There’s a lot happening across Eastern Kentucky.
New partnerships are taking shape. Businesses are finding new opportunities. Communities are turning their assets into economic engines. And organizations are working together to tackle challenges that, not too long ago, seemed impossible to overcome.
Sometimes, we get so busy doing the work that we don’t take enough time to talk about it.
That’s part of what makes the 2026 SOAR Summit, presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission, so important.
On Thursday, we brought some of those stories together during our EKY In Motion Opening Plenary on the KCTCS Stage at the Corbin Arena.
And if there was one takeaway from the featured speakers, it was this:
Eastern Kentucky isn’t waiting for the future. We’re building it.
Tourism Is More Than Visitors. It’s Opportunity.
When people think about tourism in Eastern Kentucky, they often think about our mountains, lakes, trails, and small towns.
And they should. We’ve got some incredible places.
But tourism is also about jobs. Small businesses. Restaurants. Hotels. New investments. And giving people a reason to visit our communities, spend money, and come back again.
Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Lindy Casebier joined us to share an update on tourism across the Commonwealth and its importance to our economy.
Then we got a closer look at what tourism-driven economic development looks like in action.
Erik Hubbard, Executive Director of Backroads of Appalachia, shared how an idea built around motorsports and our region’s winding mountain roads has grown into something much bigger.
According to a 2025 economic impact study, Backroads of Appalachia generated nearly $70 million in spending across its Kentucky-focused study region, which includes communities in neighboring states.
Think about that for a moment.
We’re talking about visitors coming into communities, filling hotel rooms, eating at local restaurants, shopping at small businesses, and discovering places they might never have visited otherwise.
And there’s more coming.
From the Boone Forest Rally to the upcoming Ultra4 USA National Championship in Hazard and Perry County, motorsports tourism is creating opportunities that extend well beyond the finish line.
It’s a reminder that economic development doesn’t always start with recruiting a new company.
Sometimes, it starts with recognizing what’s already special about your community and finding a way to build on it.
A New Partnership. And a Bigger Opportunity.
One of the exciting announcements from the morning came from our friends at the University of Kentucky.
Dave Melanson, Executive Director for External Relations at UK, joined us to announce that SOAR is officially joining the university’s Advancing Kentucky Together (AKT) Network.
Now, SOAR and UK working together isn’t anything new.
In fact, UK HealthCare was our very first sponsor when SOAR was established, and the university has remained a valued partner ever since.
But this announcement takes that relationship a step further.
It’s about creating a more intentional way to connect the university’s resources, research, expertise, students, and alumni with the opportunities and challenges facing Eastern Kentucky.
And there are some tangible commitments behind it.
We’ll work together to introduce more UK alumni and students to EKY Remote, our initiative focused on attracting remote workers, entrepreneurs, and families to Eastern Kentucky.
We’ll convene at least two strategic meetings each year around issues that matter to our region, bringing together the right people to explore solutions.
We’ll also look for more ways to connect UK students and alumni with Eastern Kentucky through internships, career opportunities, entrepreneurship, research, and community engagement.
And perhaps most importantly, we’ll connect the university’s expertise with the local leaders, businesses, and organizations already doing the work across our 54-county region.
That’s where the real opportunity is.
Not another partnership that looks good on paper.
A partnership that helps us solve problems, create opportunities, and measure results.
Better Healthcare. Closer to Home.
Access to healthcare is one of those issues that touches just about every community in Eastern Kentucky.
And it’s not always as simple as building another facility or adding another service.
Sometimes, it’s about bringing care directly to people. Other times, it’s about using technology to remove barriers.
We heard examples of both.
Danielle Harmon of Appalachian Regional Healthcare shared how a $625,000 Appalachian Regional Commission ARISE planning grant is helping bring together 15 partners across four states through the Healthier Central Appalachia Task Force.
The work is already producing measurable outcomes, including more than 3,500 free health screenings, more than 1,100 patients served, and 115 events.
These aren’t just numbers.
They’re people getting access to screenings, education, and resources that can help them live healthier lives.
And then there’s the role technology can play.
Tony Damron, Executive Vice President and Chief Information and Digital Officer at Pikeville Medical Center, shared how the hospital is using artificial intelligence and digital tools to improve patient care.
Think about how much time healthcare providers spend documenting visits, managing information, and handling administrative tasks.
Now imagine technology helping with those responsibilities so providers can spend more time focused on patients.
Or imagine a patient being able to better understand lab results and medical information through tools connected to MyChart.
That’s the kind of innovation Pikeville Medical Center is exploring.
And in a rural region where distance can be a barrier to care, those advancements matter.
The goal isn’t to replace the human connection in healthcare.
It’s to make that connection stronger.
Innovation Doesn’t Have to Happen Somewhere Else.
For too long, there’s been a perception that cutting-edge technology and advanced manufacturing happen in other places.
Big cities. Technology corridors. Places far away from the mountains of Eastern Kentucky.
But that’s not the whole story.
Robert Schena, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of Rajant Corporation, was part of our morning conversation about innovation and the opportunities emerging in our region.
Rajant’s work in advanced wireless technology and its presence in Morehead demonstrate that Eastern Kentucky can be part of industries shaping the future.
And that’s important.
Because building a stronger economy isn’t just about the jobs we have today.
It’s about creating pathways into the jobs, industries, and opportunities of tomorrow.
The Best Part? These Stories Are Happening Here.
Here’s what stood out about the day.
These weren’t simply ideas about what Eastern Kentucky could become.
They were examples of what people are already doing.
Tourism is generating economic activity. Healthcare organizations are reaching more people. Technology is helping improve access to care. Universities are committing resources to regional priorities. And businesses are demonstrating that innovation has a home in Eastern Kentucky.
Different industries. Different organizations. Different approaches.
But there’s a common thread.
People are finding ways to work together and get things done.
That’s what SOAR was created to do. Bring people together, connect resources, strengthen partnerships, and help turn good ideas into meaningful outcomes.
And that’s what this year’s Summit is all about. That’s how we keep Building Eastern Kentucky. Together.