It’s Memorial Day Weekend, and I’m hoping you get some excellent weather to go out and explore some of our Eastern Kentucky mountains and communities – go out to your mom-and-pop burger spots, go on a hike along a local trail, or meet up with some neighbors for a front porch (or backyard) hang out!
Since it’s a holiday weekend, we want to keep this Weekly Roundup short for y’all, so let’s dive in!
Mental Health Awareness Month
For those who don’t know, May is Mental Health Awareness Month and has been observed in the U.S. since 1949.
Every year during May, NAMI (also known as National Alliance on Mental Illness) joins the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Together, they try to fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support the millions of people in the U.S. affected by mental illness.
The organization’s website offers social media graphics, blogs, podcasts, and how you can be involved to bring awareness to mental health needs in your community.
You can find some of their resources HERE.
Another opportunity is through the United States Department of Agriculture.
The USDA Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships is excited to co-host the USDA Mental Health Awareness Month Workshop series scheduled weekly beginning Tuesdays, May 9 – Tuesday, June 6, from 2-3:30 pm Eastern time.
The workshop series gathers farmers and ranchers, faith leaders, rural health providers, USDA employees, and Federal, state, and university partners to talk and discuss mental health challenges, stressors, and the resources and services available to address them.
Learn more about the workshops HERE.
2023 Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition Finalists
It’s the moment everybody has been waiting for!
Who will compete in the 2023 Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition, presented by Community Trust Bank?
Our SOAR Innovation team received nearly 30 applications from 14 counties, but only seven finalists can be chosen for this competition.
Here are your finalists:
- Nathan Little, Queen City Streams
- TJ Rayhill, Bluegrass Crickets
- Kyle Turner, 1620 Distilling
- Elijah Jensen, Blackbox Energy Systems
- Payton Keathley, Xiled Inc.
- Brayden Harris, Fragaria
- Payton May, Tunezle
Finalists will compete on Thursday, June 15, at Morehead State University beginning at 6 p.m.
The competition will follow a networking reception.
You can register to watch the finalists compete HERE.
A second-place winner will win $3,500 & a third-place winner will win $1,500.
All finalists are guaranteed $500.
Congressman Rogers Announces 2023 Congressional Art Competition Winners
U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers announced the winners of the 2023 Congressional Art Competition for Kentucky’s Fifth Congressional District.
The Winners:
Amiee Compton, a senior at Shelby Valley High School, won first place and her artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building, representing Eastern Kentucky.
Amiee Compton has competed in the Congressional Art Competition every year of her high school career, finally taking top honors with a creative mixed media piece entitled, “Circus Act.” She described the artwork as a depiction of reputation, featuring three self-portraits that represent the various emotions students often experience as their reputaton is formed throughout high school.
As the winner of the Congressional Art Competition, Amiee will attend a national reception in June in the U.S. Capitol Building where her artwork will be displayed for one year. She will also receive two free airline tickets from Southwest Airlines, with accommodations provided by The Center for Rural Development and ourselves, Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR).
Alyssa Smith, a junior at Leslie County High School, won second place for her Supergirl pop art.
Julia Bryant, a senior at Whitley County High School, submitted an oil painting of Secretariat, winning third place honors.
The second and third place winners will receive two free tickets from the Mountain Arts Center to attend one of their summer shows.
To see all of the artwork submitted from Kentucky’s Fifth Congressional District, visit Congressman Rogers’ Facebook page.
SBDC Asking for Gateway & Buffalo Trace Small Business Nominations
Have you nominated your favorite small businesses for the 2023 Gateway & Buffalo Trace Small Business Awards?
The nominations range from Healthcare Professional of the Year to Young Entrepreneur of the Year. If you live or work around Gateway & Buffalo Trace area, make sure to put in your nomination – it could be the change one needs to help launch their dreams!
The deadline to submit a nomination is June 30!
You can make your nominations HERE.
Burger Week in Ashland
Another “happening” in Ashland is something that makes my stomach happy, Burger Week will begin Sunday, May 21st and it will end May 27th!
There are 12 burgers total for you to choose from and also taking place is a burger week competition/contest.
The rules are simple:
One winner will be randomly selected from all hashtag entries on social media and notified by messenger on or before May 30, 2023.
To participate in the contest:
- Visit and eat a burger at three participating restaurants.
- Show proof by sharing your experience on your Facebook or Instagram.
- Tag your photos with the following: #akyburgerweek #visitaky.
- Vote for the most creative burger in our website poll, www.akyburgerweek.com/vote 5. Follow Ashland’s Tourism pages on Instagram and Facebook: @visitashlandky
You can download the “official” AKY burger week passport HERE.
On a personal note, one of my greatest life achievements was eating 8 burgers at Corbin’s Burger Week in ONE DAY – so I am willing to accept the challenge for Ashland’s!
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:
May
- AKY Burger Week, May 21 – 27
One winner will be randomly selected from all hashtag entries on social media and notified by messenger on or before May 30, 2023.
To participate in the contest:
- Visit and eat a burger at three participating restaurants.
- Show proof by sharing your experience on your Facebook or Instagram.
- Tag your photos with the following: #akyburgerweek #visitaky.
- Vote for the most creative burger in our website poll, www.akyburgerweek.com/vote 5. Follow Ashland’s Tourism pages on Instagram and Facebook: @visitashlandky
You can download the “official” AKY burger week passport HERE.
June
- TEK Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, June 2nd
The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce will be having a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Inez starting at 1:30 pm for the new TEK Center!
You can learn more about the ceremony and its location HERE.
- 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.
July
- Paint the Park 5k, July 1
Join the park for some “Fun on the Run” at Kentucky’s highest-in-elevation state park!
Participants will make laps equivalent to a 5k through the park’s shelter loop.
Make sure you come prepared to be doused with colored powder as you run/walk through the park!
9 a.m. registration at the park gift shop.
The run will begin at 10 a.m.
Pre-register before June 23 to guarantee a free event t-shirt!
The cost is $25 to register.
You can register for the event HERE.
September
- 2nd Annual Gitt Recovery Celebration
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!