Hello everyone!
I know we’ve had a small hiatus for our weekly roundup as we had several SOAR events happening these last two weeks.
However, we are back in the game and we’re ready to share a little bit about what is happening in our Appalachian region!
Spend an Evening with Rajant Corporation!
Rajant Corporation is celebrating 7 years in Morehead/Rowan Co.!
They are inviting everybody to participate in their “An Evening With Rajant” on Monday, July 3rd from 5 to 9 pm at their facilities, 15 Industry Road (the MMRC Industrial Park) in Morehead, KY.
If you have ever wondered what Rajant does, this event will help answer those questions.
Rajant will be hosting an Open House where you can tour our state-of-the-art facility. In addition, there will be kid activities, food, live music and FIREWORKS!
Kona Ice, a Bounce House and a Bounce Slide have been added to the lineup!
Learn to Code with <Code Kentucky>
We’ve partnered with Code Kentucky to provide a training program that prepares you for a career in tech. Be a part of the global and digital economy while working remotely here in Appalachia Kentucky.
No previous coding experience is required. What is required is a willingness to learn, work hard, and seize this opportunity.
The training is FREE.
Interested? Complete our application. The deadline is July 2. Training begins on August 14!
Congressman Rogers Honors Whitley County State Baseball Champs
The Whitley County High School Baseball Team was invited to Congressman Hal Rogers’ Somerset District Office on Thursday for a special recognition from the Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Colonels recently won the 2023 KHSAA High School Baseball State Championship, bringing the state crown to the 13th Region and Whitley County for the very first time.
Congressman Rogers honored the Colonels’ historic victory with a tribute in the Congressional Record and presented a framed copy to Coach Jeremy Shope and the team.
Whitley County’s victory marks the first time that a team from Kentucky’s Fifth Congressional District has won the state title in high school baseball since Boyd County took the crown in 2001 and Paintsville in 1990.
Congressman Rogers’ tribute is now part of the Congressional Record, which is stored in the Library Congress, putting the Whitley County High School Baseball Team’s state victory in the nation’s history books.
You can download the congressional tribute HERE.
You can click HERE to see photos from the team’s visit with Congressman Rogers.
Eastern Light Distilling Creating 50 Full-Time Jobs With New $143.7 Million Venue in Morehead
Eastern Light Distilling, an Eastern Kentucky-based distilling company is investing more than $143.7 million in a new venue located in Rowan County.
This decision is expected to create at least 50 new jobs in the area in the coming years.
Eastern Light Distilling is introducing an innovative new concept that will grow the state’s signature bourbon industry in Eastern Kentucky while supporting craft bourbon makers as a custom contract distiller.
The locally owned venture is led by Kentucky bourbon industry veterans, including Chief Executive Officer Cordell Lawrence and Caleb Kilburn, an internationally recognized master distiller.
The project also represents a major success for the Kentucky Product Development Initiative, as the Rowan County site was approved for nearly $600,000 in state support earlier this year.
For more information on Eastern Light Distilling, you can click HERE.
Nearly $1.1 Billion Grant To Deliver High-speed Internet Service to Every Kentuckian
A $1.1 billion federal grant, the largest public investment in high-speed internet in Kentucky’s history, was secured in June.
This grant will bring affordable, reliable high-speed internet service to every Kentuckian.
The grant money comes from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.
BEAD is a program of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration that will fund additional expansion of high-speed internet networks in Kentucky.
The program prioritizes projects that serve areas lacking internet speeds above 25/3Mbps.
Kentucky has now received more than $1.6 billion in total high-speed internet funding since the American Rescue Plan Act was passed in March 2021.
According to the most recent data released last month by the Federal Communications Commission, Kentucky has over 258,000 unserved locations. The Office of Broadband Development will administer a competitive grant process to distribute these funds to eligible subrecipients, including internet service providers and local governments, beginning in early 2024.
Here at SOAR, we are encouraging Kentuckians to take the Broadband Speed Test and sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program if they are eligible.
Country Music Highway Tribute Show Deadline for Vendors & Artsits
The deadline for performers and vendors is today if you want to be a part of our CMH Tribute Show.
So if you want to perform at the Country Music Highway Tribute Show? Fill out a brief application to be considered.
Applications are also open for food and arts and crafts vendors. If you would like to provide activities for children and families, please contact Joshua Ball, Chief Operating Officer at SOAR, at joshua@soar-ky.org.
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:
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“!