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So Much to be Thankful Here in Appalachia

Another week, a little bit closer to the end of the year!

Don’t lie, we know you are counting down the days until the new year or perhaps even for the holidays for those short holiday breaks.

Regardless of what it is you are counting down for, we are here to talk about some of the region’s upcoming events and announcements.

Invest 606 Celebrates Finalists for their Fifth Cohort

Invest 606, is an accelerator to catalyze business growth in the 606 by connecting entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed today and grow tomorrow.

During this competition, Invest 606 offers a $15,000 Grand Prize, $8,000 2nd Prize, and $4,000 3rd Prize. Every participant also receives a $1,000 cash prize and thousands of dollars in marketing and accounting support.

The finalists this year include 14 businesses throughout the 606 area for a chance to win more than $30,000 in prizes, including a $15K Grand Prize. They represent 9 different counties, and 10 different industries, and generate more than $865,000 in revenue.

Invest 606’s 2024 Finalists are:

Congratulations and we’re cheering for every one of you!

Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition

While we’re speaking of startup businesses and pitch competition like Invest 606 … 

Do you have Appalachia Kentucky’s next big idea?

We want to hear it… and we want to fund it. 

That’s why we’ve opened the application for the 2024 Startup Appalachia Pitch Competition, presented by Community Trust Bancorp.

Thanks to the generosity of Community Trust Bancorp, we will award nearly $20,000 in cash prizes with first-place taking home $10,000!

Finalists also get to take home $500.

Who is eligible for the competition?

The business must be a startup based in one of the 54 ARC KY Counties.

  • A Startup is defined as a concept or existing business financed by its founders that is attempting to attract outside investment.
  • An existing business cannot be more than 5 years old.
  • Must have a product or service that has an e-commerce or exporting focus.

The competition is planned for April 11, 2024 and the location is yet to be determined (TBD).

But don’t let that date fool you, the deadline to APPLY is coming up soon!

The deadline to apply is December 31, 2023. We know that applying for a pitch competition can be a little intimidating. It doesn’t have to be and we are here to help.

You can apply HERE.

Silas House nominated for GRAMMY for work on music video

Renowned author and Laurel County native is among several Eastern Kentuckians that are in the running for a Grammy.

Nominations were announced on Friday morning and included Silas House for his role in helping to produce the video for Tyler Childers’ “In Your Love.”

In a social media post, House said he never thought he’d be a Grammy finalist.

The 2024 GRAMMYs will take place Sunday, Feb. 4, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Send in those Fall Foliage Pictures!

Vibrant colors, soft lighting, and varied textures are just a few reasons why fall is a great time to take photos. And the beauty of south-central Kentucky this autumn will be the focus for members of Somerset Community College’s Fruit of the Lens photography club.

“Fall Into Nature” is the theme for this fall’s exhibit. It is the club’s 23rd show since its first in 2012.

Burton said that entries to the exhibit will be accepted until Sunday, Nov. 19, and that a premiere showing of the presentation will be held Tuesday, Nov. 28 at noon in the Citizens National Bank Community Room located in the Rogers Student Commons. All members are encouraged to attend this showing.

While Fruit of the Lens Photography Club is an SCC student organization, anyone with an interest in taking digital images is invited to join and participate. To become a member, simply email Cindy Burton and ask to be in the club.

Additional information on the club is available on Facebook at “Fruit of the Lens Photography Club.” This page will also include links to past exhibits.

EXHIBIT RULES AND GUIDELINES

  • All club members are eligible to submit entries to this exhibit. To become a member, send a request to Cindy Burton.
  • Any camera, including on phones, can be used.
  • Entries must pertain to “Fall Into Nature” theme. All photos must be appropriate, tasteful and taken in south-central Kentucky.
  • Limit entries to your favorite ten (10) photos. Photo size should be 1 to 5 MB.
  • Photos manipulated in program such as Photoshop will be disqualified. (Normal color adjustments are perfectly acceptable.)
  • Name image files in consecutive order, such as “MaryE-1, MaryE-2, MaryE-3, etc.”
  • E-mail entries using the above naming system to: fruitofthelens@gmail.com.
  • Deadline for submitting photos for this exhibit is Sunday, November 19 at 12 midnight.

You can learn more about the contest HERE.

Learn how to <code> for FREE in Eastern Kentucky through Code KY

In today’s digital age, coding has emerged as a skill that not only holds significant professional value but also has the power to transform lives in profound ways. 

Whether you’re a student, a career changer, or someone looking to upskill, learning to code can be a life-changing journey. 

Coding can change someone’s life, much like Jody (you can learn about his experience as you read this blog) – from opening up new career opportunities to fostering creativity and problem-solving skills.

That’s why we have partnered with Code Kentucky to provide FREE software development training and pathways to remote jobs in tech.

We are currently accepting applications through December 31st. The training will start on January 8th. 

Governor’s School of Entrepreneur (GSE) is Accepting Applications

The application for GSE’s Summer Startup program is now open until January 22, 2024! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

All Kentucky 9th, 10th, and 11th graders interested in entrepreneurship are encouraged to apply for this free opportunity, and all GSE graduates qualify for millions of dollars in college scholarships.

Interested in applying? 

Click HERE to register for a virtual info session or to start your application today!

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

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Apollo’s Corner 🐈

My mom keeps taking pictures of me, someone please message her and tell her to stop. She should instead be putting away the laundry she has had piled up since Saturday.

That is all. Meow 🐾 

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