Extension
It Starts With Us
Building a diverse economy that emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurship and small business and community development
Job and Infrastructure/Community Vitality
Lindie Huffman, ANR; Kenna Knight, FCS; Lydia Gosney, 4-H
Community Engagement
Business Retention and Expansion
Agritourism Planning
There are 340,746 small businesses in Kentucky (2014). With 17% of these employing 19 or less, 16% employing 20-99, and 14% employing 100-499 employees there are over 1,000,000 people employed in small and medium sized businesses.
Kentucky Cooperative Extension is often the first place small business owners look for assistance in rural areas.
Small businesses, including farms, are the backbone of communities across America, especially in rural communities of Kentucky. They support many community, school, and youth programs, as research suggests that for every $100 spent at locally owned business, $43 is returned to the community, compared to only $15 spent at large corporate box stores. However, small businesses and farms face a multitude of challenges to keep their doors open from marketing, business planning, limited resource availability, labor management, etc. Entrepreneurs are in need of business training and are continually researching ways to expand and promote their business, sometimes calling for diversification of operations with new economic opportunities.
While small businesses make a community increase the vitality of the community, industry and commercial retailers also create a number of jobs to support communities. When analyzing future locations, companies often take a look at the community organizations, recreational areas, and religious structures. Creating space and place for a residents to not only live, work and play is integral to the health and vitality of the community. Through efforts to strengthen tourism, community leadership, recreation areas, etc. citizens will become more in tune with their individual social capital and devote time to becoming a true citizen of the community. Pendleton County has few places for residents to “play”, though a multitude of opportunity exists for eco and agri tourism.
•Economic evaluation confirms that agritourism contributes substantially to the economic viability of farms and rural communities.
•Increase and in sustained locally owned businesses
•Small business enterprises and employment increases
•Small business and farm profitability increases
•Sustained farmer/grower cooperatives and organizations
•Revitalization of Main Street/Downtown
•Key community events intentionally have arts and artisans involved
•A critical mass of leadership/support exist for the arts
•The arts are seen as critical to community development and economic growth by key non-arts leaders
•The arts contribute to local and regional economic viability
•There is viable income for individual artisans
•Increase the number of employees
•Expand products or services
•Increase return customers, sales, and/or profit
•Reinvest in community (i.e. donate or support non-profits, volunteer, mentor new business owners)
•Products and services will be accessible to residents, especially those with limited resources (i.e. transportation)
•Recognize the social and economic benefits from a stronger local economy (i.e. support of youth program, increased property value or tax base)
•Small business development network forms and meets regularly
•Increased number of loans and grants administered to qualified small businesses and farmers
•Groups for arts advocacy and planning are established in communities
•Leadership focuses on collaborations and coalitions with other community groups
•Key community events include arts and artisans
•Arts activities and events are intentionally inclusive of all age and socio-cultural groups
•Informal arts activities are held in various venues
•Track the change in sales on days when local advertising includes or features products or services in your company
•Critique which featured product/service or promotion provided the greatest positive impact on customer traffic, sales, or profits
•Plan and employ a new marketing strategy
•Participate in local marketing campaign to maximize reach of marketing budget
•Increase (by one or more) local businesses where you purchase products or services from prior year
•Choose to continue shopping at a local business due to quality of service, value of services, prices or other
•Recommend a local business to others
Increase employability of residents
Workforce readiness increased
•Community has a better understanding of the obstacles to small business development
•Community/elected officials rapidly respond to red flags
•Small business owners and farmers better understand the market for their product
•Small businesses and farms feel more integrated into the community
•Elected officials better understand their role in relation to small business and farm development and expansion
•Basic understanding of community development through the arts
•Basic Community leadership capable of organizing a group of arts supporters
•Community members have a greater sense of place and community history
•Recognize the social, economic, and environmental benefits of strengthening local business
•Observe and review local marketing efforts
•Identify products or services offered that would attract new customers
•Identify local businesses
•Discover variety of products and services available locally
•Recognize the social, economic, and environmental benefits by shopping locally
•Motivated to consider local purchases before shopping outside of the county
•Identify products and services lacking in local community
Identify Soft skills training needed for employability
Intermediate Outcomes:
•Small business development network forms and meets regularly
•Increased number of loans and grants administered to qualified small businesses and farmers
•Groups for arts advocacy and planning are established in communities
•Leadership focuses on collaborations and coalitions with other community groups
•Key community events include arts and artisans
•Arts activities and events are intentionally inclusive of all age and socio-cultural groups
•Informal arts activities are held in various venues
•Increase the number of employees
•Expand products or services
•Increase return customers, sales, and/or profit
•Reinvest in community (i.e. donate or support non-profits, volunteer, mentor new business owners)
•Products and services will be accessible to residents, especially those with limited resources (i.e. transportation)
•Recognize the social and economic benefits from a stronger local economy (i.e. support of youth program, increased property value or tax base)
Indicator: Sustained main street business operations, brick and mortar artisan centers, increase in Chamber of Commerce membership, % change of sales, increase in tourists to area, number of local businesses, number of industry, decreased unemployment rate
Method: observation, shop like a local sales logs, business owners participating in activities, artisans participating in activities, youth participating in activities, reviewing data annually or as new data is released, pre and post surveys of program efforts, community feedback and visual witnessing
Timeline: Throughout the year
Intermediate Outcomes:
•Small business development network forms and meets regularly
•Increased number of loans and grants administered to qualified small businesses and farmers
•Groups for arts advocacy and planning are established in communities
•Leadership focuses on collaborations and coalitions with other community groups
•Key community events include arts and artisans
•Arts activities and events are intentionally inclusive of all age and socio-cultural groups
•Informal arts activities are held in various venues
•Track the change in sales on days when local advertising includes or features products or services in your company
•Critique which featured product/service or promotion provided the greatest positive impact on customer traffic, sales, or profits
•Plan and employ a new marketing strategy
•Participate in local marketing campaign to maximize reach of marketing budget
•Increase (by one or more) local businesses where you purchase products or services from prior year
•Choose to continue shopping at a local business due to quality of service, value of services, prices or other
•Recommend a local business to others
Indicator: Sustained main street business operations, brick and mortar artisan centers, increase in Chamber of Commerce membership, % change of sales, increase in tourists to area, number of local businesses, number of industry, decreased unemployment rate
Method: observation, shop like a local sales logs, business owners participating in activities, artisans participating in activities, youth participating in activities, reviewing data annually or as new data is released, pre and post surveys of program efforts, community feedback and visual witnessing
Timeline: Throughout the year
Initial Outcome:
•Community has a better understanding of the obstacles to small business development
•Community/elected officials rapidly respond to red flags
•Small business owners and farmers better understand the market for their product
•Small businesses and farms feel more integrated into the community
•Elected officials better understand their role in relation to small business and farm development and expansion
•Basic understanding of community development through the arts
•Basic Community leadership capable of organizing a group of arts supporters
•Community members have a greater sense of place and community history
•Recognize the social, economic, and environmental benefits of strengthening local business
•Observe and review local marketing efforts
•Identify products or services offered that would attract new customers
•Identify local businesses
•Discover variety of products and services available locally
•Recognize the social, economic, and environmental benefits by shopping locally
•Motivated to consider local purchases before shopping outside of the county
•Identify products and services lacking in local community
Indicator: Sustained main street business operations, brick and mortar artisan centers, increase in Chamber of Commerce membership, % change of sales, increase in tourists to area, number of local businesses, number of industry, decreased unemployment rate, increased sales, more local shoppers
Method: observation, shop like a local sales logs, business owners participating in activities, artisans participating in activities, youth participating in activities, reviewing data annually or as new data is released, pre and post surveys of program efforts, community feedback and visual witnessing
Timeline: Throughout the year
Audience: Consumers / Business Owners / Tourism Operations
Project or Activity: Small Business Support
Ewenique Art Walk - Sept. (FCS,ANR,4-H)
•Farmers Market – May – November (ANR)
•Agritourism/Ecotourism Workshops – February (ANR, FCS)
Content or Curriculum:
•CEDIK Community Profiles
•Grant Writing
•Business Plan Workshops
Inputs:
•Local Business Owners
•Billboard
•Social Media Platforms
•Yard Signs
•County Government
•Chamber of Commerce
•Tourism Council
•Fiscal Court
•UK Publications
•Community Organizations
•Public Services
•Community Action Council
Date: Listed by program
Audience: Artisans/Crafters
Project or Activity: Arts in the Community
•Winter Wonderland – November (FCS)
•Chamber of Commerce – Monthly (FCS)
•Farmers Market – All Year (ANR)
•Tourism Council – All Year (ANR, FCS)
•Creative Arts – Four a year (FCS)
•Project Days – April (4-H, ANR, FCS)
Craftsmanship Showcase - summer (ANR)
Content or Curriculum:
•CEDIK
Inputs:
•Local Business Owners
•Local Artisans
•Billboard
•Social Media Platforms
•County Government
•Chamber of Commerce
•Tourism Council
•Fiscal Court
•UK Publications
•Community Organizations
•Public Services
Date: listed above
Date: All year
Audience: Farmers / Young Farmers / New Farmers / Youth
Project or Activity: Agricultural Diversification Courses
•Hemp Field Day – June/July (ANR)
•Aquaculture: Shrimp Harvest – September (ANR)
•Bee Keeping Courses – All Year (ANR)
•Greenhouse/High Tunnel Field Day – September/October (ANR)
•Ag Reality- December (4-H, ANR)
Content or Curriculum:
•Hemp Production
•Aquaculture
Inputs:
•USDA Resources
•UK & KSU Extension Publications
•County Agents and Specialists
•Technology (drones, tablets, smart phones, apps, etc.)
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:
Audience: Adults, Farm / Land Owners
Project or Activity: Farm Planning
Content or Curriculum: UK resources and publications,
•Farm Taxes – January (ANR)
Farm consults - all year - (ANR)
Inputs:
•Extension Specialist
•Agents
•UK Publications
•Lawyers
•KSP
•County Officials
Date:
Audience: Farmers Market / Horticulture Producers (AG, FCS)
Activity: Develop an organization to allow participants a networking system to enhance production and profitability through various programs and activities.
•Farmers Market – All Year (ANR)
•Farmers Feast – August (ANR, FCS)
•GAP Training – March/April (ANR)
•Home-Based Processing Training – March/April (ANR, FCS)
•KY Proud – February/March (ANR)
•KY Plate it Up Sampling and Demos – All Year (ANR, FCS)
•flAG tours (Familiarizing Locals with Agriculture) – June (ANR)
•SR/WIC FMNP – March/April (ANR)
Ag Reality- December (4-H)
Content or Curriculum:
•GAP Training
•Home-Based Processing Training
•KY Proud
•KY Plate it Up
•KY Farmers Market Handbook
•SR/WIC FMNP, USDA Publications
•Extension Publications
Inputs:
•Leader, Extension and other UK Extension Specialists
•County Agricultural Board
•FSA
•local producers and general public
•Certified Volunteers
•KY Plate It UP
•KY Proud
•KDA
Date: All Year, Heavy in Production Season
Audience: Youth and Adults
Content or Curriculum: UK resources and publications,
Project or Activity: Workforce Readiness and soft skills trainings
Youth Soft skills workshops – Fall and Spring (FCS, ANR and 4-H)
Resume Writing and Interviews – Spring (FCS, ANR and 4-H)
4-H Communication Events – Spring (4-H)
Youth Leadership Development– school year – (FCS, ANR, 4-H)
Inputs
•Extension Specialist
•Agents
•UK Publications
•County Officials
County Schools
Author: Lindie Huffman
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership - ANR
In August 2024, the Pendleton County Beef Cattle Association (PCBCA) teamed up with the Pendleton County Cooperative Extension Service to launch a new community event that would not only showcase local beef but also foster stronger connections and support for the agricultural community. The idea for the inaugural Cattleman’s Ball was sparked by Lindie Huffman, Pendleton County Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent, but it was through the passion and commitment of PCBCA’s
