There’s no debate. Access to affordable and reliable connectivity across Eastern Kentucky is our biggest challenge.
It’s also our biggest opportunity.
These efforts start in communities — and with members of such communities. Preparing for these efforts requires capacity building. It’s more than strategic planning and thinking; it’s strategic doing.
The Center for Rural Development has a Mini Grant program — commonly referred to as Flex-E-Grant — that’s a great place to start.
The grant is open to local governments and nonprofits in 35 Appalachia Kentucky counties for both capacity building and implementation. The grants are funded through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the Kentucky Department for Local Government (DLG).
During the COVID-19 pandemic, connectivity was a necessity, and those without it struggled.
Remote work became more common.
Seeing your doctor came with a click instead of a commute. Education transitioned to virtual classrooms.
We’re committed to Eastern Kentucky being on the right side of the digital divide. That starts with planning your work and working your plan.
We’ve created a free Remote Work Playbook for communities to do just that — build the capacity within communities to be connected. Inside this resource, you’ll learn:
- How to invest in and retain your existing workforce with remote work
- Who needs to be involved in broadband expansion and why
- How to make public-private partnerships work for everyone involved
- Steps you can take today to fund broadband in your community
- How to attract a modern workforce from outside Eastern Kentucky
The 2022 Flex-E-Grant is competitive.
The maximum award is $10,000 and requires a 20 percent match of total project costs. Grants must be completed within six months of the award.
Who’s eligible to apply for the Flex-E-Grant
The Center for Rural Development serves 45 of the 54 Appalachian counties in Kentucky. Counties that are eligible for the Flex-E-Grant must be categorized as distressed by the ARC for fiscal year 2021.
Eligible Kentucky counties include: Adair, Bath, Bell, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Elliott, Estill, Floyd, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lincoln, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Wayne, Whitley, and Wolfe counties.
Grant applications must be submitted by 3 p.m. Friday, February 25 and sent via email to arc@centertech.com.
A virtual workshop on the Flex-E-Grant will be held on January 27 at 10 a.m. To register, click here.
If you have questions or want to learn more, contact Patti Simpson at psimpson@centertech.com or call 606-677-6000.