Which team are you on? Team “It’s already Christmas!” or Team “Don’t forget about Thanksgiving!”? No matter which side you’re on, it’s clear that the holidays are quickly approaching here in our Appalachian mountains.
So let’s see what our region is celebrating this week and what we can look forward to!
Small Business Workshop: Don’t Let Disaster Take You by Storm!
The U.S. Small Business Administration invites small business owners in Kentucky to participate in a disaster recovery and resilience workshop in Hazard on November 14, 2023.
At the free workshop, experts from the SBA will join forces with federal and local partners to discuss business continuity, disaster preparation, and many more topics to help Kentucky business owners continue to grow.
At the workshops, entrepreneurs will be able to speak to experts about recovery funding, access to capital, procurement opportunities, economic prospects in the region, community empowerment, and more.
You can learn more information and register for the workshop HERE.
Kentucky FAME Cumberlands Chapter’s Open House
If you or someone you know is interested in a career in advanced manufacturing, be sure to check out Kentucky FAME Cumberlands Chapter’s Open House at 6 p.m. on Nov. 9 at Somerset Community College.
Meet with manufacturing employers, instructors, and program alumni; and learn about manufacturing career opportunities, the benefits of the FAME program, and how to earn a college degree with little or no student debt.
This is a great opportunity to learn about careers available in a rapidly growing field!
You can learn more about the event HERE.
Russell band scores high in state competition
A local band displayed its mastery of music and marching during a competition last weekend.
With 59 members, the Russell High School Marching Band finished fourth in the state Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) Marching Band Finals in Bowling Green, just the third time in 30 years the band made it to state finals.
Students range in age from a seventh-grader (who is the sound engineer) to seniors.
The show, titled “Drive,” makes use of racetrack imagery with props that resemble large trophies and a round stage reminiscent of a tire. Custom uniforms include checkered prints.
The music covers a wide variety — from Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 10 movement 2” to the theme from “Gran Torino” to “Shut Up and Drive” by Rihanna to Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.”
The season of competition isn’t over yet.
The band will go to an unrelated event this weekend. The Grand Nationals will be at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Russell will compete with bands from around the country, most from the Midwest and Texas.
You can read more about this story HERE.
Own your Digital Presence Classes with Be Boss
Consumers today are using digital platforms like never before to research, shop, and promote their businesses. To stay relevant and competitive in such a connected world, business owners must learn how to best leverage these digital marketing tools.
Be Boss Online provides entrepreneurs with high-quality, comprehensive training on digital marketing and website building. This course guides business owners step-by-step through the process of launching effective digital marketing campaigns and building a successful business website.
Classes will be held on Tuesdays, November 21, 28, and December 5 & 12 from 12 – 2 p.m. at the Jackson County Industrial Authority, in the conference room. Each class contains new topics and information. Bring your laptop, time will be provided during each session to work on your business.
If you have questions please call or email Amanda Kelly with SKED at amanda@skedcorp.com or call 606.416.2008
Learn more about this program HERE.
Buy your APPY Tickets!
Have you gotten your APPY’s 2024 tickets yet?
Tickets are officially on sale for the 2024 Appalachian Arts & Entertainment Awards!
Be sure to check out their VIP Ticket Package which includes:
– A Star-Studded Red Carpet entrance complete with lights & cameras to capture this special occasion.
– A ticket to the coveted APPY’S AFTER PARTY! Why should the party stop when the show’s over!?
Standard seats are available in our Lower Level for $40 or our Upper Level for $30.
You can get your tickets HERE.
It’s not too late to apply for the Leadership Kentucky Program!
There is still time to apply for ELEVATE Kentucky 2024.
ELEVATE KENTUCKY offers young professionals in-depth personal and professional development while fostering a better understanding of the challenges facing our Commonwealth.
Elevate participants return to their companies with increased skills, knowledge, perspective, and a new statewide professional network. Millennial leaders are better prepared to be catalysts in their companies and communities to ELEVATE Kentucky.
If you are a young professional (25-35) who is advancing in your career, is involved in the community, and is eager to become a stronger leader, then apply today!
You can learn more about this program and register for it HERE.
Pitch Competition Opportunity!
Established in 2020, Equalize is a comprehensive program designed to take national action around the disparity of women academic inventors forming university startups.
Equalize participants receive education, a field-specific mentor, and access to networks that drive new entrepreneurial connections.
Equalize candidates can include faculty, postdocs, and grad students in STEM disciplines. While mostly a virtual program, an in-person component is also planned in the future.
Eligibility
- Pitchers must hold an academic appointment (tenured/tenure track/research) or a post-doc or graduate student position at an academic research institution as well as have a pending or issued patent or copyright.
- Product concept no more than 5 years from IND or product launch
No formal incorporation required. However, if a startup has been formed, the company should not have raised more than $1M USD. - Ability to attend at least a single 1-hour Zoom meeting per month January — June 2024 with their mentor
- Attendance and participation in the final pitch day: June 20, 2024
- Technology is a STEM innovation in one of these categories:
- MedTech
- Therapeutics
- Physical Sciences
Applications are due November 17, 2023!
Learn more about the program HERE.
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.
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 🐈
I’m looking out this window watching the trees lose their leaves,
Oh, the beginning marks of depravity begin,
But, wait!
A tree? That sparkles?
I’m off to destroy it!