SOMERSET, Ky. – The Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation (SKED), a Blueprint Partner of Shaping Our Appalachian Region, Inc. (SOAR), was recently awarded $1.3 million from the Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) to expand its SEED, or Successful Supplier Education and Economic Development, program.

SKED will use its $1.3 million award to expand the reach and capacity of the SEED Program. Now in its third year, SEED’s training and support services are designed to improve the competitiveness of manufacturing companies in coal-impacted counties of Eastern Kentucky and will help them acquire the competence needed to win government and private contracts.

SOAR has served as a sponsor for the SEED Symposium events for the past two years.  These events are designed to connect companies throughout Appalachia Kentucky with federal agencies and large federal contractors.

“The SEED program has served as a great resource for small businesses throughout the region,” said Jared Arnett, executive director of SOAR. “Bett [Traver] and his team have done a great job with this program, and this new infusion of dollars will allow the SEED program to grow and reach new businesses.”

Key partners in the SEED program also include the Advantage Kentucky Alliance (AKA) and the Kentucky Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

To learn more about SEED Program and this announcement, check out this article from the Lane Report.