The City of Salyersville Mayor and the Magoffin County Judge Executive, along with several volunteers, have made a concerted effort in recent years to improve downtown Salyersville. Beautification, public art, and wayfaring signage within city limits have all resulted from this effort, but community leaders believed there were still some missing pieces to the progress puzzle. 

During a community development meeting with a volunteer and the mayor, the challenges to further improvement were addressed, subsequently leading to the ANR agent sharing information about "First Impressions," a service offered by the Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky (CEDIK). This program enlists anonymous individuals to visit communities and document their experiences and interactions with community members. 

The mayor was immediately sold on the idea of participating in the program, but wanted some time to source the necessary funding. While sharing the news of this potential partnership with the Extension District Board, the board members were excited about the opportunity and voted to pay for the service for the City of Salyersville, a long-time community partner. 

CEDIK's team members began the visits during the summer of 2019. Throughout the course of the year, six individuals researched the county and then visited, at different times, to explore the various small communities, parks, and businesses and provide a snapshot of their first impressions. They were asked to provide feedback on community entrances, livability, tourism, infrastructure, government and public services, arts and culture, as well as lodging, restaurants, and retail. 

The ANR Agent, Mayor of Salyersville, County Judge Executive, and a community volunteer met with Melissa Bond, CEDIK First Impressions Coordinator, in September (after the initial follow-up meeting was cancelled in April due to COVID-19) to review the final report. 

The report revealed many strengths of the county, and the group was both surprised and pleased to learn that first-time visitors were able to list so many positive aspects of their time in Magoffin County. However, they also offered suggestions and resources to address areas of possible improvement. For instance, it was noted by nearly every visitor that the county needs an online presence, many areas within city limits were in need of cleanup, and the city could gain some momentum with the help of cohesive and uniform signage for businesses and organizations.

Upon reviewing the final report, local leaders, along with the ANR Agent, began prioritizing action items to capitalize on the recommendations.