It is the last Friday of January 2023 and Eastern Kentucky has a lot to be proud of for its first month into the new year.
Local non-profit achieve Matrix Certification with Excellence
Ramey-Estep Homes, Inc., a private, not-for-profit organization that offers various services to youth and their family, is the first in Kentucky to achieve the Matrix Certification with Excellence in all three of their locations in Ashland, Grayson, and Crestview Hills.
The organization is being recognized for its use of clinician and peer teamwork and the positive outcomes that its clients experience.
You can give the organization some support on its social media platforms HERE.
Second rebuilding location was announced for new, high-ground homes to help flood relief efforts
To help Eastern Kentucky rebuild after devastating flooding six months ago, a second location for new, high-ground homes was announced.
Located just five miles from downtown Hazard, the 50-acre building site is close to schools, shopping centers, and the Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center. Plans for the first phase of the site include approximately 150 houses, partially funded by the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund in partnership with local nonprofit builders.
The Ison family is contributing prime land for the project.
You can learn more about the announcement HERE.
Mountain Association offering Flood Loans for Businesses
A better financing option is available for businesses and organizations who are trying to recover from flooding.
Mountain Association offers a new loan option for eligible businesses and organizations impacted by this year’s severe flooding in EKY.
You can find more loan information HERE.
Click HERE to get the application.
Funding for Clean Water, Nonprofits in Pike and Perry Counties
$3.5 million in awards was announced to expand access to clean water and support nonprofits in Pike County through the Cleaner Water Program (CWP).
Six awards were also handed out from the Nonprofit Assistance Fund, totaling more than $330,000 to help organizations recover from the effects of the pandemic in Pike County. These awards will help provide a one-time relief payment to support the mission of each nonprofit.
You can read the full list of awards HERE.
In addition, over $8 million was awarded to Perry County, including waterline updates, sewer infrastructure projects, and nonprofit assistance and seven awards from the Nonprofit Assistance Fund.
You can read the entire list HERE.
McCreary County awarded Clean Water Program Funds
The McCreary County Water District was awarded $1,025,856 in CWP funds to improve two water treatment plants and one wastewater treatment plant.
In addition, The McCreary County School District was awarded $3,888,400 through LAVEC to expand and renovate the Agriculture Education program area at McCreary County High School. Additionally, the school district will expand the existing vocational training area to accommodate a welding lab.
You can read more about the award HERE.
Nominees sought for 2023 Kentucky Leopold Conservation award
Kentuckians are being asked to nominate a farmer or forester for the 2023 Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award – the winner will receive a $10,000 prize for Conservation Leadership.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water, and wildlife habitat management on private working land. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.
Nominations may be submitted on behalf of a landowner, or landowners may nominate themselves. The application can be found HERE.
The application deadline date is April 1, 2023. The committee prefers application materials to be sent electronically to colemansteve51@gmail.com.
Materials may also be mailed with a postmark of April 1, 2023. Mail applications to:
Leopold Conservation Award
c/o Kentucky Association of Conservation District
P.O. Box 4027
Frankfort, KY 40604-4027
Growth Accelerator Fund Competition Portal is Now Open!
The U.S. Small Business Administration is proud to announce that the 2023 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) application portal is now open!
You can learn more about the competition and apply between now and February 24, 2023, for a chance to receive up to $200,000 in cash prizes for strategic ecosystem partnerships with collaborative approaches to support STEM/R&D-focused entrepreneurs and small businesses HERE.
To facilitate relationships between entrepreneur support organizations and potential partners working on similar themes, a series of mini-convenings will be hosted from February 6-9, 3-4 pm EST. Sign up here for the sessions you’re interested in attending.
TeleWorksUSA Hosting Job Fair in Clinton County
A variety of work-at-home positions are waiting to be filled and will be available to apply to on February 3, 2023, at the Clinton County Library at a Job Fair.
Equipment to apply will be provided. You must be 18 and have a High School Diploma or GED.
For more information, you can contact Tabitah Dunn at (606) 216-3516.
You can help spread the word by downloading this PDF and sharing it with those who live in the area!
Read Spotted Newt Turns 3!
Join Hazard’s local bookstore, Read Spotted Newt, on January 28, 2023, to celebrate its third year of being open! The birthday celebrations will begin at 12 p.m. and end around 6 p.m.
Several specials that day will include half-off hardcover books, special giveaways, and food from Pantry Shelf doughnuts and Hazard Coffee Company.
You can learn more about the event HERE.
4th Annual Bridges out of Addiction Symposium Registration is open!
The Fourth Annual Bridges Out of Addiction Symposium is an opportunity for community members to build relationships and learn about resources necessary to better address the local substance use disorder crisis.
The event is planned for March 7, 2023, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Ashland Community & Technical College.
This important event is open to all and is free!
You can register for the event HERE.
Kentucky Energy & Environment Cabinet Job Opportunity
Find a job with impact!
If you enjoy being outdoors and have the desire to use your education to support Kentucky’s natural resources, check out this opportunity! The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet are looking for an environmental scientist to join their Water Quality Certification (WQC) Section.
Your work will help protect the waters of the Commonwealth and ensure water quality standards are being met for future generations.
You can find more details on the job opportunity HERE.
Microsoft Excel Training Course available
The Lake Cumberland Regional Training Consortium (LCRTC) offers a variety of courses in leadership, team building, customer service, information technology, and safety, helping employees of member businesses improve their skills and offering networking opportunities for those companies that choose to join.
LCTRC is excited to share its training classes for the 2023 – Microsoft Excel Training Schedule.
These classes are designed to equip employees with the skills to effectively input and analyze data. These classes are focused on all skill levels.
Now is the time to learn or refresh your skills with Microsoft Excel. Basic Excel, Intermediate Excel, and Advanced Excel will be offered.
To learn more, you can visit their training calendar HERE.
Gala Nomination Deadline is Quickly Approaching
Our gala nomination form is planned to close on Tuesday, 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:
February
- P31 Womenpreneur™ Conference, February 25th
Are you a woman who wears many hats and desires to be the best authentic version of herself as she serves others? Then you are a Womanpreneur! This conference is meant for that busy woman who feels like they should be achieving something more, who is always looking for the next adventure.
“Dreaming of that business we wanted to start, that book we wanted to write, or that podcast that we would love to share with the world! The question becomes…when and how? God has called us for such a time as this! The P31 Womenpreneur™ conference was designed to equip women with the network, tools, and mindset strategy to live out a Proverbs 31-woman lifestyle, like a boss! How do we do that? By taking the principles outlined in Titus 2 and turning them into our game plan for success!”
You can buy tickets for the event HERE.
March
- 11th Annual Shamrock Shuffle 5k., March 11
The largest 5K in the Lake Cumberland area. After 10 years in Burnside, the race is now moving to Downtown Somerset with The Mole Hole will be hosting an epic after party following the race with an Irish theme.
You can buy tickets for the 5k HERE.
- 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.
April
- Morehead Kentucky Proud Expo, April 28 – 29
Mark your calendars for the 2023 Morehead KY Proud Expo!
Kentucky Proud certified vendors from across the state will be on hand featuring woodworking, jams, wines, jellies, and so much more. Open to the public and admission is FREE!
Show times are Friday, April 28, 5 pm-8 pm and Saturday, April 29, 10 pm-5 pm. We
*All vendors must be Kentucky Proud certified. If you’d like to be a vendor, please call 606-780-4342, option 1 for more information.
You can learn more about the event 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.
- Bluegrass Mountain Cup, Perry County Park, June 25
A new and fast-growing trail system just down the road from downtown Hazard, KY, Perry County Park packs a lot of punch in a small area.
A bit of a climb to the top, but well worth the reward that you get coming down.
Creator of the Perry County hiking trails, Ben, and crew dedicated year around countless hours to making these trails some of the best in the state.
If you’ve not been there yet, you have to check this place out.
More details coming soon!
Registration is live HERE.