Okay, so we don’t have any juicy gossip to share with you, but what we DO have are several announcements of what’s happening in our Appalachian Mountains! All of them are worthy of sharing and not to miss.
Let’s get started!
*However, if you are looking for someone who loves gossip, you can scroll all the way down to hear what Apollo 🐈 has to say.
Invest 606 Application is Open!
Applications for Invest 606 opened up on Thursday, August 24th.
Haven’t heard of Invest 606 or what it is, here is some info about it: Invest 606’s mission is to help business growth in the 606 area by connecting entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed today and grow tomorrow.
To be a part of Invest 606, you just need to be a business or nonprofit based in the 606-area code. They are always looking to support entrepreneurs with growing organizations aligned with the strengths of Appalachian Kentucky.
Invest 606 offers a $15,000 Grand Prize, $8,000 2nd Prize, and $4,000 3rd Prize.
Every participant also receives $1,000 cash prize and thousands of dollars in marketing and accounting support.
So far, the program has helped support 41 businesses from 20 Eastern Kentucky counties.
If you fit any of the criteria I shared above, make sure to apply!
Several of our own innovation team clients have participated in Invest 606:
- Coal Country Candles
- Bluegrass Crickets
- Annie’s Frugal Finery
See how our Innovation Team can help support you while you compete in the Invest 606 program! Click HERE to learn more.
You can find the application HERE.
You can learn more about the Invest 606 program HERE.
Second Annual Leadership Summit
Big Sandy Community & Technical College Workforce Solutions is hosting their 2nd Annual Leadership Summit.
Through a combination of speakers, interactive breakouts, and networking, you will get tol discover root causes, explore possible solutions, and be ready to implement action to excite your teams.
You will get to hear from some amazing speakers:
- Dr. Kinga Mnich
- Jordyne Carmack
- Alex Demczak
- Casey Lequire
The date of the summit is Wednesday, September 6 and will be happening at the Mountain Arts Center.
Registration is FREE and you can register to attend HERE.
Patton Leadership Institute is Accepting Applications for its Program
Are you ready to unlock your full leadership potential?
Patton Leadership Institute is not just a program; it’s a transformative experience. If you’re looking to grow as a leader, develop valuable skills, and make a positive impact in your community, this is your chance!
Named in honor of the leadership that Kentucky Governor Paul and Judi Patton have exhibited throughout their careers. Patton Leadership Institute (PLI) is a regional leadership development program that covers eight eastern Kentucky counties.
PLI builds cohorts of emerging leaders from throughout the region, who have assumed leadership roles in their communities but may not hold established positions.
Participants in the program attend a two-day opening retreat and eight day-long sessions. The curriculum weaves together topics crucial to the development of community such as education, economic development, health care, energy, tourism, and government. Key leadership skills are integrated into each session.
The deadline to apply for the Patton Leadership Institute is September 15 and you can find the application HERE.
Job Opportunity in Perry Country
The Perry County Extension Staff Assistant position has been posted on the UKY jobs site.
As an Extension Staff Assistant, you will be responsible for providing administrative support to the Extension office. General duties include office management, customer service, record keeping and newsletters, and program support.
You can learn more and apply for the position HERE.
The deadline to apply is September 7, 2023
Job Opportunity with Solar Company
Laborers, Operators, Installers, and Electricians, you can join Martin County Solar Project’s first Job Fair.
The Job fair is September 7th from 11 am – 7 pm
You can learn more information HERE.
Eastern Kentucky startup becoming key player in global gaming world
One of SOAR’s Startup Appalachian Pitch Competition finalist winner made headlines this week!
Founders are used to working under adverse conditions, but Payton Keathley’s situation is a bit out of the ordinary.
Keathley is running his startup, Xiled Inc., out of a hospital room in Lexington, Kentucky, while he recovers from having a portion of his right leg amputated from above the knee on July 10.
In spite of all of this, Keathley continues with his daily operations, as he expands the initial platform (ClanHub) and looks to launch two more in the not-so-distant future.
Nearly 13 years to the day before his fall, Keathley had started the Xiled Gaming Network, a clan (a term for any organized group of gamers) of approximately 3,000 members located all over the world. Since its start in 2010, Keathly was able to leverage VIP memberships and sponsorships to be able to send members of his clan to competitions all over the globe.
In the spring of 2022, Keathley launched Xiled’s first big venture, ClanHub, which now has approximately 75,000 users. Through the platform, users can join clans, communicate with other community members through posts, compete against other clans and create tournaments, among other abilities.
You can read more about Keathley’s success story HERE.
Levisa Fork Paddlefest is back in Prestonsburg & Paintsville
Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Or the next several weekends?
Join the Levisa Fork Paddlefest folk for a fun-filled float from Prestonsburg to Paintsville.
Tickets are $15 and include shuttle service and lunch!
Paddlefest is held every 4th Saturday of the month, May-September.
Registration opens at Combs Airport beginning at 8am with boats launching from River Park at 9am
Reminder, it’s no problem if you don’t own your own watercraft. Rentals are available through Pro-Fitness Multisports, Inc. Contact prior to Paddlefest to book.
You can learn more on their Facebook event page HERE.
Help Eastern Kentucky flood victim
It’s not too late to purchase your t-shirt or hoodie from ARH’s Resilience line of apparel designed in partnership with New Frontier.
Every item is printed right here in Appalachia!
100% of net proceeds from all sales benefit Eastern Kentucky flood victims.
You can buy a Resilience item HERE.
Silent Auction for the Country Music Highway
We’re proud to launch the Country Music Highway Tribute Show Silent Auction.
The online auction has a variety of items and more are expected to be added in the coming days and weeks.
The auction will end on August 31. Proceeds will benefit the arts along the Country Music Highway.
The auction has a variety of items, ranging from autographed memorabilia and other fan favorites donated by the stars of the Highway and performing arts venues.
We are adding items every day. Some of the items online now include:
- Autographed Dwight Yoakum Fender Guitar
- Autographed Trace Adkins Fender Guitar
- Autographed Travis Tritt Fender Guitar
- Three Vince Gill gift sets (including autographed items)
- Ricky Skaggs gift set
- Alex Miller gift set
There are other items, such as Cincinnati Reds and Dollywood tickets. We’ll be adding more items throughout August, so be sure to visit the site often.
SOAR Summit Exhibit & Early Registration!
This next announcement is perhaps one that has been highly anticipated … our SOAR Summit!
We will be back in Corbin this fall, October 3-4 at the Corbin Arena.
Exhibit Hall Registration
Registration for the 2023 SOAR Summit Exhibit Hall is open! The Summit, Appalachia’s premier event, is presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
The application is open through September 7.
Early Bird Registration
Early Bird registration is now open through August 31. It is $55 and all-inclusive, including:
- Two days of programming.
- Breakfast and lunch each day.
- Access to the Exhibit Hall.
- The SOAR Summit Reception, presented by Whitaker Bank, on October 3 in downtown Corbin.
After August 31, registration will be $75.
Pre-Summit Programming
There will also be optional Pre-Summit programming on Monday, October 2. This includes:
- Community and Regional Disaster Preparedness Workshop, presented by the Kentucky League of Cities.
- A SOAR Summit Opening Reception at the Cumberland Mint.
Want to Submit to our Roundup?
Well, that is going to do it for this week’s Weekly Roundup.
Know of a program that needs applicants from our region?
Do you know of a grant opportunity that one of our Eastern Kentucky non-profits could benefit from?
or just have good news from your town?
Email us at: roundup@soar-ky.org
Future events to add to your calendar:
August
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Harlan Burger Week, August 21-17
Don’t forget to pick up your Burger Week Passport at the Harlan Center this week!
From August 21st-27th, participating restaurants throughout the City of Harlan will be featuring a burger for Burger Week. You will fill out the restaurants name on the passport and the restaurant will use their burger week stamp to show you have tried their featured burger. You will only receive a stamp if you purchase the featured burger. If you try 5 of the participating restaurants and bring your passport back to the Harlan Center, you can trade it in for a free T-Shirt! You must bring your passport back by August 30th to get a tee.
During Burger Week, we will also have a link available for you to VOTE on your favorite Burger and the restaurant will be awarded CHAMPION of Burger Week 2023 and receive a CHEESY trophy!
You can learn more HERE.
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Pathways Ribbon Cutting & Open House, Aug 31
Pathways will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Thursday, August 31 from 5 – 6 pm.
Address: 330 25th Street, Ashland, KY, 41101
The ribbon cutting and open house will be followed by a balloon release in honor of National Overdose Awareness Day.
Make sure to RSVP using the QR code on this flyer.
September
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2nd Annual Gitt Recovery Celebration, London, Sept. 7
Live music, food, games, vendors, resource tables, and a lantern lighting ceremony to celebrate all who are in recovery. You are not going to want to miss supporting this heartfelt event!
You can find a flyer for the event HERE.
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Appalachian Regional Commission Annual Conference, Ashland, Sept. 11-12
Save the date for the annual ARC Conference, “Appalachia Rises©: Resilience, Strength & Transformation“!
October
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SOAR Pre-Summit, Monday, Oct. 2
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SOAR Summit, Tuesday – Wednesday, Oct 3-4
You can learn more about these events HERE.
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Ally Fest, Oct. 6 & 7
Ally Fest will be returning in downtown Prestonsburg on October 6 & 7 with two major headlining artists!
Brought to you by, Paintsville Tourism, AOM Booking & Management, and Alley on Main.
Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder will be playing Friday night and Billy Ray Cyrus and FIREROSE will be playing Saturday.
Want to know the best part?? ITS FREE!!!
Keep an eye out for the rest of the festival and the Official Alley Fest 2023 poster!
You can learn more information HERE.
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Ashland hosts the 8th annual Firkin Fest, Oct. 14, Saturday
Beer Heaven Awaits!
Hold on to your beer mugs as Ashland unlock the gates to craft beer paradise!
Prepare to embark on a journey through the wild and wonderful world of craft beer brewing, with hundreds of distinctive craft beers ready to dazzle your taste buds.
There will also be food trucks available!
You can learn more about the event HERE.
November
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Brushy Forks Leadership Summit, Nov. 2 & 3
Brushy Fork Institute is excited to invite everyone to attend their 2023 Brushy Fork Leadership Summit: Leading Through Resilience: Imagining the Future, in Berea, Kentucky, on November 2 and 3. The two-day gathering will feature intensive workshop tracks, taught by regional leaders and will have prime content for non-profit development! Attendees choose one intensive, eight-hour track to attend over two days, plus full group keynote and other sessions.
Apollo’s Corner 🐈
I will be honest … I act like I don’t care or mind that my mom hasn’t been home for the last 10 days … but I low-key kinda miss her. I noticed that the incorrect wet food was placed in my feeding spot today – a disgrace, honestly. Who did that? It must have been that silly man who claims to be my father, unbelievable.
Can someone please contact my mom and ask her when she will be back? I need the right food.