We hope you enjoyed your first week of December and if you happen to celebrate Hannukah, Happy First Day of Hannuhak! We know numerous holidays are celebrated in December, so we hope you are enjoying them this holiday season.

We have several topics and updates to share in this weekly roundup – so take a look and see what is happening in our region – there might be something available for you or a community member in need.

Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program in Kentucky

The USDA Rural Development in Kentucky is providing a Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. This program will help provide funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and stormwater drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas.

This program assists qualified applicants who are not otherwise able to obtain commercial credit on reasonable terms. Eligible applicants include:

• Most state and local governmental entities
• Private nonprofits
• Federally-recognized tribes

You can learn more about this loan and grant program HERE.

Powell County Receives Build Ready Grant

The initial round of the new Build-Ready site development initiative was approved.

One of the Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPDI) projects was approved for Powell County. 

Established in 2022 and administered by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA), round one of the KPDI program includes 53 site and building development projects statewide approved for over $31 million in state funding.

The latest awards will improve a variety of facilities.

The Powell County Fiscal Court, on behalf of the Powell County Industrial Development Authority, is seeking to extend water and sewer utilities into the Clay City Business Park. The total anticipated project investment is $780,000 with nearly $320,000 in KPDI funding approved for the site.

2024 Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference set for January

Registration is now open for the 2024 Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference, the premier event for statewide produce growers to interact and learn.

The conference is set for Jan. 3-4, at the Sloan Convention Center in Bowling Green with pre-conference events happening on Jan. 2.

The Conference will include a general session as well as sessions on vegetable production (beginner and advanced), high tunnels, organic production, fruit production (beginner and advanced), and business management. 

A cut flower short course will be offered, in addition to a new session on funding opportunities for specialty crop growers. Other conference events include a Farmers’ Market Short Course organized by KDA and a Farm Food Safety Plan Writing Workshop hosted by Cultivate KY, as well as the popular fruit grower and vegetable grower meet-up sessions. 

More than 90 speakers and 60 exhibitors are expected at this conference!

You can learn more about this conference and register for this event HERE.

Registration is open for the Appalachian Regional Commission’s “Getting the Grant Workshops”

Last week we shared that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is returning its in-person workshop series, Getting the Grant: Successfully Applying for ARC Funding Opportunities.

Getting the Grant 2024 has been designed to help prospective applicants understand funding requirements and prepare to submit successful applications for ARISE, INSPIRE, and POWER. 

Those who attend this workshop will:

• Hear from initiative leads on program specifics, new and upcoming changes to the 2024 Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSAs), application review, and scoring criteria
• Meet ARC staff and discuss best practices in project development and implementation
• Learn from successful grantees on how they translated their project ideas into award-winning proposals 
• Receive training guidance on complex application components and associated requirements

ARC will be traveling across the Region to provide equal access and opportunity to both new and returning applicants.  

• January 23, 2024, 8 am – 4 pm, Renaissance Asheville Downtown Hotel, Asheville, North Carolina
• January 30, 2024, 8 am – 4 pm, Sheraton Birmingham Hotel, Birmingham, Alabama 
• February 6, 2024, 8 am – 4 pm, Morris University Center, Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, Ohio

You can find the registration form HERE. 

The 2024 KDA internship application period is now open

Kentucky college students seeking a career in agriculture or government are encouraged to apply for positions in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s (KDA’s) internship program for the 2024 summer.

In addition to agriculture, KDA interns may work in education, computer science, marketing, communications, pre-law, and other fields. Internships will run from June to August.

Applicants must be currently enrolled in a college, university, or vocational-technical program. Applicants can be enrolled in either undergraduate or graduate school.

You can learn more and register for the program HERE.

Applications Open for the DAV Patriot Boot Camp Winter ’24

Applications are open for DAV Patriot Boot Camp Winter 2024!

DAV Patriot Boot Camp is a transformative program that empowers founders in the veteran and military community, including spouses, with comprehensive entrepreneurship start-up education, mentorship, access to resources, and a vital community committed to their success.

Through in-person events and digital programming, DAV Patriot Boot Camp prioritizes the unique experiences and skills that Vetrepreneurs bring to the table, channeling their exceptional leadership, discipline, and adaptability into the realm of business creation.

The DAV Patriot Boot Camp’s comprehensive curriculum blends practical education, experiential learning, and personalized mentorship, providing a powerful foundation for veterans to launch and scale their own ventures.

 

Event Details: 

• Dates: February 7-9, 2024
• Location: DAV National HQ (Cincinnati, OH)
• Application Closes: Jan 19, 2024

You can learn more and apply HERE.

Calling all Artists & Graphic Designers! Enter the Wildflower Weekend 2024 Logo Design Contest

If you are an artist or graphic designer The Kentucky Native Plant Society would love for you to consider entering the Wildflower Weekend 2024 Logo Design Contest. 

This is an open design contest to come up with a logo for Wildflower Weekend 2024 (April 12-14 at Natural Bridge SRP). The logo will be used on t-shirts, hoodies, and coffee cups, as well as on all publicity about the event. 

The submitted designs will be presented to the KNPS membership for voting and the winner will be awarded $200 and be recognized on the KNPS website.

Learn more about the contest HERE.

Location Announced for the 2024 Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition

Last week, we announced that the location for the 2024 Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition will be at the Train Depot in Ashland, Ky.

The location is set, but we are still seeking applicants for the pitch competition!

Do you have Appalachia Kentucky’s next big idea?

We want to hear it… and we want to fund it. 

Thanks to the generosity of Community Trust Bancorp, we will award nearly $20,000 in cash prizes with first-place taking home $10,000!

Who is eligible for the competition?

The business must be a startup based in one of the 54 ARC KY Counties.

• A Startup is defined as a concept or existing business financed by its founders that is attempting to attract outside investment.

• An existing business cannot be more than 5 years old.
• Must have a product or service that has an e-commerce or exporting focus.

The competition is planned for April 11, 2024.

But don’t let that date fool you, the deadline to APPLY is coming up soon!

The deadline to apply is December 31, 2023. We know that applying for a pitch competition can be a little intimidating. It doesn’t have to be and our Innovation Team will help you leading up to the pitch competition.

You can apply HERE.

2024 Rogers Scholars Applications Now Open

The Time is NOW to Apply for the 2024 Rogers Scholars Program!

Rogers Scholars is a week-long program that enhances leadership capabilities through team-building exercises, hands-on training, and interaction with business leaders. 

It develops skills in leadership, technology, entrepreneurship, and community service.

Graduates of the program can apply for scholarships at 20 prestigious colleges and universities across Kentucky.

The application window closes on January 31st, 2024.

You can learn more about the program and register HERE.

Want to Submit to our Roundup?

Phew! Lots happening and lots going on, but all great things for our Appalachian region!

Do you know of anything that you would like to be shared in our Weekly Roundup, let me know and email us at: roundup@soar-ky.org

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Apollo’s Corner 🐈

There are these socks on the wall with letters on them and I’m convinced there are cat treats in them … now if I could just climb up to the top … I think I can reach to drop these socks onto the floor.

I’ll let you know next week if I got them.

Meow,

Apollo 🐾