In 2025, Blueprint Kentucky’s economic development training program equipped local Extension agents with essential tools to foster growth and innovation in Kentucky communities. One notable success story comes from an Extension agent in Lexington, Kentucky, who attended all four of Blueprint’s training sessions: State Incentives for New & Expanding Businesses, A Train-the-Trainer Guide to Supporting Citizen Engagement, What is Economic Development, and Economic Development Support Tools. These sessions provided both the foundational knowledge and practical resources necessary for agents to become catalysts of positive change in their communities.

After attending these sessions, this agent was inspired by the content and the potential to make a tangible impact on local businesses. She felt particularly empowered by the State Incentives for New & Expanding Businesses session, which detailed available state resources and incentives for business growth. The knowledge gained about financial support mechanisms and local business needs motivated her to take immediate action. She reached out to Blueprint Kentucky, requesting support to host her own training focused on helping Lexington’s businesses navigate and leverage these state incentives.

Blueprint Kentucky collaborated with the agent to design a tailored training for Lexington’s business community. This event was designed to bring together local business owners and entrepreneurs, providing them with a deeper understanding of available resources, including tax incentives, grants, and workforce development support.

The agent’s initiative sparked new partnerships with two local organizations: Commerce Lexington, Lexington’s economic development organization, and Kentucky SBDC office. These partnerships were born out of collaborative efforts during the training planning. This extension of her network not only enhanced the agent’s work but also laid the groundwork for future collaboration and resource-sharing within the business community.

Moving forward, she plans to host additional trainings in partnership with Commerce Lexington and SBDC to continue empowering local businesses and strengthening the community’s economic vitality.