Educating Kentucky’s youth on economically viable job opportunities in their own communities is key to investing in the future of the Commonwealth. Local workforce opportunities and educating youth on those opportunities increases the social and human capital of a community, as laid out in the Community Capitals framework. Building those capitals increases capacity and thus leads to progress and both individual and communal success within our communities.

CREATE BRIDGES was formed in 2018 as states recognized that the jobs rural southern communities previously relied on were disappearing and that service sector jobs such as retail, accommodations, tourism, and entertainment (CREATE sectors) were increasingly becoming the economic backbone of rural communities. According to the Small Business Administration there are over 52,000 small businesses in the CREATE (Retail, Tourism, Accommodations, and Entertainment) sector within Kentucky. Oklahoma State University, the University of Arkansas, and the University of Kentucky, partnered with the Southern Rural Development Center through funding provided by Walmart to strengthen the service sectors. The Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC) had previously piloted the Stronger Economies Together (SET) initiative, which was a rural, multi-county approach to economic development. SET was used as a guideline for developing the CREATE BRIDGES process. 

Partnerships in Kentucky, developed through CREATE BRIDGES, with the Kentucky Retail Institute and the Kentucky Department Education’s Office of Career and Technical Education identified a gap for Kentucky youth and which led to the development of Retail Next Gen, a student leadership conference for youth considering careers in retail in Kentucky. The 2023 Community Needs Assessment data identified both “Youth life skills training opportunities” and “Strengthening youth workforce readiness” as top 15 Priority issues. This conference aimed to reach both of those needs and provide youth with opportunities to connect with potential employers. 

The conference was hosted in Elizabethtown in November of 2023 with CEDIK Senior Extension Associate, Mercedes Fraser, as keynote speaker. Fraser also served as CREATE BRIDGES project coordinator and used data and methods from the CREATE BRIDGES process to lead students through a “Speed Round Shark Tank” where students used CEDIK tool SizeUp to look at CREATE sector data (location, competition, and other small business intelligence) to develop and present a business plan. Over 100 students from 20 counties participated. Some students traveled as far as Pike County to experience the conference.

Connections made at Retail Next Gen led to partnerships with other Career and Technical Education organizations such as Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), both student organizations with focuses on youth development. Fraser participated in both FBLA and FCCLA State Conferences and learned many student attendees were also small business owners. A FCCLA conference attendee also served as the Youth Representative on her local Chamber of Commerce, and took back some of the tools and research provided by CEDIK at the conference to her community.

Fraser began partnering with other CTE organizations such as Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) leading 2 sessions at the state conference with over 200 students participating and collaborating with Future Business Leaders of America at regional conferences across the state. 

CEDIK continues to meet needs involving youth and workforce development. In 2024 the CREATE BRIDGES curriculum was published by the Southern Rural Development Center and 2 KERS trainings were held to educate Extension staff on the curriculum and its practical uses for Extension.