Whitley County CES

Title:

Encourage Vibrant Communities and support Economic Development

MAP:

Promote Community and Economic Development

Agents Involved:

Dengel, Robinson, Moses, Coffey, Daniels

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Business Retention and Expansion

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Local Food System Development and Mapping

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

First Impressions

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Financial & Marketing Literacy for Artisans

Situation:

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.

Long-Term Outcomes:

-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

Intermediate Outcomes:

-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.

Initial Outcomes:

-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.

Evaluation:

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

Learning Opportunities:

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 Club
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
Date: October, April

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
Project or Activity: Jazz Night
Content or Curriculum: University of the Cumberlands Professors, Students
Input: Fine Arts Agent, Professors, Volunteers
Date: September-May

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

Success Stories