It’s that beautiful time of the year when the mornings are cool and the days are just the right temperature here in the mountains and I hope you are getting to go out and enjoy this wonderful weather.
We have a busy Weekly Roundup as summer events are now here for everyone to enjoy, so let’s dive in to see what is happening in Eastern Kentucky.
Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition
Join us for the 2023 Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition, presented by Community Trust Bank Corp. on June 15 at Morehead State University.
Seven finalists will compete to win $10,000.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. Following the competition, we’ll have a networking reception.
Please register on Facebook, Linkedin, or our SOAR homepage under “events.”
We will also live-stream the event on Facebook and YouTube.
Come out and cheer on those who are representing your county or region!
IGNITE the Fire: Entrepreneur Day
Also happening this month is our IGNITE the Fire event happening June 29th at AppHarvest.
IGNITE brings entrepreneurs and founders together for an evening of networking, learning, and inspiration.
Hear from leaders across Eastern Kentucky and leave “on fire” for your business or idea.
This event is FREE to the public, but tickets are limited, so make sure you save your spot today!
We will be sharing who our speakers are next week!
Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Small Business Class
Do you know someone who plans on starting a small business? Share these dates and this beginners’ course with them as their first step!
Statewide Training Coordinator JC Phelps presents “Start Smart: Starting A Business in Kentucky” throughout the Summer!
You can register for this course and events HERE.
Women in Business Empowerment Expo
Calling all entrepreneurs and small business owners!
Join the Women In Business Empowerment Expo on June 21st in Bowling Green and June 22nd in Owensboro.
Explore resources to start and grow your business, from support and lending to procurement and networking. Engage in powerful networking, attend workshops, and participate in a dynamic panel discussion. Don’t miss this chance to elevate your business journey!
Registration links are below:
June 21st – Bowling Green: https://bit.ly/45oQIDF
June 22nd – Owensboro: https://bit.ly/3IFUoqP
Rural Up Week of Code
This Summer, Rural Up, Inc. has partnered with London Children’s Museum, Club 180, Red Bird Mission, Awesome Inc U, and Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) to deliver a Week of Code in London, Harlan, and Red Bird Mission!
Their week-long camp teaches students the basics of coding, helps them hone their skills, prepares them for the digital economy, and introduces them to a potential future career path.
In just one week, students will design and develop their very own website, mobile app, and/or video games. Their instructors will work with students to build a portfolio, complete projects, and work with industry-standard hardware and software. We will also provide students with the opportunity to engage with real-life coders and entrepreneurs who are making a difference in their communities.
At the end of the week, parents and community members will be invited to participate in a Demo Hour where students will share their accomplishments from the week.
In this program, students will:
- Create a video game, website, and/or a mobile app
- Build a foundation of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, iOS, and Android
- Think like a computer with logic and problem-solving
- Analyze how programs work and how code functions
- Develop computational thinking skills
- Cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset
Rural Up will be hosting two four-day (June 20-23) camps in Corbin, KY at EKU Corbin’s campus. From 9 am-12 pm daily, their instructors will work with Middle School Students.
From 1 pm-4 pm daily, their instructors will work with High School Students.
Sign up your kids for this program today! You can do so HERE.
Challenger Learning Center of Kentucky Summer Programs
Another opportunity for students to be a part of this summer is in Hazard where the Challenger Learning Center is offering STEAM-related camps.
DETAILS:
- All camps are held from 10 AM – 3 PM at the Challenger Learning Center.
- Lunch will be provided.
- The cost is $30 per day unless otherwise noted.
One of the cool programs being offered for FREE is the MIT Summer Workshop.
MIT Students will visit the Challenger Center to hold a STEM workshop with middle and high school students this summer!
This is a great opportunity for young students to interact with MIT undergraduates and take part in fun, educational workshops!
Known as the SPOKES program, these students bicycle across the country making just 10 stops along the way. The Challenger Center is proud to have been a SPOKES stop since 2015.
The MIT Workshop is open to those ages 12-18 and that course begins June 16th.
ANOTHER cool opportunity is for High School students:
This summer The Challenger Center is expanding its programming for high school level students, with more programming offered this year than ever before with a week-long Satellite camp, SCUBA training, Advanced CAD and 3D Printing, Engineering, and more.
These all sound like amazing opportunities for students to be a part of! Don’t hesitate to register, do the camps and experience something new you wouldn’t be able to do otherwise during the school year!
You can find a list of camps happening this summer at The Challenger Center and register for them HERE.
Hyden & Leslie County Summer Checklist
The Hyden-Leslie County Chamber of Commerce wants you to have the most awesome summer ever!
That is why they’ve created the 2023 Summer Checklist Game. They’ve put together some fun, family-friendly activities that you can do in Hyden and Leslie County.
All you have to do is take a picture of you and/or your family participating in as many of those activities as you can, then send those in to be entered for a chance to win one of five $50 cash prizes!
Send your pics, along with your name, age, and mailing address to jbrashear@mfginc.com by July 31st to enter.
Get out and enjoy your summer with the members of the Hyden-Leslie County Chamber of Commerce!
First-ever Lazy Turtle Fest hosted in Jackson County
The City of McKee will be hosting its first-ever Lazy Turtle Fest!
I don’t know about you, but I love all things turtle related and I plan on going.
They will be providing free camping and free admission to attend this festival – and they are also asking for and looking for vendors, so if you are interested please call (606) 548-3174.
You can find the festival poster and announcement HERE.
Corbin Burger Week
You know what time it is …
Burger Week returns to Corbin June 12th-17th!
All week long is a chance for locals and visitors alike to sample some of the best burgers within the city limits of Corbin as part of a city-wide celebration. They’ll give big love to burgers at locally owned restaurants within city limits, with each participating restaurant offering their own unique culinary treat. Grass-fed, bison, and everything in between, this is a meaty celebration you won’t want to miss!
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:
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.
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, London, Sept. 7
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!
- Appalachian Regional Commission Annual Conference, Ashland, Sept. 11-12
Save the date for the annual ARC Conference, “Appalachia Rises©: Resilience, Strength & Transformation“!