Extension
It Starts With Us
Encourage Vibrant Communities and support Economic Development
Promote Community and Economic Development
Moses (Fine Arts), Burgard (FCS), Jones (4-H), White (ANR), Prewitt (Horticulture)
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: Pottery Program
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: 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
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Teaching Artist
Content or Curriculum: Provide local artists with tools and knowledge, and space to teach their skills to community
Inputs: Local Artists, Fine Arts, 4-H
Date: 2020-2024
Author: Stacy White
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership - ANR
In today's difficult economic climate many farmers are under tremendous stress which can lead to a declines in both physical and mental health. In an effort to support and encourage the local agriculture community, the Whitley County Cooperative Extension Service in conjunction with the Whitley County Farm Bureau, the Whitley County Small Farms group, and the Whitley County Cattlemen's Association hosted a farmer appreciation event on July 9th, 2022. This was funded via a Ken
Author: Cortney Moses
Major Program: Advancing the Creative Economy
The Extension Community Arts Center has become a beacon of success for the Whitley County Artisans, providing them with opportunities to display, exhibit, and sell their work. With the number of artists in the area on the rise, the center has filled a crucial void by hosting monthly artist exhibitions.Each exhibition lasts for one month, with the highlight being an artist reception that allows the community to engage with the artist. This unique event gives attendees the chance to learn more abo
