Eastern Kentucky does NOT disappoint and we have so much to be proud of, take a quick read to see what our region is capable of, greatness.
Pikeville Medical Center Receives 2022 Press Ganey Human Experience Guardian of Excellence Award®
An Eastern Kentucky hospital is changing the course of medical care.
Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) has been named a 2022 Human Experience (HX) Guardian of Excellence Award® winner by Press Ganey, the global leader in healthcare experience solutions and services.
This award is based on patient reviews and is part of Press Ganey’s annual ranking of the country’s top hospitals and health systems.
Being named as a winner of the Press Ganey HX Guardian of Excellence Award® signifies that PMC is in the top 5% of healthcare providers in delivering patient experience in the last year.
Congratulations PMC!
You can read more about the award HERE.
Show your support on social media!
Searching for a new career?
You can earn a Farming Now Workforce Certificate from Maysville Community & Technical College and a chance to step into a career in AgTech with AppHarvest.
There are upcoming training available in Rowan, Menifee, and Fleming counties.
Classroom training includes training on AgTech, and hydroponic growing, and includes guest speakers from AppHarvest.
Be quick, the first meeting is planned for January 28!
You can apply HERE.
Applications being accepted for the Governor’s School of Entrepreneurs 2023 Summer Program
If you’re a Kentucky teen wanting to focus on product innovation and business model designing, the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) is currently accepting applications for its Summer 2023 program!
The summer program is a three-week residential experience at Northern Kentucky University designed for students in grades 9-11.
The program will take place in two separate sessions: June 11 – July 1, and July 9 – July 29.
Applications are due by Jan. 23, 2023, and selections will be announced in April.
GSE students can earn scholarships to Kentucky colleges and universities, high school class credits, and access to business start-up tools.
There is no cost to participate.
During the session, students tour businesses and learn from successful and active entrepreneurs. They create business materials and prototypes, and confidently deliver sophisticated pitches by the end of the program.
You can apply HERE for the program.
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Programs
ARC hosts several academies and institutes for students and adults in STEM education, entrepreneurship development, applied research, and community leadership. Through these experiential learning opportunities, participants build networks, hone skills, and cultivate an enduring commitment to Appalachia’s future.
Several of the programs include:
- Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative for college students
- Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy for high school students
- Appalachian Leadership Initiative for adults who are passionate about helping their communities
- Appalachian STEM Academy for middle and high school students and teachers involved in STEM
You can find more information about the programs and their application deadlines HERE.
Learn to Code through <Code> Kentucky
Are you interested in a tech career? You can do so with Code Kentucky, where you can learn to code for FREE.
You will gain the following skills:
- Get skills to begin your career in tech
- Join a community of tech professionals and students
- Multiple free classes
- Training offers great benefits
Apply online HERE.
Entrepreneurship Opportunity for Veterans
Veterans wanting to open their own business, take a quick read!
Small Business Administration is now accepting applications for the Veteran Small Business Certification program.
Through #VetCert, certified #veteranowned small businesses are eligible to compete for sole-source and set-aside contracts at the Department of Veteran Affairs, while certified service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses can compete for sole-source and set-aside contracts government-wide.
You can learn more about the program HERE.
Big Sandy Community & Technical College (BSCTC) gets mentioned in national news
American Association of Community Colleges mentioned BCTC’s success in their mapped-out plan that helped launch a new degree and three National Science Foundation grants totaling $600,000 for new cybersecurity programs.
Read their success story HERE!
Foundation for Appalachia Kentucky 2022 Annual Report
The Foundation for Appalachia Kentucky posted its 2022 annual report, showcasing its hard and diligent work to Eastern Kentucky.
From flood relief efforts to grants awarded, Foundation for Appalachia Kentucky continues to show their hard-working efforts to help their communities in need.
You can see the report HERE.
Daniel Boone National Forest is looking for Forest Service Interns
Are you a college student with an interest in studying physical and social sciences? natural resources? engineering? or administration?
Park rangers at the Daniel Boone National Forest are looking for interns this Summer. The internship is paid and a great opportunity to start working in public land management.
Apply by January 27th!
Click HERE for the application.
Interested in Working as a seasonal or emergency Firefighter?
The Kentucky Division of Forestry will be hosting a job fair in Hazard looking for emergency or seasonal firefighters.
The job fair is planned to be Tuesday, January 17, 2023, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Kentucky Career Center, Hazard Jobsight: 412 Roy Campbell Dr., Hazard, KY.
You can find more information HERE.
London diner gets featured on America’s Best Restaurant
You might want to make a reservation and gain a little appetite to eat at the Old Town Grill of London as they were recently featured on America’s Best Restaurant.
The episode helps feature some of the diner’s “top items to try” when visiting, including the Sinful Chicken, the OTG Brisket Burger, and the OTG Potato Bites.
You can watch the episode HERE.
Let us know if you visit! Tag us on your story post when you visit and we’ll reshare it. It’s a great way to support #localbusinesses.
A director with ties to Somerset directs the latest movie on Netflix
If you’re like me and binge-watch the latest tv shows and movies on your streaming devices, then you might have noticed the latest movie out on Netflix, The Pale Blue Eye.
The dark, mystery movie is already being acclaimed as “oscar worthy” by several movie critics. And with actors featuring Christian Bale (aka batman, no ties to Harry Potter, sorry Robert Patterson) and Harry Melling (who played Harry Potter’s cousin, Dudley. So there are SOME Harry Potter ties there), it comes to no surprise that the movie is gaining some traction.
But did you know that the director, Scott Cooper, grew up in the Somerset area?
In an interview posted in the Commonwealth Journal, Cooper shared several fond memories he made while living in the Somerset region.
“I remember Somerset fondly and all of my friends that actually maybe still live there, Marc Travis and his family,” said Cooper.
You can read more about Cooper’s movie and his Kentucky ties HERE.
Chicken Festival in London Seeking Local Acts
Do you have a band or an act that you would like to be featured and presented live at the Chicken Festival in London?
Festival planners have applications available for you to register and sign up.
Established in 1990, the festival has continued its tradition of bringing tourism to the city of London and is home to the largest stainless steel skillet.
You can apply HERE.
Gala Nomination Deadline is Quickly Approaching
Our gala nomination form is planned to close on January 31st!
If you know of a rising star in our region, make sure to nominate them beforehand.
You can click HERE to see our list of nominations.
We would love to see you at our first-ever gala event, you can get tickets HERE.
Future events to add to your calendar:
January
- Winter Adventure Weekend at Carter Caves State Resort Park, January 26-29
Winter Adventure Weekend is an annual event held on the last full weekend of January at Carter Caves State Resort Park in Olive Hill, Kentucky. They offer activities and workshops for anyone interested in the great outdoors. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced adventurer, you can go hiking, rappelling, climbing, tree climbing, canoeing, and kayaking. They also offer wild cave tours, winter survival workshops, and much more.
The event begins on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 12:30 p.m. and ends on Sunday afternoon. But you don’t need to attend the entire event.
You can find more information about the event HERE.
March
- Coffee & Tea Week in Ashland, Ky., March 19 – 25
Coffee and tea enthusiasts unite! Ashland will be hosting a week full of caffeinated events for their first-ever coffee and tea week.
If this sounds like your cup of tea, you can stay updated with announcements HERE.
You can see more Ashland events on their city calendar HERE.
June
- Kiss the Goat Trail Race, June 24
If you enjoy trail running or want to train for something challenging, Kiss the Goat is unlike most races. You will be tested to your limits on a roughly 3.77-mile-long uphill course. Besides, what better way to treat yourself at the top of the hill than to blow a kiss to the goat? Yes, a real-life goat.
Don’t think this race is for you? Consider volunteering and spectating; you can even walk this course!
You can sign up for the event HERE.