The mountains keep bringing more #achievements! Let’s dive right in on Appalachia’s current events, news, and latest updates.

Small Business Administration recognizes Community Trust Bank as Kentucky’s Top SBA Community Bank Lender for the ‘21 – ‘22 Year

Community Trust Bank, Inc. was recently honored for the 14th consecutive year with the “Gold Lender Award” from the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) as Kentucky’s top volume SBA 7a Community Bank lender in the federal fiscal year 2021–2022.

The award was presented on Oct. 13 at the SBA Lender’s Conference in Lexington.

Over the last 14 federal fiscal years, Community Trust Bank has funded 1,153 SBA 7a and 504 loans, providing access to more than $248 million for small businesses in the region.

In addition to maintaining its status as Kentucky’s premier Community Bank SBA lender, Community Trust Bank funded approximately 6,300 SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to more than 5,000 businesses during 2020 and 2021, distributing more than $400 million of forgivable loans to small businesses to help them make it through the financial uncertainty of the COVID pandemic, the statement said.

More than 99.9 percent of the PPP loans have been forgiven by SBA. 

You can read more information HERE.

Invest 606 Hosting “Demo Day”

Do you have any plans for Saturday, January 21st? Why not give Invest 606 a visit in Hazard as they present their nine finalists for their Demo Day competition? 

You will get the chance to learn about nine Eastern Kentucky companies, all ranging throughout the region. Each finalist will give a 4-5 minute pitch about their business and answer questions from the audience. 

Several of the finalists include:

• Annie’s Frugal Finery
• Atomic Raid Arcade
• Bluegrass Crickets
• Coal Country Candles
• Glory Gardens & Greenhouse
• Oak Tree Academy
• Queen City Streams
• The Coffee Doc, LLC
• The Flower Lady

Go support your local businesses!

You can find more information on the event HERE.

A Connection through Music

The Louisville Orchestra will be traveling throughout Kentucky for the next two years as part of “In Harmony – The Commonwealth Tour of the Louisville Orchestra” with their first pit stop being in Eastern Kentucky.

Their tour will begin on May 17, 18, and 19 in Prestonsburg, Pikeville, and Harlan. During that week, Kentucky-born and raised violinist Tessa Lark will join the orchestra to showcase an arrangement of famous Kentucky fiddle tunes.

The tour was made possible through a budget appropriation from the Kentucky state legislature. 

You can learn more information about the tour HERE.

Kentucky Transportation Center offers a variety of Scholarship Opportunities

Are you interested in working in construction, highway and structural design, traffic, or more?

Then the new Construction Management Scholarship program is the best option for you! The program will help provide graduates with the opportunity to work on a number of infrastructure projects throughout the state.

The scholarship is worth more than $59,000 for a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management and the deadline to apply is February 1.

You can learn more information about the program and the scholarship HERE.

Another scholarship opportunity is the Civil Engineering Scholarship Program, which helps improve overall engineering within the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. 

One scholarship could be worth more than $60,000.

The deadline to apply for this scholarship is February 1.

You can find that scholarship information HERE.

A final opportunity the Kentucky Transportation Office is offering is the Civil Engineering Technology Scholarship Program. That program helps sponsor people interested in working in areas of administration, construction, environmental analysis, highway, and structural design, geotechnical, maintenance, materials, planning, and traffic operations.

If that sounds like something you would be interested in, the scholarship program is offering 12 scholarships up to $12,000.

The deadline to apply for this scholarship is February 1.

You can find more information and apply for the program HERE.

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) offering Recovery-to-Work Investments

ARC is seeking applicants for their 2023 Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Initiative!

Up to $13 million is available for recovery-to-work projects that will help Appalachians overcome substance use disorder, reenter the workforce, and contribute to their communities.

Learn more and submit your Letter of Intent to apply by Tuesday, February 21 at www.arc.gov/sud. 

Online Workshop for those interested in the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program

The Kentucky Division of Abandoned Mine Lands (DAML) will host an online workshop for those interested in applying for a grant through the Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program. 

The workshop will be held via Microsoft Teams on January 31, 2023, at 9 a.m. Eastern time. 

Anyone interested in applying for an AMLER grant in 2023 is encouraged to attend. 

Register for the workshop at https://bit.ly/AMLERGrantWorkshop

For additional information, visit https://eec.ky.gov/…/Abandoned…/Pages/AMLER_Program.aspx

Kentucky Energy & Environment (EEC) Cabinet Offering Spring and Summer Internship Opportunities

EEC is currently accepting spring 2023 and summer 2023 internship requests. 

Interns can expect:

• $15/hour pay
• 37.5 hour work week
• EEC gear
• Telecommute opportunities (where applicable)
• Great experience to build a resume​​

​Intern duties include:

• ​Reviewing and processing data
• ​​Working on presentations
• File management
• Accompanying field staff on-site visits​​​

​Qualifications to apply:

• ​Must be a graduate of or a student in pursuit of a BA or BS in environmental science, biology, physical sciences, or related degree fields from an accredited program
• 3.0 GPA
• Great communication skills
• Strong technical and analytical skills
• Self-starter, motivated, and eager to learn
• Basic knowledge and experience in Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook​​

You can learn more and apply at https://eec.ky.gov/internships.

Applications for the Leadership Institute of School Principals are Open

Are you seeking opportunities to elevate your leadership skills, expand your professional network, and engage with top-tier educational leaders? 

The Leadership Institute for School Principals is an executive-level leadership training program that focuses on developing and mastering key leadership dynamics in principals across Kentucky. 

Applications for the 2023 – 2024 class are now open!

The deadline to apply is February 3, 2023.

You can learn more information about the program and application HERE.

Leadership Kentucky is accepting nominations and applications for the Leadership Kentucky Class of 2023

Leadership Kentucky joins together a select group of leaders, with a variety of career accomplishments and volunteer activities, to gain insight into complex issues facing the state. 

In a series of seven monthly, three-day sessions held at various locations throughout the state, participants meet with Kentucky leaders and explore the state’s resources and opportunities.

If interested in participating in the Leadership Kentucky Class of 2023, the participant must first be nominated. You can self-nominate or nominate someone else.

You can click HERE for the nomination form and for more information. 

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.

Events to add to your calendar:

February

• BPW Monthly Meeting, Jan. 26

Hello, Business and Professional Women in Somerset! You are invited to join a monthly membership meeting on January 26th! 

The meeting will take place at the Mellow Mushroom of Somerset beginning at 5:30 pm.

Not a member yet? Come to the meeting to receive more information about BPW and see how you can benefit from being a part of this distinguished BPW club! 

You can learn more about the event 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

• 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: https://www.bikereg.com/bgmc-perry