team partnered with the Center for Rural Development
to implement CenterNet, a video-conferencing, distance learning, and
public Internet service. This provides a large and small video conferencing
unit, furniture, four public access computers, and Internet access
through a T1 line. Additionally, the soon-to-beinstalled PowerUp
computer lab and Vista worker will coordinate computer and technology
programs only adding to the availability of training utilizing technology.
CenterNet is also located in Breathitt County at the Lees College Campus
of Hazard Community College. This system will be moved to the Jefferson
Hotel Skills Center as soon as renovations are complete. CenterNet is
in the process of being installed in Lee and Wolfe Counties as well. We
plan to promote and utilize CenterNet to provide unique job skills training
opportunities by video conference. Through the Center for Rural Development,
we can offer many types of training to local individuals without them
having to leave the county to receive that training. Individual counties
partnered with the Center to assist with funding the maintenance costs
over a five year period. CenterNet is currently in the process of being
installed in Lee County in downtown Beattyville in the former Congleton
Brothers store. The People Encouraging People (PEP) Coalition will manage
the operation of the site and the facility. The site in Wolfe County
will be located on Highway 15 in Campton in the Kentucky River Community
Care Centers outpatient facility.
Additionally, we will work with the Jackson County Vocational School and
their entrepreneurial training program and other regional vocational,
and community college and university programs to increase the participation
in their programs by adults and young people who have dropped out of
school. The programs in Jackson County were created as a result of a Round
I Empowerment Zone designation.
The Caring Place in Lee County works to assist current K-TAP recipients
in developing essential life skills needed to obtain a job. They maintain
a supportive environment, while linking participants with potential
employers. Their goal is to assist K-TAP recipients in the transition from
receiving benefits to entering the workforce. They offer mentoring services
to all active clients where they receive support, encouragement, resources,
job training, and positive motivation toward self-sufficiency. During
the 2000-2001 fiscal year, there were 85 individuals enrolled in job
readiness activities, 41 completed the program and 76 secured paid employment
The Caring Place receives referrals from the Cabinet for Families and Children.
After an initial assessment, the participant is placed in job readiness
activities that are based on individual needs. Some of the services
provided by partnering agencies are basic academic skills, employment skills,
occupational skills, agricultural assistance, home food processing and
training, food pantry, budgeting, counseling, domestic violence shelter,
legal aid, disaster assistance, clothing assistance, community education
and prevention programs, CNA classes, health education classes, nutrition
programs, environmental services, drug and alcohol counseling, crisis
counseling, school supplies, and tutoring for adult education participants.
The Caring Place also works with several employers in order to secure paid
employment for their participants. CBS Personnel in Winchester, Kentucky
sends staff to the Caring Place every six weeks to take applications.
They also provide workshops to participants on how to prepare for a job
interview. CBS Personnel offers staffing services, rather than temporary
services, for several companies in eastern Kentucky.
The Owsley County Action Team, during the Steps to Success Welfare-to-Work
Training Program, worked with the local Cabinet for Families and Children
on the possibilities of receiving funding from the Cabinet to provide
instructors for job skills training activities. It was explained that unless
we become a component of the Cabinet officially, they could not work
with us on funding these types of programs. However, we do have the
support of our local Cabinet for Families and Children in working with
state officials to make Owsley County Action Team a component in order to
provide training. The Owsley County Action Team is considering becoming
an eligible training provider, depending on funding availability and
resources.
There are a number of individuals interested in learning about computers
that are eligible for, or receiving K-TAP. The Action Team recently
partnered with The Caring Place in Lee County to provide basic instruction
in Windows 95 and Microsoft Word to 15 individuals.
The Owsley County Action Team is also working with Image Entry, a local
data entry company, to provide their specific job skills training through
Action Place. When Image Entry located in Owsley County, they provided
the Owsley County High School a server, a classroom telephone, and
software needed to train students in data entry work. However, the majority
of students who complete the class and go to Image Entry for a job
cannot pass the data entry test and most cannot use a keyboard for
simple typing tasks. Because these classes are offered through the school
system during normal school hours, adults cannot take advantage of that
training.
Therefore, we have proposed to work with Image Entry to provide this training
at the computer lab facilities at Action Place. This would free up quite
a bit of space at Image Entry for them to hire additional employees.
Additionally, there would be more qualified applicants to deal with and
adults would be able to receive training. Image Entry will provide the
software necessary to provide the training and will train Action Team
staff in order to prepare them for instructing the classes. However,
funding will need to be secured for a staff person to provide that training.
Additionally, the Booneville/Owsley County Industrial Authority is
considering the incorporation of a computer program where 50 computers
could be made available to individuals who work from home. Referrals
would come from Image Entry in Owsley County to provide computers to
employees who have worked in their plant for more than one year so that
they can work for the company from home. This will allow more jobs to
be created within the plant, while giving some employees an opportunity
to work while at home.
The designated zone will work together to create a Job Skills Training
Resource Directory listing all available training and job support opportunities
within the zone, region and state. This resource directory will assist
individuals in identifying appropriate training opportunities that fit their
needs as well as assisting case workers to help individuals understand
their options.. This directory will be printed and made available to
the public through action teams, local training providers and other
organizations.
Action teams and industrial authorities will work together with the adult
education and social service providers to increase the number of adults
enrolled in GED and adult literacy training programs. This will be accomplished
through creative marketing and through the Job Skills Training Resource
Directory. We will work through the Cabinet for Families and Children
to further encourage recipients to take advantage of opportunities available
while they are receiving benefits.
We believe that by focusing a large portion of our attention on the youth
sector, we can break the cycle of poverty and instill the belief in our
children that welfare is not the answer to becoming and remaining self-supporting.
By teaching job preparedness and skills training, including a focus on
work ethic, we hope to help young people understand the need for responsibility
and commitment when thinking about work.
In order to create a strong work ethic among our youth, we will work with
county boards of education in order to improve student access to advanced
placement courses and to increase the number of students enrolling in
vocational courses. In Owsley County, during community meetings and
through surveys, individuals, including students, complained that there
were not enough students signing up for these kinds of classes, which
keeps the few that do sign up from being able to attend. Students in
Owsley County are transported by bus to the Lee County Area Vocational
Center for these types of classes If possible, we would like to work
with the area vocational schools to provide instructors who can travel
to the counties that do not have area or county vocational school
to provide these types of classes to students who are interested.
The designated area will work with local and regional community colleges
and universities to provide job preparedness and skills training by
video conference through CenterNet to all school children and adults.
Currently, three Hazard Community College students are taking Economics
201 by video-conference at the Owsley County Action Teams CenterNet facilities.
They are working with Hazard Community College and other universities
to provide more classes for individuals who are interested in lessening
their travel time to school.
The Jefferson Hotel Skills Center in Jackson, Kentucky (Breathitt County)
has received funding for major renovations. They have planned to include
space for training workshop opportunities. Additionally, the CenterNet
facilities will be moved from the Lees College Campus of Hazard Community
College, a temporary location, to the Jefferson Hotel Skills Center when
renovations are complete. For the Breathitt County Action Team, this
center means attractive, accessible office space. Currently, the Action
Team office is located above the public library in downtown Jackson.
Handicapped accessibility is a problem, and space is limited. This new
facility will give the Breathitt County Action Team the exposure it
needs to begin providing the services and programs it has planned, as
well as having direct access to CenterNet facilities that will be utilized
in the implementation of many activities outlined in their strategic plan.
(See Attachment 2: Jefferson Hotel Skills Center.)
Many programs are available locally aimed at youth prevention and career
preparation. For example, in Owsley County, the Fund For Excellence
program will celebrate the graduation of its first class this year.
This will be the largest graduating class in the history of Owsley County
High School and many like to think that this is a direct result of the
Fund for Excellence and other after school and extracurricular programs.
The Fund was started in 1994 with the first 7th grade class entering
the program in 1995. The program is designed to raise expectations on the
part of parents, students, and the community through disseminating information
concerning opportunities, creating an entrepreneurial spirit in our
young people, and providing incentives for high school graduation
and post-secondary education. (See Attachment 3: Fund for Excellence.)
The board members of the first class worked extensively with students and
parents on activities designed to build a nest egg for investment. They
started with a $1,000 grant from the Brushy Forks Teamwork for Tomorrow
program and used these funds to host a Spring Horse Show, which profited
a little over $4,000, and from later projects such as selling chances on
donated Appalachian handmade quilts and other programs. They will graduate
this year with approximately $17,000 which they will divide among the
students. The Fund For Excellence also has three $10,000 endowments
from the Baker Family, the Turner Family, and the Gabbard Family, all from
Owsley County. Interest on these endowments provides three annual scholarships
to Owsley County High School graduating seniors. The amounts vary based
on interest earned. There is also a $5,000 endowment from the Annual
Earl Glenn Jackson BEEK Award to provide an award to a high school student
who has contributed most to the environment.
In 2000, the Fund for Excellence received $50,000 from the Appalachian
Regional Commission to create and operate a Fund for Excellence Youth-run
Business. It has been decided this will be an office supply store which
will also local handmade crafts and other items. Although plans are to
open the store by the beginning of the next school year, however, planned
renovations at Action Place will cause a delay.
This project, although very successful, has been hampered by lack of staff.
All activities have been accomplished by volunteers with no coordination.
The evidence of this graduating class accomplishments justifies the
need to provide staff to coordinate the Fund for Excellence program
so that more successful students graduate from high school.
Additionally, each school system offers the Extended School Services Program
(ESS) to assist failing students to make up work and improve their grades.
Childcare
Concerning childcare, statistics show that the highest poverty levels among
children were in the under five year old group. Compare that with the
percent of children under 18 in general and the percentage is much lower.
After discussing this with other parents and childcare providers, it was
determined that it is cheaper for a mother to stay at home rather than
work during the first five years due to childcare expenses, transportation,
and other experiences, such as health problems in children under 5,
that require more time than after a child starts kindergarten.
Many parents want their children to stay in a daycare center environment
with activities provided that enrich their childrens learning experiences.
We will work with local State Certified Childcare Providers to examine
ways in which we can expand the childcare services already offered.
In an effort to efficiently serve as many children as possible and
to support welfare reform efforts, the State of Kentucky, through the
Cabinet for Families and Children, provides a variety of childcare assistance
programs. Federal and state funds pay for child care assistance. The main
fund source is the Child Care and Development Fund. Other federal funds
include TANF and Welfare-to-Work.
In order to administer assistance statewide, the Cabinet has contracted
with five regional service agents. These agents determine eligibility,
match clients to available child care resources, help families find
quality child care, process assistance payments, and address unmet child
care needs. The Eastern Kentucky Childcare Coalition is the agent who
serves Breathitt, Lee, Owsley, and Wolfe counties. (See Attachment
4: Regional Service Agents for Childcare.)
There are a number of children being served through the childcare program
in this area. Currently, there are 88 certified childcare providers
with approximately 271 children being served. To be eligible, child
care must be needed for parents to work or to be in a K-TAP or Welfare-to-Work
program; to protect a child from abuse, neglect or removal from the home;
for a teen parent to attend high school; or for education or vocational
training. Eligible children must be under the age of 13, or under the
age of 18 if physically or mentally incapable of caring for him or herself,
or under the age of 18 and under court supervision.
Child care providers must be licensed, certified, or enrolled unless they
are a qualifying relative . Parents or persons living in the same household
as a child needing care cannot be paid for caring for that child. Relatives
must meet the same minimum requirements as enrolled providers. Families
who are discontinued from K-TAP due to employment are eligible for childcare
assistance for 12 months from the date they leave K-TAP, as long as
their income does not exceed 85% of the state median income scale
and they remain employed. The percent then decreases according to
income level. The maximum income eligibility is 165% of the federal
poverty guideline. Because these childcare programs stress family
responsibility, except for protective service cases and families with
a monthly income below $900, all families will pay for part of their
childcare expenses. Childcare assistance is not granted when free
programs are available and accessible.
The Middle Kentucky Area Development Council is the primary coordinator
for the Head Start program in the designated zone. Approximately 408
children are served between the ages of three and five. In Owsley
County the Head Start program also offers infant care and home-based services.
Should a designation be received, and a need for childcare increases
due to an increase in jobs, Middle Kentucky is prepared to secure funding
in order to expand the Head Start program so that more children and
families can be served.
Through Vision 2000, the Mountain Tots Early Childhood Development Center
in Breathitt County plans to purchase property and build adequate facilities
as well as expand the program to provide services 24 hours per day.
The center currently rents their facility and is limited to 49 slots. This
childcare center is primarily funded through the Community Collaboration
for Children grant awarded bi-annually by the Kentucky Cabinet for
Families and Children. The expense for expansion of this facility includes
construction, equipment, and the purchase of property and is estimated to
cost $350,000. This program has been, initially, a subsidiary program
under Vision 2000 and is currently in the process of establishing itself
as a separate entity by applying for non-profit status.
Breathitt County also plans so research the feasibility of a sick room
inside a child care center or located adjacent to the center in a much
smaller facility attached. Often times, individuals have problems with
productivity on the job when children are sick. If a place was available
for childcare for children who are not so sick that they require medical
attention, but dont feel well enough to be around other children, parents
would have a much better opportunity to improve productivity on the
job and rest assured that their children, although feeling under the weather,
are being well taken care of in a caring, safe environment. If this project
is found to be feasible, we will work with local childcare providers
to implement these services throughout the zone.
In addition to childcare, a much needed service in this area is adult child
care. Many families are caring for elderly relatives in their homes.
These individuals often require as much, or more care than children.
The only facilities currently available to assist with adult daycare is
the Geri Young Home in Lee County. Their hours are 8:00 - 5:00 and they
serve 31 individuals. They are licensed to serve 34 individuals and
provide healthcare professionals to assist in their care. Should a designation
occur, there will be a need for more services of this nature throughout
the zone. We will work together to create programs similar to the Geri
Young Home in other counties within the designated area.
Recently, representatives from Breathitt, Lee, Owsley, and Wolfe Counties
got together to form a regional Vision 2000 organization. One of the
main topics discussed as a goal was child and adult daycare. We will
identify ways we can improve and expand the availability of quality child
and adult daycare centers in order to assist families in keeping jobs
and increasing productivity on the job.
Transportation
Transportation is one of the main challenges facing people making the transition
from welfare to work. There is a mismatch between where most entry-level
and service sector jobs are located and where most welfare recipients
live. Many entry-level jobs require evening or weekend hours, and many
parents going to work also need transportation in order to access child
care, which further complicates their commute to work Having a car can
make a tremendous difference. Information from the Urban Institutes
National Survey of American Families show that twice as many welfare
recipients with cars were working than those without cars. Many welfare
recipients do not have cars.
In addition to on-going state road projects, Kentucky has taken a comprehensive
approach to providing coordinated transportation to the needy. Four
Cabinet offices Families and Children, Health Services, Workforce Development,
and Transportation combined transportation resources to develop a
new coordinated transportation system for all their participants. Empower
Kentucky provides transportation services to individuals through 16
regional providers. In this designated area, we are served by the LKLP
Community Action Council, through the Daniel Boone Transit Authority
and the Middle Kentucky Area Development Council Transportation System.
Although this transportation system is used mainly for medical purposes,
K-TAP recipients also take advantage of these services in order to
attend training programs and travel to work.
If a designation is made, business opportunities and the number of jobs
available will increase along with the need for transportation services.
With that in mind, we are committed to analyzing information on where
welfare recipients live, locations of the jobs for which welfare recipients
are qualified, location of training centers and family and child care
centers, and available transportation resources. With this information,
we will identify strategies to increase the availability of resources
available to individuals to keep them employed. Middle Kentucky is ready
to expand into other areas if needed.
Currently, the K-TAP program provides transportation assistance to individuals
who secure paid employment. These services are available for up to
12 months after beginning work. An adult taking part in KWP may get
help with childcare, transportation, and other items needed to work, or
needed for a work or training activity. A family may also get help with
things needed in order to keep working including uniforms, clothing,
or tools needed for the job; car license and registration fees, insurance,
tires, brakes, and other car repairs; and expenses for moving to a new
home needed to get or keep a job.
A transportation brochure will be made available throughout the zone in
order to make the public aware of all transportation opportunities and
benefits currently available. Additionally, they will work to recruit
or create a public transportation program for general transportation needs
among individual community members. Many counties have Park and Ride lots
available. A great number of individuals living within the zone have
to travel for up to 2 hours to reach their work place. We will encourage
the use of these park and ride stations for carpooling and for taking
advantage of other transportation options. We hope that by marketing
the stations and other options, individuals might be encouraged to seek
employment, even if they do have to go out of town to find a job.
Communication
Although many individuals, including welfare recipients, have been provided
an array of benefits for many years, most still do not understand or
know much about other programs available to assist them in becoming
self-sustaining. Clearly, this is not a result of a lack of communication
between clients and caseworkers. Our Cabinet for Families and Children
offices have caring staff who try to inform individuals about all programs
available. However, there is a need to make sure individuals know more
about available benefits in order to continue moving people from welfare
to work.
We plan to work with the Cabinet for Families and Children to create a
unique, interesting publication that explains in detail all the programs
available that can in any way assist an individual in becoming a self-supporting
and self-sustaining.
Agricultural Assistance
Farming in eastern Kentucky, particularly tobacco farming, provides many
families with annual income. In the recent years, this area has worked
hard to educate our farmers about issues relating to the decrease in
demand for tobacco, and most importantly, the tobacco settlement funds
that have been allocated to states, and then to counties, for use in alternative
crop programs, healthcare and tobacco education and prevention. In
Kentucky, and particularly eastern Kentucky, tobacco has provided the
majority of income to area farmers. These farmers are feeling the effects
of tobacco legislation. For too long, small tobacco farmers have had to
work very hard to earn the money needed to simply survive.
Farmers have many manual labor and machine skills that can benefit them
in the workplace. Additionally, they are usually people who are proficient
at handling the financial and technical aspects of being in business.
Many of these farmers represent an untapped human resource as far as
the labor market goes. With the tobacco settlements and the lesser demand
for tobacco, many farmers have quit farming and have begun to seek paid
employment elsewhere.
We will work with the local extension offices, state officials, and state
universities to provide technical assistance to farmers and to research
alternative crops targeted toward small family farms. There is money
available through the tobacco settlement fund to assist local farmers in
changing their crops or creating businesses that employ farmers. They
simply need help understanding the process of accessing that money
and the knowledge and assistance to create a business plan. Currently,
Owsley County has $396,272 in the local share of Phase I Tobacco Settlement
Funds that Owsley County residents can apply for to implement these
kinds of projects. One application round was completed, however, so
far no projects have been approved because the plans have only impacted
family members. Breathitt County currently has $198,605 available, Lee
County has $126,088 available, and Wolfe County has $340,746 available.
Additionally, there is a state share which organizations and other entities
can apply for to implement other agricultural, medical, or prevention-related
programs. We will tap that source for medical equipment that is compatible
with the CenterNet video conferencing system to provide access to specialty
medical care while not having to travel so far to get there.
We intend to create and conduct workshops targeting farmers to provide
information on alternative crops, agricultural research and access to
technical assistance from the University of Kentucky and other research
institutions, and other topics of interest in helping farmers become more
selfsustaining. We will also assist farmers in writing applications for
the county shares of the tobacco settlement money and will provide
them access to technical resources that are available to assist them
in the implementation of quality agricultural ventures. We will work with
the Small Business Development Center from Morehead University to provide
workshops to individuals on how to start their own business.
Additionally, the Action Team will create a marketing program aimed at
recruiting farmers who have ideas for projects to participate in these
workshops as well as other programs offered through other organizations
such as the county extension offices, soil and water conservation district
offices, and the University of Kentucky.
Farmers will be encouraged to research alternative agricultural activities.
Representative Marie Rader is working hard to promote the research
of and farming of wine grapes. In recent years, several wineries have
become operational in eastern Kentucky and north Tennessee and Virginia.
Prior to prohibition, it is said that Kentucky was a prime producer of
wine grapes in this country. This is being considered as a way of moving
tobacco farmers into alternative crops that are in demand.
Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse, as is common among many small, rural communities, is a
quite problem for our area. While discussing health issues with doctors
and nurse practitioners in Owsley County, they noted that most official
statistics show low levels of domestic abuse, however, they seem to treat
a lot of cases. Additionally, when shelter is needed in a domestic abuse
situation, individuals are usually referred to shelters outside of the
area, (1) because we do not have one available locally, and (2) because
sometimes it is necessary to keep their location a secret. Additionally,
when emergency crisis happen, such as fire, individuals often times have
no where to go.
The Cabinet for Families and Children offers a Relocation Assistance Program
available to adult KTAP recipients who need to escape from a domestic
violence situation. The number of times families can utilize Relocation
Assistance in order to escape domestic violence situations is not limited.
A family may get up to $900 in a one-time Relocation Assistance payment
for verified moving costs.
Within the designated zone, the LKLP Safe House is available in Hazard,
Kentucky (Perry County) offering a 24-hour crisis line for immediate
help, temporary lodging for 30 days at no cost, a safe environment for
abused women and their dependent children, information and referrals to
legal options, financial aid, housing, and medical services. GED and self-improvement
classes are available to residents and former residents. Court advocacy
and counseling by Certified Domestic Abuse Violence Counselors is
available including hospital advocacy and support groups for nonresidents.
Other shelters available include Saras Place in Elliott County and the
Resurrection House in Lee County. Additionally, the Cumberland Mountain
Outreach assists individuals associated with domestic abuse through
the donation of clothing and temporary emergency shelter.
We see a need for an emergency/domestic abuse shelter within the zone not
only to provide area individuals a safe haven, but provide shelter for
other counties so that victims location can remain a secret. The
local churches are also active and willing to help in domestic abuse situations.
Through food pantries and other services, the faith-based organizations
assist individuals with necessities and spiritual guidance.
Housing
Lack of decent, adequate housing is a problem for many individuals. Low-income
apartments are known to remain at capacity with waiting lists used to
handle the large number of requests. Rental property is difficult to
locate. Should a designation be made, we will develop a plan to identify
the most efficient and cost effective manner in which to approach the
creation and expansion of housing, including low-income housing facilities
throughout the zone. Available housing in general is a problem within
the entire zone. Although statistics show several houses vacant, many
of these homes are in terrible disrepair and are not considered safe. Some
of the homes belong to families who, culturally, like to keep their property
within the family. We will recruit real estate companies to build and
operate apartments and other housing facilities available to everyone,
including low-income individuals. We will work with regional, state, and
federal sources to identify ways to improve the availability of low-income
housing in the designated zone through the possible creation of a regional
housing authority.
The USDA Rural Housing Service provides local staff to assist individuals
in accessing the lowincome housing loan and grant programs available.
According to local RUS staff, they are not getting enough applications
from Owsley and some surrounding counties for these programs. They
are encouraging organizations and other service providers to provide information
and referrals for services to low-income individuals involved in their
programs.
The Christian Appalachian Projects is involved in several housing projects
including grants and loans for constructing new housing and a program
that recruits volunteers to the area to assist individuals with housing
improvements such as aluminum siding, insulation, and roof repair.
In Lee County the Lee County Housing authority coordinates the low-income
housing apartment program. The Beattyville Affordable Housing Authority
has built and sold over 20 homes. Additionally, the Habitat for Humanity
organization is active throughout the zone.
We will create a marketing piece aimed at individual community members
outlining all the benefits of the RC designation and what it means to
them. Included in the publication will be a list of all available
resources and services available throughout the zone and how they can
access these benefits.
Public Access to Technology
In order to be successful in what is currently termed as the new economy,
individuals must develop computer skills. This area has been involved
in bridging the digital divide through the use of public computer programs
aimed at improving skills through casual use by the public. All public
libraries have public computers available with Internet access. Many
individuals utilize these computers for completing homework, research,
or communication through e-mail.
Additionally, The Mountain Association for Community Economic Development
(MACED), with funds from the U.S. Department of Commerce TOP program,
implemented the Choosing to Learn program which provided three public
access computers and three laptops for use in a laptop lending program
in four eastern Kentucky counties including Owsley and Breathitt. Although
the laptop lending program is successful, the expenses relating to public
computer dial-up access in country stores was hurtful. Over 1,000
individuals have checked out a laptop to do a variety of tasks.
Due to the success of the laptop lending program, we will work to increase
the number of laptops available through the lending program. Both the
Owsley County and Breathitt County Action Teams have served as the
lending agents and the computers have been checked out hundreds of
times by individuals needing to complete college or high school work, Internet
research, work done at home, or for just plain fun. Based on laptop
lending experience, we see a need for 20 additional laptops in the
lending program. This would add an additional five computers to the Owsley
and Breathitt County area and five to start a lending program in Lee
and Wolfe.
The most difficult obstacle that this area faces in regard to implementing
technology programs is staffing. All organizations within the zone
find staff funding the most difficult to obtain. For this reason, we
propose to place four Vista workers within the zone to assist with the
coordination of programs such as PowerUp, laptop lending, and especially
distance learning through CenterNet.
Healthcare
All community residents expressed a need for after-hours and weekend, non-emergency
healthcare availability. Currently, many residents must travel more than
45 minutes to reach an emergency room after hours. We will work with
local healthcare providers to work out an arrangement to solve this
issue. It has been suggested by the community that healthcare providers
rotate their services after hours.
The counties will work together to create a resource directory listing
all healthcare providers in the area and what their specialities are.
At the same time, industrial development organizations and chambers
of commerce will work to recruit specialty physicians to the area. The
Breathitt County Action Team will work with the Kentucky River Medical
Center to expand the number of beds available.
Since the inception of CenterNet at the Owsley County Action Team facilities,
staff has been working with the Center for Rural Development to expand
the uses of the technology. A nurse practitioner and a doctor serving
Owsley County are interested in utilizing the CenterNet equipment
to conduct medical appointments between themselves, local patients, and
specialists in areas such as the University of Kentucky Medical Center
in Lexington. However, we need additional equipment in order to provide
this service.
A recent article in Readers Digest states that more of the tobacco
settlement funds need to be spent on healthcare related programs as
it was intended. We intent to apply through the state for funds to expand
the equipment needed in order to provide these medical services to the
community at all CenterNet facilities within the zone.
We will also utilize the programs and technical assistance and advice offered
through the partnership between HUD and HHS on the EZ/EC/RC programs.
Handicapped accessibility is a critical issue in our area. For instance,
in Owsley County, the courthouse doors open to the outside, and the
wheelchair ramp is at such an incline that one resident cannot get
his wheelchair up that hill unless he is in his motorized chair. Until
recently, there were no handicapped accessible restrooms anywhere in
Booneville. For this reason, the action team, with funds received from
the Steele Reese Foundation, will renovate the library bathroom to make
it handicapped accessible and open to the public. Organizations throughout
the zone will work toward making handicapped accessibility a priority
and work to eliminate these obstacles.
In addition to all of these programs, the state, regional organizations,
and each city and county within the designated area have on-going programs
to enhance, improve, and expand the availability of basic local services
such as water and sewer service, fire protection, emergency medical services,
and police protection as well as improving transportation through bridge
and road improvements and expansions.
Goal 2: Increase crime reduction strategies,
such as crime prevention, including the provision of crime prevention
services by non-governmental entities.
Actions:
- Continue the implementation of 911 services throughout the zone in
order to provide a quicker response time.
- Increase the use of technology and computers to more efficiently
monitor and report incidences of crime.
- Increase the number of crime prevention programs offered throughout
the zone.
- Increase the number of police and deputies throughout the zone.
- Improve communication between the public and all law enforcement
agencies.
- Increase the number of convictions for crime.
- Increase the number of alcohol and drug programs available throughout
the zone.
- Enhance and improve the number of recreational activities for
people of all ages throughout the zone as a prevention strategy.
- Continue the on-going economic development efforts within the
zone in order to create jobs as a crime prevention strategy.
Owsley County does not have 911/Dispatch service but is committed to the
implementation of this service within two years.
In Breathitt County, 911/Dispatch service was established in 1995 and is
funded through a $1.35 telephone tax per telephone customer per month.
They have a 911 Coordinator who works on addressing and mapping with
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software. The coordinator is currently
in the process of doing a GPS survey for more accurate location assistance.
State Police Post #13 in Hazard, Kentucky (Perry County) does the dispatching
for the county. The Southeast Regional 911 Board was established including
county judges, mayors, and 911 coordinators in four counties (Breathitt,
Leslie, Knott and Letcher). A portion of the telephone tax goes to this
board to pay the State Police for dispatching service and to fund equipment.
Lee County has a basic 911 dispatch service. It was established in 1990
and is funded by a small telephone tax. They have four dispatchers and
two county dispatchers and two part-time dispatchers. They have a 911
Coordinator.
Wolfe Countys 911/Dispatching service has been established for approximately
eight years. It is funded through a 3% telephone tax and the Wolfe
County Fiscal Court funds the dispatch staff positions of which there
are four. They use Caller ID and all information is taken manually over
the telephone.
All areas are dedicated to the improvement and enhancement of 911/Dispatch
service in order to more effectively prevent crime and lessen the amount
of response time.
In each county there is a Sheriffs Department and a local city police department.
These agencies are primarily responsible for the crime reduction and
prevention activities. The Kentucky State Police Post in Richmond serves
this area with uniformed troopers. Each county has a county attorney
who represents the county on criminal cases.
In 1998, the City of Booneville received funding through the COPS Universal
Hiring Program to create the Booneville Police Department. Currently,
there are two police officers working within the city limits. The City
of Booneville has since begun paying their salary. Additionally, the City
has applied for computer equipment from the Center for Rural Development,
special overtime pay during Labor Day weekend from the State of Kentucky,
and overtime pay that comes down in March of every year from the state.
The Beattyville Police Department has received grants from the Kentucky
Justice Cabinet to increase the number of radar detectors and cameras
in vehicles.
We will work to increase the number of full-time, uniformed police officers
throughout the zone by working with local fiscal courts and state and
federal funding sources to secure funding for salaries and benefits.
Often, trained law enforcement officers are hired in this area, but due
to increased pay elsewhere, they leave, causing the expense of training
and hiring new officers. We will also work to increase the amount of
pay and benefits for qualified, trained, full-time police officers.
We will increase the use of computers and technology to more effectively
track, monitor, and report the incidence of crime. We will begin working
to implement telecommunications services that will allow each law enforcement
agency to connect to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) to
gain quicker access to information regarding suspect individuals and their
crime records.
A local county district judge was interviewed during the process to get
his view of crime prevention efforts and what needs to occur to make
improvements. He stated that in order to make an adequate judgment relating
to a case, he must rely on information received from county and Commonwealth
attorneys. Often times, in his view, county and state attorneys do not
accept certain complaints and many times the acceptance is based on
who a person knows. We asked him what his thoughts were on how to
change this practice. He stated that it all boils down to personal responsibility.
Every individual and victim has a right and responsibility to see that
justice is served. If it is not, they should contact the state Attorney
Generals office or the Grand Jury to report any instances of misconduct
on the part of enforcement officials taking complaints.
We will work with local board of education, local law enforcement agencies,
local alcohol and drug abuse counseling services, and the Kentucky
State Police to implement the DARE program throughout area schools and
to provide other appropriate crime, alcohol and drug prevention programs.
We will also work with these agencies to improve communication between
the public and law enforcement organizations.
We believe that if families and children had more recreational opportunities,
there would be a lesser number of crime incidences and alcohol and
drug use. Currently, recreational opportunities are severely limited,
however, we are committed to enhancing, expanding, and improving these services
as a deterrent to crime.
The lack of jobs and income is another reason why crimes are committed.
We are dedicated to the economic growth and creation of jobs and the
improvement of services which will assist individuals in becoming more
self-supporting therefore reducing the chances of a person committing a
crime.
Goal 3: Increase the economic development
activities by private entities, organizations, neighborhood organizations,
and community groups, particularly those in the Renewal Community, including
a commitment from such private entities to provide jobs and job training
for, and technical, financial, or other assistance to, employers,
employees, and residents from the Renewal Community.
Actions:
- Employ adequate, full-time economic development staff throughout
the designated zone.
- Continue to make improvements in the local county and regional
industrial parks within the zone.
- Continue to improve and expand the availability of basic services
such as water, sewer, natural gas, and telecommunications.
- Work with landowners to acquire additional property for business
recruitment.
- Create a dynamic marketing package to promote the zone and available
incentives to potential business.
- Work with the Southern Kentucky Economic Development Corporation,
the East Kentucky Corporation, and the State of Kentucky to market
speculative buildings located throughout the zone.
- Continue the speculative building program by building a speculative
building every time one is sold.
- Create a local existing business program in order to provide
assistance and services to business already located in the zone.
- Provide access to entrepreneurial training and small business
development programs for individuals and businesses in the zone.
- Provide locally available access to basic and specific job skills
training.
- Provide assistance to farmers to take advantage of financial
and technical resources available.
- Assess and develop tourism resources and opportunities throughout
the zone.
- Work with local, regional, state, and federal funding and financing
sources to assist business with available financing options.
In Owsley County, the City of Booneville recently received a grant
from the USDA Rural Business Enterprise Program to hire a full-time
director of the Booneville/Owsley County Industrial Authority. Although
the Authority has been in existence for quite some time, they have never
had the funds to hire staff, thus all administrative work was done voluntarily
by members of the Authority.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, the East Kentucky Corporation,
the Kentucky River Area Development District, and the Southern Kentucky
Economic Development Corporation has been instrumental by providing
assistance with acquiring and marketing our industrial parks and speculative
buildings. They also bring prospects to visit our communities when they
have an idea that our park and buildings would suit their needs. The Southern
Kentucky Economic Development Corporation went a step further by adding
expertise and advise during the process of interviewing and hiring
a director in Owsley County. However, all have agreed that it is a relief
to have a person on staff, full-time, to work hard toward the economic
development of our county.
Each county is committed to creating funding avenues to hire and maintain
full-time economic development staff. Our counties are distressed
county with very little business, therefore, our budget does not allow
funds to help staff the industrial authorities. However, both county and
city governments are actively involved in the efforts of the industrial
authorities.
Each county industrial authority and the Pine Ridge Regional Industrial
Authority will continue working to install necessary infrastructure
to the county and regional industrial parks including roads and water
and sewer systems. The Booneville/Owsley County Industrial Authority is
planning to extend natural gas lines and extend fiber optics accessibility
to the park.
The designated area will create a website for business recruitment purposes
as well as marketing tourism related opportunities and the zone in general.
If designated, we will especially highlight the incentive programs available
in designated RC communities. We will work extensively with the Department
for Housing and Urban Development and the Department for Health and Human
Services to access resources and technical assistance available to appropriately
market the incentives. Additionally, we will seek training opportunities
to provide local staff with a good understanding of the incentives
associated with the RC designation so that we can adequately promote
our areas and attract businesses.
The Booneville/Owsley County Industrial Authority will create the website
and has purchased HomeSite software and Adobe Acrobat in order to
create the site, including PDF files for easy downloading of information.
The Booneville/Owsley County Industrial Authority will link to and maintain
updated information on all regional and state economic development
websites and publications to make sure that information on the designated
zone is accurate and professionally presented. The Kentucky Cabinet
for Economic Development, the Southern Economic Development Corporation,
the East Kentucky Corporation, and the Kentucky River Area Development
District have been instrumental by assisting us in the promotion of
our areas for economic development by encouraging counties to help them
keep the information up to date.
Each county in the designated zone is part of the Pine Ridge Regional Industrial
Authority. This Authority is made up of a board of directors who are
appointed by five county judges to oversee a regional industrial park
located in Wolfe County (within the designated zone). Representatives
regularly attend these meetings to encourage the promotion of the region
as a whole, not just the regional industrial park in Wolfe County.
The Governor has been involved in the marketing efforts of the regional
business parks located throughout eastern Kentucky. A marketing video
has recently been created as well as a beautiful printed publication
entitled Eastern Kentucky: The New Appalachia, featuring all regional
industrial parks in eastern Kentucky.
The 120 acre Pine Ridge Regional Industrial Park is located one mile west
of the Campton city limits in Wolfe County. The Mountain Parkway interchange
is south of the site via KY 1653 and KY 3039. The Mountain Parkway is
a four-lane highway that leads to the I-64 interchange 41 miles northwest
of site. The Bluegrass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky is 70 miles northwest
of the site. Water and sewer service are provided by the City of Campton
Water and Sewage Company both with 6-inch force main line. Natural
gas is available through the Jefferson Gas Transmission Company with
a 4-inch line 2,800 feet from the site. Electricity is provided by the
Licking Valley Rural Electric Coop. Pine Ridge is already home to the
Kentucky Steel Truss Company. The labor market area contains the Wood
Utilization Center, as well as Hazard Community and Technical College,
Alice Lloyd College, Eastern Kentucky University, and Morehead University.
(See Attachment 5: Pine Ridge Regional Industrial Park.)
Industrial parks are also located in each of the other three counties
located within the zone. The 46.9 acre Panbowl Lake Industrial Park
is located within the northern city limits of Jackson in Breathitt
County. It is zoned industrial and is approximately 1.2 miles from KY15
southwest of the site via Lakeside Drive. The Mountain Parkway is located
22 miles north of the site via KY 15. The nearest commercial airport
is the Bluegrass Airport in Lexington, located approximately 90 miles
from the site. Water and sewer service is provided by the Jackson Municipal
Sewer Company with 6-inch and 12-inch water lines serving the site
and 8-inch gravity sewer line located 500 feet northwest of the site
along Lakeside Drive. Natural gas is provided by the Public Gas Company
with a 4-inch line northwest of the site along the southeast side of
Lakeside Drive. Electricity is provided by American Electric Power.
Breathitt County has a 40,500 square foot speculative industrial building
located in the industrial park built in 1998. (See Attachment 6: Panbowl
Lake Industrial Park.)
The Lee County Fiscal Court owns the 27.6 acre industrial park located
in Beattyville. The site is located two miles southwest of the southern
city limits of Beattyville. The site is adjacent to KY 11 which provides
access to the Mountain Parkway 22 miles from the site. The nearest commercial
airport is the Bluegrass Airport in Lexington some 82 miles away. Water
is provided by the Southside Water Association with a 6-inch line along
KY 11 adjacent to the site. Sewer service is provided by the Beattyville
Wastewater Treatment Service with an 8-inch gravity line and a 6-inch
force main. Natural Gas is provided by the Delta Natural Gas Company with
a 4-inch line on the south side of the highway. Electricity is provided
by Jackson Energy Cooperative. (See Attachment 7: Lee County Industrial
Park.)
The 77.6 acre Lone Oak Industrial Park is located 1.5 miles south of the
City of Booneville in Owsley County on KY 11 South. The nearest commercial
airport is the Bluegrass Airport in Lexington approximately 95 miles
away. Water and sewer services are provided by the City of Booneville
Water and Sewer District with a 6-inch water line and an 8-inch gravity
line serving the site. Natural gas is currently not available, however,
plans are to seek funding to extend a gas line located approximately
seven miles away to the park. Electricity is provided by Jackson Energy
Cooperative. The Booneville/Owsley County Industrial Authority will also
seek funding to provide fiber optics services to the park. (See Attachment
8: Lone Oak Industrial Park.)
The Lone Oak Industrial Park boasts two speculative industrial buildings
available for sale or lease. The Owsley County Speculative Building
is a 25,920 square foot facility built in 2000 with funds from EDA,
the Local Government Economic Development Fund, and the Southern Kentucky
Economic Development Corporation. The Lone Oak Industrial Building is
a 10,000 square foot building built in 2000 funded through a grant from
the Appalachian Regional Commission. In Wolfe County, a 26,500 square
foot building is available which formerly housed the Celestica Corporation.
The area as a whole, will host an annual Recruit the Recruiters day in
which all regional, state, and federal officials who assist this area
with economic development activities can come, see improvements made,
and become updated on projects and activities that promote economic
development. The designated zone as a whole will participate in the
Performance Measurement System and will utilize this information as
a marketing tool to be used in the recruitment of business. The more
businesses see is happening in a community, the greater their desire
will be to locate there. This area has experience in working with these
types of measurement systems. The Breathitt and Owsley County Action
Teams are designated Champion Communities by USDA and have participated
in the Community Development Benchmarking System used by rural EZ/EC
designees and Champion Communities to report progress. Additionally,
Owsley and Breathitt Counties were designated Livable Communities during
the last year of the Clinton/Gore Administration.
The entire zone will utilize CenterNet for use in the recruitment of business
and working with state and federal officials.
A marketing piece is planned specifically relating to the RC tax incentives
available to business. This will be created utilizing technical resources
from HUD, HHS and USDA to creatively design a marketing strategy that
suits our area.
We will conduct a targeted business/industry analysis in order to assist
us in identifying what types of businesses would compliment our area.
We will utilize the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville,
the Kentucky River Area Development District, the Cabinet for Economic
Development, the Department for Employment Services and others to obtain
information already available on regional or state targeted business
analysis. We will need help with this study for the zone if a designation
is received because we will need to appropriately recruit the kinds of
businesses that will fit well with our culture and create jobs that
are complimentary to our peoples skills.
Immediately upon designation, we will work with the Kentucky Cabinet for
Economic Development, the Southern Kentucky Economic Development Corporation,
the East Kentucky Corporation, the Kentucky River Area Development District,
USDA and HUD to assist businesses already located in these areas to
take advantage of available incentives as soon as the designation
is made.
We will create an Existing Industry Organization whose primary purpose
is to meet together with businesses quarterly to discuss issues and
needs and to update them on programs and resources available for business
and employees. Additionally, we will create and distribute a quarterly
newsletter to existing businesses identifying resources and providing
up-to-date information on local, regional, state, and federal workforce
training opportunities. We will establish an Existing Business of the
Year award. The local, regional, and state economic development staff will
assist in the selection of the recipient annually based on a set of criteria
related to their business activities and involvement in the community.
We will work with the Morehead State University Small Business Development
Center, Lees College Campus of Hazard Community College, area vocational
and technical centers, and others to provide businesses and staff with
training and technical assistance and information as well as entrepreneurial
development workshops to individuals interested in starting their own
business.
Breathitt and Owsley County Action Teams worked with the Mountain Association
for Community Economic Development to implement a Business Incubator
Feasibility Study to determine whether or not a business incubator
would be successful in our area. This project was funded by a grant from
the Appalachian Regional Commission. This project is nearing completion.
The Owsley County Action Team, in cooperation with the Breathitt County
Action Team, conducted a Labor Market Survey throughout four counties.
This recently completed survey provides us with an idea of what skills
are needed by employers in this area, what skills are currently available,
and what kinds of training we need to provide in order to get more individuals
skilled in jobs already available locally and regionally. This survey
was funded by a USDA Rural Business Opportunity Grant. (See Attachment
9: East Central Kentucky Workforce Report.)
We will work with the Cabinet for Economic Development to utilize and market
the states business finance and tax incentive programs currently available.
The Kentucky Industrial Development Act (KIDA) is available to qualified
companies creating at least 15 new full-time jobs and investing at least
$100,000 in approved projects. If they qualify, they may receive state
income tax credits up to 100 percent of annual debt service costs for
up to ten years on land, buildings, site development, building fixtures,
and equipment used in the project, or the company may collect a job assessment
fee of three percent of the gross wages of each employee whose job is
created by the approved project and who is subject to Kentucky income
taxes.
The Kentucky Rural Economic Development Act (KREDA) is available to business
in counties whose average annual unemployment rate has exceeded the
state average annual unemployment rate in the five proceeding calendar
years or counties whose unemployment rate is 200% of the statewide
unemployment rate for the preceding year. Larger tax credits are available
for new and expanding manufacturing projects that create at least
15 new first time jobs in Kentucky counties. The project investment
must be at least $100,000. Companies with projects approved under KREDA
may potentially receive state income tax credits and job assessment fees
for up to 100 percent of annual debt service costs for up to 15 years
on land, building, site development, building fixtures, and equipment
used in the project.
Owsley County is the only county within the designated zone that does not
have KREDA status due to a low unemployment rate. However, we have submitted
a proposal to Governor Paul Patton and State Senator Robert Stivers
to change KREDA status in officially recognized distressed counties
(there are seven counties in Kentucky listed by the U.S. General Accounting
Office as distressed counties) based on research indicating that the
real unemployment rate, including those discouraged workers who have
not been looking for a job within the last four weeks to be counted,
is much higher. They have confirmed their commitment to work with us to
solve this issue. (See Attachment 10: KREDA Proposal - Owsley County.)
The state offers many other programs including the Kentucky Jobs Development
Act, the Kentucky Economic Opportunity Zone Act, the Kentucky Industrial
Revitalization Act, and other income tax credits. Kentucky also offers
several financial incentive programs including the Kentucky Economic
Development Finance Authority, the Knowledge Based Economy Program, the
Research, Innovation, and Technology Businesses Program, the Commonwealth
Small Business Development Corporation, the Community Development Block
Grant Program, the Linked Deposit Program, the Tax Increment Financing
Program, and Industrial Revenue Bonds.
Kentucky also offers the Bluegrass State Skills Corporation, and the Kentucky
Investment Fund Act. They offer economic development programs such as
the Local Government Economic Development Fund and a Regional Industrial
Park Program, a Utility Incentive Rate Program, a Job Recruitment, Placement,
and Training Program, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System,
the Kentucky Information Highway, Industrial Location Assistance Program,
and the Kentucky Tourism Development Act.
Kentucky is also proud to offer the Kentucky Enterprise Zone Program, created
in 1982, in an effort to bring new development to or to renew development
to targeted, economically depressed areas. State and local tax incentives
are offered to businesses located or locating in such zones, and some
regulations are eased to make development in the area more attractive.
A zone remains in effect for 20 years after the date of the designation.
(See Attachment 11: Kentucky Enterprise Zone Tax Incentive Program.)
In addition to state funding and financing sources, there are several regional
sources including the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development,
the Appalachian Investment Corporation, District Development Funds,
the East Kentucky Corporation, Human/Economic Appalachian Development
Community Loan Fund, Mountain Economic Development Fund, and the
Southern Kentucky Economic Development Corporation.
Local county governments can take advantage of the LGEDF Coal Severance
Fund for economic development projects to promote the attraction of
business.
All areas in the zone have been concentrating on ways to improve the amount
of tourism. This is an ideal way to stir some extra economic benefits
while working to create business and jobs.
All areas have a unique history and culture and have places in their
communities that could serve as possible tourist attractions. If educational
and interesting attractions were created, some tourists will steer
themselves off the beaten path to take a look. With recent tragic events
in our country, tourists are likely to look toward small towns for vacation
sites.
All communities within the zone are committed to participation in the State
Department of Travel and the Southern and Eastern Kentucky Tourism Association.
These are state and regional tourism organizations where funding can
be obtained to create or enhance tourist attractions and events. We
will all identify several projects within our communities, create marketing
packages to promote them, and work to quickly get them implemented
so that we can prepare to increase economic opportunities through an
increase in tourism activity by next summer.
Goal 4: Offer as a gift, or sell at below fair market
value, surplus real property held by state or local governments, such
as land, homes, and commercial or industrial structures in the Renewal
Communities to neighborhood organizations, community development corporations,
or private companies.
Actions:
- Continue working with neighborhood and community development
groups to improve and enhance the use of county and city-owned property
to better serve the community.
- Work with state, county, and city governments to analyze property
holdings and determine uses for any surplus property available.
- We will work together to create an innovative incentive plan
using industrial property and buildings to attract business and create
jobs.
Our counties have a history of contributing land to neighborhood organizations,
community development corporations, and private companies. We boast
several community parks throughout the zone offering recreational activities
to our people. Community organizations throughout the zone utilize
county or city owned property and buildings to provide their services.
For example, in Owsley County, the Booneville/Owsley County Industrial
Authority sold property, below fair market value, to the Southfork
Retirement Center, an assisted living facility located adjacent to
the nursing home. Additionally, in order to attract the first business
into the park, the Authority, as an incentive, provided land to the Image
Entry company at no cost.
We will work with state, county, and city governments to analyze property
holdings and determine uses for any surplus property available. Based
on the results from the analysis, we will work to implement programs
to utilize any surplus property in a manner that will be the most beneficial
for the governments involved.
County, regional, and state economic development organizations will work
together to create a unique, innovative incentive plan utilizing industrial
property and speculative buildings, to encourage business and create
jobs.
RECOGNITION OF PAST EFFORTS
RECOGNITION OF PAST EFFORTS
The Commonwealth of Kentucky, many regional organizations, and the cities
and counties within the designated area have been working hard to improve
the conditions of our counties and to provide individuals with the
necessary means to become self-sufficient. Again, there are many programs,
too numerous to mention, that have been completed or are on-going that
contribute to our growth. The following list provides a few examples.
In the past few years, Kentucky has implemented many beneficial programs
that assist communities and individuals to become self-sufficient.
In 1996, Kentucky unveiled a new welfare reform plan, entitled the
Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (K-TAP), and reformed the Workers
Compensation System.
K-TAP offers incentives to employers who will train and hire welfare recipients
and provide affordable child care. The plan also offers subsidized employment
opportunities for qualified participants as a way to encourage a transition
to economic independence. State government works with local communities
to place people in workfare jobs or community service. These opportunities
will provide valuable experience to the participants and satisfy new federal
work requirements as well.
One of the most innovative aspects of the K-TAP plan is a diversion program,
called Family Alternatives. Under this program, participants found to
need only temporary assistance will be able to obtain benefits just
long enough to avert a crisis, reducing the danger of dependence and allowing
the state to spend its limited welfare funds on families facing more
long-term difficulties.
Kentucky will attempt to place participants deemed work ready in
unsubsidized employment within six months. Because Kentucky recognizes
the value of education, participants previously enrolled in post-secondary
education through the states Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS)
program will be allowed to continue that education for up to 12 months.
After that, they may continue only if they are engages in at least
20 hours per week of work activity. Up to six weeks of job search will
be counted as work-related activity.
Kentucky approved a historic piece of legislation that made dramatic reforms
in the Kentucky Workers Compensation System. Under the new legislation,
the workers compensation system became less adversarial and more of
an administrative system. Workers Compensation awards are based on
medical evidence determined by the professional staff of one of the states
two medical schools. The occupational disability will be determined by
objective criteria that will leave little doubt about what is due the
injured worker. The new law cuts workers compensation costs to noncoal
industries by 11 percent and will reduce the cost to the coal industry
by an estimated 22 percent. Workers will save about $30 million in
unnecessary medical and legal bills, but will still be able to go to
their own doctors and hire lawyers, if they choose to do so.
In 1997, the Office of Coal County Development was created to assist coal
producing counties to diversify their economies beyond coal. The new
office is attached to the Secretarys Office in the Kentucky Cabinet
for Economic Development, and oversees the Local Government Economic
Development Program (LGEDP).
Coal producing counties first started receiving a share of coal severance
tax receipts in 1992 to help them diversity their local economies beyond
coal. At that time, the Local Government Economic Development Fund
(LGEDF) was created to provide grants of coal severance tax revenues to
make counties attractive to new manufacturing and service industries,
as well as to help existing businesses expand. Each coal producing
county is allotted a portion of the LGEDF money for use exclusively
in that county, and a portion is set aside for multi-county or regional
projects. Each county within the designated zone has utilized LGEDF grants
to create industrial park and construct infrastructure. A portion of
this money is set aside for business training incentives. Each county
used a portion of their LGEDF funds to form the Pine Ridge Regional Industrial
Authority and purchase the industrial park located in the City of Campton
in Wolfe County within the zone. (See Attachment 12: Individual County
LGEDF Spreadsheets.)
The state also restructured the Department for Local Government to make
it more accessible and to lessen the red tape. Support services will
increase technology to eliminate much of the paperwork now required.
Local officials will be able to use the Internet to file grant and loan
applications.
Also during 1997, the state lowered vehicle property taxes. The Kentucky
Revenue Cabinet began using the trade-in value of cars and trucks for
assessing property taxes, effective January 1, 1998.
The state hired the first Chief Information Officer for the state. The
EMPOWER Kentucky initiative identified a need for a strategic approach
to the planning and implementation of technology throughout state
government. This new officer directs and implements the Strategic Information
Technology Plan to insure coordination of the states technology efforts.
In 1998, Kentucky became the first state to create its own commission under
the recommendations of the National Commission on Small Farms. The commission
will comprise a group of farmers from every corner of Kentucky representing
all sectors of the agricultural economy. They will examine the issues
confronting Kentuckys family farms and make recommendations to the
Governor, the legislature, and the Kentucky Congressional delegation on
policies and programs for the future of Kentuckys family farms.
Kentucky also formed a task force to analyze Kentuckys adult education
system. The Task Force on Adult Education is made up of six members
appointed by the Senate, six appointed by the House of Representatives,
and six by the governor. The governor chairs the task force. They develop
recommendations and an implementation plan for raising the literacy
level and educational attainment of Kentuckys adults who have not graduated
from high school or who have poor literacy skills.
Senate Bill 21 was passed, enabling high school students who maintain at
least a 2.5 grade point average to earn state scholarship money to Kentucky
institutions of postsecondary education. This is an added incentive
for young people to pursue their education, and the grants help them devote
those four years of college to learning. House Bill 469 guarantees that
teachers will get an automatic cost of living adjustment in their wages
to account for inflation. It is not a raise. Kentucky is ensuring that
teachers will maintain their purchasing power or will not take a pay cut.
Finally, the Kentucky Childrens Health Insurance Program (K-CHIP), Senate
Bill 128, was passed which provides $13 million in state funds to secure
$50 million in federal aid for children of the working poor to access
health benefit coverage. House Bill 142 was passed giving the courts and
social workers broader abilities to intervene in abusive homes. Under
the old law, emergency removal of a child from a family required proof
of imminent danger. Now the system can also act to protect the child
when there is evidence of repeated physical injury or emotional harm, and
in situations where the child is in immediate danger because the parent
has failed to act. The law also sets new grounds for termination of
parental rights and expedites the procedures for terminating those rights
by setting time limits for court action.
Kentucky was the first in the nation when, in 1998, they linked all victim
advocates by computer. The new system, called V-Net, created a computer
network to link every victim advocate in Kentucky, including advocates
in prosecutors offices, rape crisis centers, spouse abuse shelters and
child protection agencies. Through this network advocates are able, for
the first, time to directly access Kentuckys victim notification system
to locate where a dangerous offender is incarcerated or to register
a victim to be notified. V-net also provides critically needed support
to advocates by giving them immediate access to information with which
they can assist victims information like where the nearest protective
shelter is locates; how Kentucky law can protect a child; where a forensic
rape exam can be conducted; and much more.
In 1999, Kentucky became one of the first states to offer an Internet service
specifically designed to assist our business entrepreneurs. The One-Stop
Business Licensing Program is designed to greatly simplify the maze
of regulatory red tape all new business owners experience. It allows
entrepreneurs to go on-line to determine which of over 600 state licenses
or permits are needed for their particular business. The service immediately
identifies the specific state licenses required for each of over 1,800
business types.
The Cabinet for Workforce Development established an Education Pays Scholarship
for customers of the cabinets wide range of employment and training programs
and services. To be eligible, applicants must be a customer of at least
one of the cabinets services, which includes adult education, vocational
rehabilitation programs, unemployment insurance, job search, the Job Training
Partnership Act, or secondary technical education, among others. Applicants
must also be Kentucky residents and provide proof of enrollment in
a postsecondary educational institution.
The Kentucky Resource Directory, the first of its kind in the country,
is online and just a click of the mouse away. The directory is an
Internet database of some forty-five thousand services available
in the state, at the federal, state, local, and private level. Whether
you are looking for a job or looking for a summer camp for kids, residents
can locate the information online. This Empower Kentucky initiative
is designed to bring together people and resources in the most efficient
way. Kentuckys website is the only one in the country that offers private
as well as public agency information from an estimated fourteen-thousand
providers. Individuals can find phone numbers, detailed maps, even
photographs of the buildings where the service is located. The information
was first compiled by the Kentucky Council of Area Development Districts,
beginning in 1997, and Kentuckys Cabinets for Families and Children,
Health Services, Workforce Development, Department of Information
Systems, and Jefferson Countys Community Resource Network compiled
additional electronic data.
Kentuckys food stamp program switched from paper to debit cards to reduce
fraud, save time, and reduce the stigma of using food stamps. The pilot
project started in Anderson, Woodford, Fayette, Franklin, and Shelby
counties. The program was then implemented throughout the state. The
cabinet will save up to a million dollars per year in reduced postage
and administrative costs previously spent on sending stamps every month.
Fraud is reduced because the specially coded cards will not allow
users to buy non-food items or get change to spend on ineligible items.
And, theft will be less appealing because the cards require the use of
a personal identification number.
Kentucky high school students can go online with Internet access to advanced
courses in foreign languages, math, and science. The Kentucky Virtual
High School is the first project of its kind in the world. The Virtual
High School gives students everywhere in the state the opportunity to take
challenging advanced courses not available at their local high school.
The KVHS has two corporate partnerships. One with Class.com, Inc., to use
secondary courses developed by the Division of Continuing Studies at
the University of Nebraska with a $17 million Star Schools Grant from
the U.S. Department of Education. The other partnership is with eCollege.com,
which creates Internet education solutions, to bring online education to
the classroom and to the distance-learning student. The state has also
implemented the Kentucky Virtual Library and the Kentucky Virtual Adult
Education System.
In 2000, House Bill 706 was passed creating a multi-faceted program to
provide for the education and healthy development of Kentuckys youngest
citizens. The KIDS NOW initiative is a historic first step toward the
responsibility we have to helping families and communities make sure that
each and every child reaches their full potential in the first few year
of life.
The Kentucky Innovations Commission was created by the enactment of House
Bill 572 and will be the primary advisor to state policymakers on issues
related to Kentuckys competitiveness in the new economy. The New Economy
Initiative proposes several steps over the biennium to further develop
the knowledge-based Kentucky. In order to be a player in the fast-moving,
global, hightech economy of the 21st century, we will have to improve
the way we educate our people, train our workers, and grow our businesses.
Kentucky Access was created to offer attractive savings and health insurance
choices for individuals with high-cost medical conditions. The program
has already created a business environment where two insurers have returned
to Kentucky, offering competitive choices for the entire individual
market of over 100,000 farm families, self-employed, and working Kentuckians
who must buy their own health insurance coverage.
This year has been a productive year in the State of Kentucky. In an effort
to attack the proliferation of Kentuckys newest drug of choice, an Oxycontin
Task Force was created to combat the use and contain the spreading abuse
of the prescription drug. Now more popular than marijuana and cocain,
the illegal use of Oxycontin, particularly in eastern Kentucky, has reached
nearly epidemic proportions. In eastern Kentucky alone, more than 30
people have died in the last year. In addition to the physical danger
of the drug, its cost, popularity, and addictive nature has caused a drastic
increase in property crime, home invasion, assault, and robberies by
addicts attempting to supply their habit.
The Governor signed an Executive Order creating the Certified Clean County
Program. The state will provide existing resources as an incentive to
help counties clean up their illegal dumps and adopt a mandatory solid
waste collection service to keep their county clean and dump free. Under
the program, the state will reimburse eligible counties for 75% of the
direct expense of cleaning up illegal dumps.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet will provide
assistance to participating counties in identifying illegal dumps and
estimating the cost of cleaning them up. The Cabinet will also provide
staff to monitor and assist in the clean up effort and inspect and re-certify
the county as dump free on an annual basis. Once all dumps are cleaned
up, the county will be designated a Certified Clean County and the state
will pay for, install, and maintain a Certified Clean County sign
at each entrance to the county. These counties will also gain extra points
when applying for grants and get priority for funds from the Division
of Conservation State Cost Share Program and the Waste Tire Trust Fund.
To be eligible, counties must mandate a curbside solid waste collection
service requiring all residents and businesses to use the service and pay
for it.
Citing the need to maintain and maximize Kentuckys low-cost energy advantage,
an Executive Order was signed creating the Kentucky State Energy Policy
Advisory Board to develop a coordinated statewide energy policy. The
Board will study energy markets throughout the country and internationally
and devise a strategy for maximizing Kentuckys low-cost advantages in
supplying affordable and reliable power. The Board will also coordinate
energy related programs throughout the state and recommend to the Governor
and General Assembly programs and strategies to improve energy related
efforts.
Governor Patton announced the creation, by Executive Order, of a bipartisan,
35-member Smart Growth Task Force to study growth and development issues
in the Commonwealth. This task force will study how a more strategic
approach to growth management can enhance Kentuckys future, working
to elevate smart growth as a public policy issue statewide and conducting
a thorough review of Kentucky statutes, regulations, and programs that
relate to growth. They will also identify possible incentives to assist
our local governments in instituting model smart growth principles
within their government operations, as well as looking at the smart growth
planning of other states. The task force will issue a report next year
that will be used to set a framework for the incorporation of smart
growth principles within state and local government.
In August, the Governor released the names and star ratings for 77 childcare
programs that voluntarily participated in a pilot project for Kentuckys
new quality rating system for childcare programs. The rating system,
called STARS for KIDS NOW, is part of Kentuckys early childhood initiative
signed into law last year to help ensure positive outcomes for Kentuckys
young children. These childcare programs were rated for adherence to a
four-tier set of standards that are based on what research shows to
be good practices for children. Lower staff to child ratios, greater levels
of staff education and training, increased opportunities for family involvement,
and age-appropriate curriculum planning are all part of the rating
criteria. Childcare providers in two of the counties in the identified
RC zone earned the first STAR award this year. In Breathitt County, the
Montessori House for Children and Miller II and Miller III earned the
award on levels two and three. In Owsley County, the Owsley County
Early Childhood/Head Start earned the award.
In addition to the many state projects, the local cities and counties throughout
the identified zone have been working hard to prepare our area for growth.
To be brief, we completed program surveys on projects implemented during
the last eight years to meet the outlined goals.
Breathitt County currently has three bridges that are being funded by the
State of Kentucky. Two are presently under contract to be built and one
is in the design stage. Many county roads have been re-built in an
effort to make them easier to maintain.
Breathitt county, this year, established its own water district board in
an effort to expand water services throughout the county. Twenty projects
have been identified under the plan presently submitted to the state
through the Breathitt County Long Range Water Supply Plan. The first project
proposed is the Highland Turner line, which is now under design by the
districts engineers.
Breathitt County is also working through the Transportation Safety
Committee of the Kentucky River Area Development District to devise
a plan to be submitted to the Kentucky Department of Transportation
for the improvement and upgrading of the road system in Breathitt County.
The Jefferson Hotel Skills Center has been funded and is in the process
of major renovation work at the old hotel. The county utilized many
funding sources, including the LGEDF coal severance funds, to finance
the creation of this center.
In an effort to clean up streams and rivers in the county, Breathitt has
begun working with the Corps of Engineers in what is known locally as
the Hardshell Caney Sewer Project which is an effort to find a solution
to small communities who do not have access to city sewer systems and
do not have a working septic system.
Breathitt County purchased 32 acres of property to create the Pan Bowl
Lake Industrial Park and finished construction on a 40,000 square foot
speculative industrial building in its recently developed industrial
park. They are members of the Pine Ridge Regional Industrial Authority
and the Coal Fields Regional Industrial Authority in an effort to attract
business.
The City of Jackson extended sewer service along Kentucky Highway 15 to
allow for industry expansion and to serve the Kentucky Community Care
complex. They also funded an entire water system to replace the Highland
Avenue Water Tank which had been torn down approximately seven years
ago. They added a new tank to serve the Kings Ridge area of town due to
low water pressure. They also replaced all the valves at the Quicksand
Tank. To ensure water quality, the City of Jackson conducted a water
quality analysis for 183 residents. They also implemented a water treatment
plan project in March of this year that, upon completion, will provide water
and sewer service to 2,200 customers.
The City of Jackson will soon start a renovation project at City Hall including
a new town hall meeting room. In April, they also implemented a Kentucky
Renaissance program to completely renovate the downtown area.
The Lee County Industrial Park was created in 1998 consisting of the development
of 28.6 acres located on state Highway 11 approximately three miles south
of Beattyville. The major elements of the project included site clearing
and grading and the construction of 11,040 linear feet of 8" water
main, 10,800 linear feet of 8" gravity sewer lines, 4,500 linear feet of
6" force main, and four sewage pump stations. In 2000, the Beattyville
Water Storage Tank was built to store 300,000 gallons of water. Lee
County has also been in the process of a major sewer expansion.
Additionally, the City of Beattyville Police Department and the Lee County
Sheriffs Department have received COPS grants within the last year to
add one full-time deputy position, radar and cameras in city police
cars, and a grant from the Center for Rural Development to improve technology
use in the Sheriffs Department by providing laptop computers to each deputy
and other technology equipment.
In 1995, the Owsley County Fiscal Court and the Booneville/Owsley County
Industrial Authority purchased 91.829 acres of industrial property.
These funds included site acquisition, site appraisal, and site development.
In 2000, they developed a master plan for the park, constructed additional
access roads, and built signage for the park. Also in 2000, funding
was secured to install infrastructure in the park including a 300,000
gallon elevated water tank, 3,800 feet of 8" water main, and a pump
station for the additional acres.
An additional 229.5 acres of land was purchased by the Booneville/Owsley
County Industrial authority to create an emergency/alternative water
supply for the Owsley County area. They are researching the feasibility
of creating a golf course on that property in order to attract tourism.
In 2000, the Southern Kentucky Economic Development Corporation, with funds
from EDA, assisted Owsley County by building a 25,000 speculative industrial
building in the industrial park. SKEDC assists the Authority with marketing
the building. Another 10,000 square foot industrial building was built
with ARC funds and LGEDF funds.
Other projects in Owsley County and the City of Booneville that have been
completed or are ongoing include water line extension, the construction
of a wastewater treatment facility, sewer extension, and water tanks
and lines in two locations. The City of Booneville created the City of
Booneville Police Department including two officers, 2 bullet proof vests,
a police car video system, and police weapons. They also received a
grant to purchase a fire truck for the Booneville Volunteer Fire Department.
The County also received a grant to purchase an ambulance for Allens Ambulance
Service.
As a result of Owsley Countys participation as a Champion Community and
a Livable Community, a grant was received from USDA to hire a full-time
economic developer. They also received an ARC Flex-E grant for technical
strategic planning.
Owsley County has also submitted its twenty-year water and sewer implementation
plan to the state and is in the process of a sewer extension project
which will include the industrial park.
Breathitt, Lee, Owsley, and Wolfe Counties are members of the Pine Ridge
Regional Industrial Authority. In 2000, each county utilized a portion
of their LGEDF funds to purchase a 125 acre regional business park.
This project included the extension of water and sewer service to the park
and site development. Fifteen acres was donated to the regional industrial
authority by the Wolfe County Industrial Authority. Kentucky Steel
Truss has located in the park and created approximately 25 jobs. This
is the only industrial park within the designated zone that is located
adjacent to a four-laned highway, the Mountain Parkway, which provides
access to I-64 leading to I-75 in Lexington.
Copies of the project surveys are attached along with state press releases
describing state programs implemented in the last few years. All counties
and the State of Kentucky have plans for other projects. All counties
will be working to implement their twenty year water and sewer plans and
many county and state roads have been upgraded or are in the planning
process of renovations. (See Attachment 13: Renewal Communities Project
Surveys.)
Additionally, the state and each county within the zone have on-going projects
and programs aimed at the economic improvement of the state and our communities
including the LGEDF Coal Severance program, state financial , tax,
and training incentive programs, childcare, K-TAP, KCHIP, adult education
programs, social service programs, and many more.
We are all dedicated to continuing our efforts to build economically viable,
self-sufficient communities that provide services needed by individuals
to assist them in becoming self-supporting. As one city mayor stated,
We have planned, and planned, and planned! Now is the time to start
doing. If an RC designation was awarded to us, we are confident and prepared
to take full advantage of all the benefits and to make sure that our
people take advantage of all the opportunities that become available
to become and remain employed.
Timeline
TIMELINE
PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND EVALUATION
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
AND EVALUATION
As with any successful program, we are committed to making sure that
every individual has an opportunity to benefit from the RC designation.
With that in mind, we have set performance measures to work toward in
order to evaluate our progress and to provide information to the public
concerning the numbers of people being served and the kinds of services
they are receiving. We will not only use this as an evaluation method,
but as a motivational method to encourage others to take advantage of
the opportunities.
The following tables describe our performance measures for each goal and
action.
Goal 1: To increase the level and efficiency of
local services within the Renewal Community, such as services for residents
funded through the Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
program and related Federal programs including, for example, job support
services, child care and after school care for children of working residents,
employment training, transportation services, and other services that
help residents become economically self-sufficient.
Performance Measures:
- One hundred individuals will complete the Steps to Success Welfare-to-Work
Training Program offered through the Owsley County Action Team.
- One low-income individual will benefit from a Vista position at the
Owsley County Action Team coordinating computer lab and CenterNet programs.
- One hundred individuals will benefit from workshops sponsored
through the Owsley County Action Team technology center.
- Twenty-five different training programs will be offered by video
conference through the use of CenterNet.
- Twenty individuals will utilize computers for home-based work in
the data entry profession.
- Fifteen regularly scheduled community college or university courses
will be offered by video conference throughout the zone utilizing CenterNet.
- Ten different training opportunities will be hosted at the Jefferson
Hotel Skills Center after renovations are complete.
- One staff person will be hired to coordinate the Fund for Excellence
Program in Owsley County.
- Participation by students in the Fund for Excellence will increase
by 20%.
- The number of students graduating from high school will increase
by 20%.
- One Job Skills Training Resource Directory will be created. C
Enrollment in childcare will increase by 15%.
- Quarterly Agricultural Diversification Workshops will be conducted
throughout the zone.
- One hundred farmers and other individuals will complete Agricultural
Diversification Workshops. C Housing opportunities will increase
by 25%.
- Five hundred individuals will utilize the laptop lending program
for skill training.
- Ten medical clinics will become involved in after-hours and weekend
non-emergency medical care programs.
- Five hundred individuals will benefit from the availability of after-hours
and weekend nonemergency medical care.
- All CenterNet facilities throughout the zone will acquire medical
equipment for use in specialty medical appointments by video-conference.
- Fifty individuals will benefit from medical appointments by video
conference.
- Water and sewer services will be expanded to serve 20% more people
every two years.
- Five new fire departments will be created throughout the zone.
Goal 2:
- Increase crime reduction strategies, such as crime prevention, including
the provision of crime prevention services by non-governmental entities.
Performance Measures:
- Emergency 911/Dispatch will become available throughout Owsley County
and will be expanded and improved in Breathitt, Lee, and Wolfe counties.
Twelve full-time, uniformed police officer positions will become available
throughout the zone.
- Each police department throughout the zone will utilize state-of-the-art
technology, including the NCIC system.
- Ten arrests will occur due to the availability of information through
the NCIC system.
- The DARE program will be incorporated in every school within the
zone.
- Twenty new recreational programs will be created throughout the zone.
Goal 3:
Increase the economic development activities by private entities, organizations,
neighborhood organizations, and community groups, particularly those
in the Renewal Community, including a commitment from such private entities
to provide jobs and job training for, and technical, financial, or other
assistance to, employers, employees, and residents from the Renewal
Community.
Performance Measures:
- At least three full-time economic developer positions will remain
funded throughout the zone.
- A website will be created for business recruitment.
- Fifty companies will seek further contact based on information received
from the website.
- Twenty-five new businesses will be attracted to the zone.
- One thousand jobs will be created.
- Two speculative industrial buildings will be sold or leased.
- Three speculative industrial buildings will be constructed.
- Annual Recruit the Recruiters days will be held within the zone.
- CenterNet will be used twenty-five times for business recruitment
purposes.
- Five businesses already located throughout the zone will take advantage
of incentives immediately.
- Quarterly entrepreneurial and small business training programs will
be provided throughout the zone.
- Two hundred individuals will attend entrepreneurial and small business
training programs throughout the zone.
- KREDA status will be re-instated in distressed counties in Kentucky,
including Owsley County.
- Ten new tourism related opportunities will be created.
- Tourism will cause an increase of 10% in county and city budgets.
Goal 4:
Offer as a gift, or sell at below fair market value, surplus real property
held by state or local governments, such as land, homes, and commercial
or industrial structures in the Renewal Communities to neighborhood
organizations, community development corporations, or private companies.
Performance Measures:
- Ten pieces of industrial property will be sold at below fair market
value based on criteria set by the industrial authorities according
to the amount invested and the number of jobs created.
- Five site preparation grants will be awarded as a local incentive.
All of the main participants in the implementation of the strategic plan
have experience with problems and obstacles that occur in the implementation
of any project. What is important is that they learn from their mistakes
and find solutions to make things better. We are dedicated to identifying
all problems, outlining the lessons learned from the problem, and using
that list to make changes that alleviate those problems and enhance the
strategic plan. We are also dedicated to making the public aware of
the successes that will occur as a motivational method of involving even
more people.
We will conduct a quarterly survey among organizations involved in the
work to identify any problems and obstacles. This survey will include
a section to list the lessons learned in overcoming these problems.
This list will be used to create a lessons learned publication that other
groups and areas outside the zone could utilize to keep themselves from
going through the same mistakes. This will also be used in the evaluation
of our programs.
These survey results, and the input received by the public, will be used
to make revisions to the implementation methods and procedures. If changes
need to occur, we will outline the method of change and the procedures
to be taken to make that change occur.
Although the CoRA will be making recommendations for change in the implementation
methods and procedures, before these changes are finalized, they will
be brought before the public through local newspapers and public service
announcements on local radio and television stations for a period of
two weeks. After two weeks, if no negative comments on the change were received
by the public, the changes will be implemented.
It is the desire of all of us that the public have input into every aspect
of this designation and its implementation. We have committed to settle
for nothing less. Every person counts and their input is considered
valuable. Not only does this give the public the assurance that they are
going to be included in the process, it also shows a deep respect for
individual people, not just the "community."
We will create and approve a spreadsheet for use in tracking performance
measure progress. Each organization involved in the implementation
of any projects related to the designation will appoint one staff person
to complete the spreadsheet listing any progress and successes. Additionally,
these organizations will provide information on any outside funding
received that is not directly related to the designation.
This information will be gathered by the CoRA. They will compile this information
and provide a complete update for input into the Performance Measurement
System.
Semi-annually, we will conduct public meetings to review progress in order
to get the communities 59 idea of how we are doing and whether or
not we need to change focus. As projects are on-going, monthly we will
publish press releases documenting the progress and how many individuals
are being served.
Owsley and Breathitt Counties, as Champion Communities, have utilized the
USDA Community Development Benchmark Management System for the past two
years as part of the requirements for this designation. We have experience
in tracking performance through a variety of projects implemented during
the course of this designation. Additionally, required quarterly reports
to private foundations have been completed on a number of projects in
the past. (See Attachment 14: Breathitt and Owsley County Champion Community
Benchmark System Report.)
The CoRA will be the ultimate responsible party for making revisions to
the implementation methods and procedures. If changes need to occur,
the CoRA will outline the method of change and the procedures to be
taken to make that change occur. Before these changes are finalized, they
will be brought before the public through local newspapers and public
service announcements on local radio and television stations for a period
of two weeks. After two weeks, if no negative comments on the change
were received by the public, the changes will be implemented.
If the specified change requires a more immediate response, the CoRA will
either make the emergency decision or will publish these events outlining
the need to provide responses more quickly.
Throughout this process, the most obvious issue identified was that individuals
want to know what is happening in their communities. This historical
lack of information is what has caused the serious negative perception
and image problems associated with rural areas. As committed as we were
in involving our entire communities in the planning process, we are as
committed to making sure that from now on, our people are aware of what
leaders are doing to improve their quality of life and economic opportunities
and what benefits are available to them.
Throughout this process we stressed that if a persons needs are not being
met, we want them to come and ask us why. They have a right to know why
they are not being served.
Immediately, we will create a visually appealing document which will be
presented to the fiscal courts and city councils and published or inserted
in every area newspaper so that community individuals have an opportunity
to learn about the benefits of the RC designation.
We will utilize available technology to create a website featuring detailed
and comprehensive information on services available. Technology has become
an important part of our rural communities. In order to bridge the
digital divide that exists in our communities, public computer programs
have been implemented which provide our people with access to the Internet
and electronic communication. We will enhance these programs and expand
the availability of public computer technology so that more individuals
have access to information.
We will encourage residents with e-mail addresses to provide this information
in order to be included in a community listserv which will provide
information and updates on services, training 60 and job opportunities,
and workshops currently available.
For those who do not have access to computers, monthly updates will be
published in all area newspapers and disseminated through agencies such
as the Cabinet for Families and Children and other non-profit groups
offering services to community individuals.
Annually, we will host a large public meeting to evaluate progress during
the year.
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