Extension
It Starts With Us
Enhancing Business Profitability
Promoting Community Economic Development
Janet H. Johnson, Steve Osborne
Business Retention and Expansion
Community Strategic Planning
Agritourism Planning
Economic Development
The Allen county economic climate continues to face critical challenges with an increased emphasis on small business development and entrepreneurship. J. M. Smucker LLC, Dollar General, Halton and Sumitomo continue to add jobs, but face issues with an unskilled labor pool. 74.0% of residents aged 25 or older have a high school diploma but only 10.9% having a bachelor’s degree.
Allen County's 2014 unemployment rate stands at 6.5%, compared with the KY rate of 5.9%. Entrepreneurship and self-employment businesses account for 81% of all businesses in Allen County with the employment in these businesses increasing from 35% of jobs to 39% from 2001 to 2011. Small businesses with less than 20 employees constitute 96% of all businesses and employ 23% of all employees in Allen County. Farm income continues to diversify, with 89% of farms having sales of less than $50,000. Allen County had a 20% loss in total jobs during 2002-2012. The loss of industry jobs, higher ‘breadwinner’ wages, benefit packages, and decreasing farm income - coupled with the instability of new start-up businesses, and higher living costs - all threaten the county’s tax base foundation and overall family economic security.
* *Entrepreneurship & small business profitability will increase due to Main Street Program, Chamber of Commerce and other economic development partnership initiatives.
* Dugas Community Park Phase One & Farmer's Market complex will be completed in phases to provide access to local foods and attractive enticement for relocating or newly established businesses.
*City of Scottsville, County of Allen, local foundations, Heart of Scottsville, and local businesses practice funding support for economic development initiatives
*Chamber of Commerce, agritourism enterprises, regional leadership networks, Heart of Scottsville, city/county government implement tourism and community marketing initiatives to increase visitor and customer traffic for potential sales
* Dugas Park Development Committees will initiate campaigns to build community support and acquire necessary funding for Dugas Community Park local foods access projects.
* City of Scottsville and Heart of Scottsville Steering Committee will increase knowledge of processes necessary for entrepreneurial development.
* Clientele, Business, Park and Historic Development Committees will increase awareness of local foods system & economic gardening opportunities.
*Clientele, Chamber of Commerce and governmental entities will increase knowledge for tourism development opportunities
Initial Outcome: Number of individuals increasing knowledge of entrepreneurship opportunities related to economic gardening and downtown business
Indicator: farmer's market conferences, Downtown Business Workshops; Entrepreneurship Coaches conferences
Method: focus group studies, workshop surveys; coaching activities completed
Timeline: July, 2017-June, 2018
Intermediate Outcome: Heart of Scottsville, Chamber tourism/community marketing
partnership initiatives implemented to increase customer traffic, event participants
Indicator: event sales, profits; increased promotional venues,
Method: small business survey, traffic counts, social media responses
Timeline: July 2016-June, 2018
Long-term Outcome: Heart of Scottsville program’s ongoing sustainability to enhance small business potential and profitability
Indicator: Increased local funding sources, Increased community visitor counts, customer traffic, increased sales, new businesses opened
Method: government & business funding, business surveys, small business records, Chamber ribbon-cuttings
Timeline: July 2016 - June, 2019
Audience: Agritourism Enterprise Owners
Activity: Cave Region Agritourism marketing education/State Agritourism Association Advisory Council
Content or Curriculum: Development and implementation of state & regional agritourism mass media, social media marketing education; coordination with regional/state marketing initiatives, marketing workshops, brochure enhancements.
Inputs: volunteer resources, agency funding, marketing education resources
Date: July 2017 – June 2018
Audience: Small Business Owners, Chamber of Commerce, Heart of Scottsville, city/county government, Army Corp of Engineers, Barren River State Park
Activity: Community Tourism marketing campaign promotions
Content or Curriculum: County tourism campaign elements, State Tourism matching funds incentive program; Main Street promotional campaign; State Fair Pride of Counties marketing event, Friends or Barren River educational programs
Inputs: federal & state agency funding, city/county government funding, support resources, business resources, foundation funding
Date: July 2017 – June 2018
Audience: Community Chamber of Commerce, Heart of Scottsville, city/county government, arts organizations, retail businesses
Content or Curriculum: small business skill curriculum; marketing resources
Activity: Seasonal Downtown Festivals & Events – Jacksonian Days, summer Farmer's Market events; Invasion of the Scarecrows, winter Festival, Farm to Table local foods events ; Barren River Lake environmental education and tourism events
Inputs: regional tourism marketing resources, local funding, Barren River Lake Corps & State Park resources
Date: July – 2017 – June 2018
Audience: High School Youth
Activity: American Private Enterprise, Kentucky Youth Seminar, National Institute of Cooperative Education
Content or Curriculum: APES Curriculum
Inputs: Staff, Volunteers, School System
Date: July-June
Audience:8th grade youth
Activity:4-H Reality Store
Content or Curriculum:Reality Store Curriculum
Inputs: Staff, Volunteers, School System
Date: March
