Author: Luke Ramsay
Major Program: Economic Development
Kentucky’s history is rich with entrepreneurial spirit. From extraction and mining, to app development and healthcare, Kentucky has never lacked for people with innovative ideas and passions. Unfortunately, corners of the state have struggled to find their footing as economies and demographics have shifted. Building a business that is both scaleable as well as committed to the commonwealth is a challenge. Resources have become centere
Author: David Hull
Beginning last year, the Gallatin County Extension Council partnered with the City of Warsaw, Gallatin County Tourism, and several agencies to plan and coordinate the Gallatin County Spring Peony Festival.The festival was held in downtown Warsaw; the City of Warsaw actually closed a city street next to the Courthouse in order to expand the festival area.Festival attendance is hard to figure, but local law enforcement estimated the crowd at its peak at over 600.The 30+ vendors at the festival wer
In 2014, the Hartig Family offered, free of charge, over 530 acres of land to Gallatin County with the conditions that the land would never be sold or developed for housing or commercial use. In other words, they wanted it to stay a green-space.The county accepted the gift, but really had no clear idea of how to best utilize the gift. The Judge Executive of Gallatin County approached the Gallatin County Extension Service (Ag Agent) and asked that we take a leadership role in defining how the par
Author: Ronald Hustedde
Almost 15% of rural Americans have a permanent or temporary disability. One of out of every 4 veterans is disabled. While entrepreneurship is on the rise, there is relatively scant research about the opportunities for people with disabilities in rural areas to become civic or business entrepreneurs. Ron Hustedde, an Extension specialist, conducted research in this area and published a chapter in the 2018 book, Disability and Vocational Rehabilitation in Rural Sett
Entrepreneurship is becoming a more pronounced aspect of rural economic development. More than 25% of rural residents own a business that serve a variety of local and external needs. These businesses may involve a single proprietor that provides supplemental income for families or they may employ several hundred people. Youth must be prepared to explore innovative approaches to business. Extension groomed over 100 teen entrepreneurs through several intensive week-l
Author: Gregory Drake
Butler county leadership continues to identify entrepreneurship and economic development as important areas for cooperative extension service programming. Greg Drake II and Butler County’s Entrepreneurial Coaching team continue to support entrepreneurship. The county entrepreneurial coaching team has now coached twenty eight businesses. The coaches use materials developed by UK extension specialist and agents to assist potential business owners. The entrepreneurial
Author: Tiffany Calvert
Over 89% of Ohio County businesses are classified as microenterprise businesses. In 2015, there were 44% more new startups in Ohio County, an increase from 186 new startups in 2014. Farmer’s markets can be a starting point for retail businesses by offering an opportunity to test, market, and improve products to meet customer preferences, build a customer base, practice sales skills, with the goal of becoming a sustainable business. Extension plays an active role in providing Beaver Da
Author: Sarah Congleton
According to KY Health Facts, 45% of the adult population lack physical activity and 49% of adults are obese compared to Kentucky as a whole at 30%. Martin County has several public parks, but none of which provide restroom access. Without having restroom access, it is recognized that adults and children are not likely to spend as much time at a park as if there were access to a restroom.Martin County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences program collaborated with the Center for Disease Control
Author: Audrey Myers
In our community of Campbellsville we have a number of very talented artists, makers & musicians. We also want to grow our farmers market to promote local foods and farmers throughout our county and central Kentucky. As a Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, one of my tasks is to provide programs that improve community and economic development. The FCS Extension Agent collaborated with the Campbellsville Main Street Association to bring a new market to Campbellsville called Court & Main M
Author: Amy Branstetter
The second annual Metcalfe County Hay and Straw Auction was held on Saturday January 27th 2018 at the Metcalfe County Fairgrounds. This year Barren, Metcalfe, and Monroe Counties partnered to make the sale a tri-county event. This was an opportunity to keep money in the local economy by making excess hay available to those needing feed for the remainder of the winter. The Metcalfe County Fairboard was also able to raise operating money from the sale commission. Twenty seven lots of ha
Author: Keith Hackworth
Directed by the needs’ assessment from our County Extension Council, Extension has been involved in the promotion and planning of community development and tourism events. It is of great importance to the county to bring in tourism dollars. These funds will flow throughout the community and make a larger economic impact. Extension has been working with the leadership of the Big Sandy Trail Riders Club in the planning, promotion, and conducting of their German Bridge Horse Trail Rides for s
Author: Judith Hetterman
Owen County is blessed with a landscape that provides for beautiful scenery along with some recreational infrastrurture in place such as golf courses, resorts, hunt clubs and winery, and wildlife preserves. A number of artists and craftsmen call the county home.Kentucky's tourism industry generated $14.5 billion in economic impact during 2016, up more than 5% from the previous year. Commissioner Kristen Branscum stated that tourism is "a vital economic driver" for the state..  
Author: T. Adam Probst
For two days in December, the Franklin & Woodford County CES hosted a Dutch film crew producing a documentary on the bourbon Industry in Central Kentucky, the Hertog Jan documentary . The eight member crew worked with a Frankfort production company, Joanna Hay Productions, which in turn contacted the ANR agents to site locations, make contacts and handle logistics. The production crew stayed in Frankfort for seven days shooting the 5-6, ten minute segments that will air on Dutch TV for a sho
Author: Keenan Bishop
For two days in December, the Franklin & Woodford County CES hosted a Dutch film crew producing a documentary on the bourbon Industry in Central Kentucky, the Hertog Jan documentary . The eight member crew worked with a Frankfort production company, Joanna Hay Productions, which in turn contacted the ANR agents to site locations, make contacts and handle logistics. The production crew stayed in Frankfort for seven days shooting the 5-6, ten minute segments that will air on Dutch TV for
Author: Nick Roy
In Adair County Small businesses with less than 20 employees constitute 48.1% of all Businesses in Adair County. (CEDIK) In September of 2017, the Adair County Cooperative Extension Service collaborated with the Kentucky Center of Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) and the Mountain Association of Community Economic Development (MACED) to host a series of small business workshops aimed at providing education and resources to assist small businesses.A series of three workshops were held dis
Author: Stephanie Richards
Last year, Pike County Extension Fine Arts organized the first Elkhorn City Night Market. The market serves the rural Pike County community with a population of 852. One of the goals of Pike County Extension Fine Arts is community building through the arts. The night market is an ideal medium for achieving this. Featuring local artisans, food vendors, small businesses, and musicians, the market allows people to mingle, shop, and support their local economy in an inn
