Extension
It Starts With Us
Encourage Vibrant Communities and support Economic Development
Promote Community and Economic Development
4H, Moses, Cornelius, ANR
Business Retention and Expansion
Local Food System Development and Mapping
First Impressions
Advancing the Creative Economy
According to the 2016 Restaurant Industry Forecast, "Ninety-two percent of fine-dining restaurateurs say they plan to add a locally sourced item to their menus this year, along with 73 percent of casual, 63 percent of fast-casual, 50 percent of family-dining, and 35 percent of quick service operators." This could call for a lot of economic opportunity for local farms. Building a diverse economy that emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurship and small business development. A key contributor of community tourism and development lies within community arts. According to the Kentucky Arts Council, using an EMSI Input-Output model of calculation, the creative sector employs 108,500 total jobs with more than 1.9 billion in earnings in the state of Kentucky. By providing the Extension Community Arts Center, Extension personnel will facilitate economic growth, educational development and personal enrichment in the arts.
-Policy changes to support economic development
-diversified economy that sustainshealthy community
-job creation that doesn't rely on tax incentives
-improved and diversified local economic base
-improved and diversified tax base
-Community is better informed and leaders can identify policies that better support local economic development
-Local policy makers encourage small business development
-Businesses implement strategies identified through planning.
-Increased awareness of the importance of entrepreneurship and small business development
-Agents have better understanding of their local economy
-Businesses can identify new markets
-communities can identify factors to improve their local economic condition.
Initial Outcome: -Increased awareness of the importance of entrepreneurship and small business development; Agents have better understanding of their local economy; Businesses can identify new markets; communities can identify factors to improve their local economic condition.
Indicator: Change in local retail dollars; Grant dollars awarded to community because of Extension involvement; Increased number of referrals to SBDC or KCARD by agents
Method: Primarily state-led evaluation using CEDIK metrics
Timeline: Within the next year
Intermediate Outcome: Community is better informed and leaders can identify policies that better support local economic development; Local policy makers encourage small business development; Businesses implement strategies identified through planning.
Indicator: Plans adopted and implemented
Method: Economic indicator surveys from state organizations
Timeline: 2-3 years
Long-term Outcome: Policy changes to support economic development; diversified economy that sustains healthy community; job creation that doesn't rely on tax incentives; improved and diversified local economic base; improved and diversified tax base
Indicator: New/expanded jobs and new/expanded businesses; People utilize resources to create economic opportunity in Whitley County
Method: Observation of local enterprises
Timeline: 4-6 years
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Community Education Classes
Content or Curriculum: Music, Art, Gardening, youth activities etc.
Inputs: Agents, Assistants, Community Leaders, Local Artist
Date: Farmers Markets
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Enhancing Business and Marketing Skills of Eastern Kentucky Artist
Content or Curriculum: Artisan Education Curriculum, STLW
Inputs: Fine Arts agent, Local Artist
Date: Winter
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Community Theater
Content or Curriculum: Drama Performances
Inputs: Fine Arts agent, Whitley County High School, University of the Cumberlands
Date: Spring and Fall
Audience: High School Youth
Project or Activity: Promise Zone Youth Input Programs
Content or Curriculum: UK and 4-H Curriculum
Input: Agents, UK Specialists
Date: Quarterly - September, November, March
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Pottery Group
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Arts Council/Volunteer Instructors
Input: Fine Arts Agent, Volunteers, Artists
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Cycling Events
Content or Curriculum: Cycling Shops, UK Bicycle Rodeo Curriculum
Input: Agents, Cycling Professionals, Volunteers, SNAP
Date: Spring, Summer, Fall
Audience: Preschool-6th Grade, Williamsburg Independent School
Project or Activity: Professional Learning Day
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications, KET Arts Toolkits
Input: Agents, Volunteers
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General Public/Families
Project or Activity: Open Pottery
Content or Curriculum: UK publication, KET, curriculum,
Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, UK faculty, Volunteers, Artists
Date: Yearly-ongoing
Audience: General Public/Families/Artists
Project or Activity: Artist of the Month
Content or Curriculum: Local Artists
Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, Fine Arts Assistant, Artists
Date: Yearly-ongoing
Audience: Persons with Internet access
Project or Activity: Five on Friday Newsletter
Content or Curriculum: Newsletter focused on Horticulture
Inputs: mailchimp, Horticulture agent, resources
Date: Ongoing
Audience: Whitley County students
Project or Activity: Farm to School
Content or Curriculum: Farm to School Curriculum
Inputs: Curriculum and Horticulture agent
Date: 2017
Audience: Farmers and Restaurants and Retails vegetable outlets
Project or Activity: Food aggregation software
Content or Curriculum: N/A
Inputs: Software, farmers, purchasers of local produce, and Horticulture agent
Date: 2017
Audience: General Public/Families/Artists
Project or Activity: Mural projects
Content or Curriculum: Local Artists, University of Kentucky Fine Arts Department, CEDIK, community members
Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, Fine Arts Assistant, Artists
Date: Yearly-ongoing
Author: Cortney Moses
Major Program: Arts Engagement
A 2005 study from the Kentucky Arts Council evaluating the status of arts education in public schools across Kentucky found a serious problem in the reduction of arts education across the state. Out of the 135 responding schools in the previous 5 years, one in six reduced art education funding, a majority of schools reported that arts is not as important as other subjects, and “on average, across all grade levels pre-school through middle school, the largest amount of time per week spent i
Author: Stacy White
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership - ANR
The Whitley County Farm Day was held on Friday, October 1st, 2021 at the new county fairgrounds. The ANR agent facilitated the event. The overall goal of this event was to improve vitality of the local agriculture community and to increase awareness of agricultural opportunities in Whitley County. Educational demonstrations included the following: potato planter/harvester, hay baler safety, chainsaw safety, equine program, and stock dogs. Cooperators included Whitley County Fa
Author: Cortney Moses
Major Program: Advancing the Creative Economy
The Whitley County Fine Arts program often works with ‘teaching artists,’ which are artists that teach the public as well as other artists that teach. This is part of their efforts to build leaders in the community and empower artists by giving them teaching opportunities they might not otherwise have the chance to get. Oftentimes, when they teach at the Extension Community Arts Center, it is their first time ever teaching their craft.On October 26, 2022 the Whitley County Fine Arts
Author: Cortney Moses
Major Program: Advancing the Creative Economy
Evelyn, a local potter in Whitley county, is striving to run a business while working in a space that is so small and cramped. There is only room for her to work and maybe one person to walk in. Evelyn’s work space is 10x12 which houses her wheel, 14 glazes, shelving units, clay, and a table for glazing and tools she uses in her pottery making process. Evelyn’s current space is too small for a kiln (the oven used to fire pottery - a crucial step in the process) and her access t
Author: Benjamin Prewitt
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership - ANR
On Saturday, July 9th, 2022 the Whitley County Cooperative Extension Service hosted a community Farmer Appreciation Dinner at our Extension Office in Goldbug. This project was held in conjunction with Whitley County Farm Bureau, Whitley County Cattleman's Association and Whitley County Small Farms Club. Our goal for this event was to create a welcoming environment to draw people to into our office as well as show our appreciation to all of our agriculturists and farmers i
