In Eastern Kentucky, we can do anything. Why? Because we work together. That’s at the core of this week’s roundup. 

Let’s dive right in. 

The HEART of the healthcare workforce solution

Executive Director Colby Hall, Chief Operating Officer Joshua Ball, and Business Manager Karen Roberts Prater were on hand on July 6 as Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) held an event to celebrate the work of its Project HEART (Healthcare Employment Around Resource Training)   collaboration. 

Flanked by training providers, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and others — including us — PMC President and CEO Donovan Blackburn shared how healthcare organizations from across Eastern Kentucky are working together to address the high-wage healthcare jobs available now and in the future.

Healthcare makes up 18% of Eastern Kentucky’s economy, and our healthcare partners are doing whatever it takes to fill these good-paying jobs with local people. 

Governor Andy Beshear, his senior advisor, Rocky Adkins, and Karen Kelly, District Director for Congressman Hal Rogers, were on hand to celebrate the more than $26 million that has been invested in healthcare access and employment opportunities. 

Governor Beshear joined Blackburn to announce that Galen College of Nursing would be opening a campus in the former Leonard Lawson Cancer Center building in Pikeville. This was made possible through a $975,555 grant that Beshear announced, as well as matching funds provided by PMC. 

The new campus in Pikeville, as well as expanded nursing cohorts at Big Sandy Community and Technical College and the University of Pikeville, demonstrates the all-hands-on-deck approach to fill the estimated 700 nursing vacancies in the next two years. 

Mountain Association purchases building in downtown Hazard

The Mountain Association announced a major investment in downtown Hazard. The organization purchased a building on Main Street, citing the progress that has been made in the community over the past decade. 

The 11,000-square-foot building was the former home of First Federal Savings & Loan and has been unoccupied since the bank moved locations in 2016. 

Learn more about this exciting investment in Hazard on the Mountain Association website.

Solar comes to Second and Main

If you are driving on Main Street in Corbin, you may notice some solar panels on 2nd and Main. Owners Geoff and Sky Marietta recently had the panels installed at their event venue. The couple is unsure of the actual cost savings, but any unused energy will be put back into the city’s power grid. 

The panels were installed by Solar Energy Living. Read more about this project in the Corbin Times-Tribune. 

Meet the Axis in Manchester

The world revolves around an axis. 

In Manchester and Clay County, just about every good thing happening in the community has a common denominator — The Axis Coffee and Gathering Place. 

Co-founded by Tess and Barb Lipps, the Axis is more than just a place to get a cup of coffee, a sandwich, or a bowl of soup, it’s a meeting place where ideas are shared and planted. It’s been a constant in a community collaboration led by Advent Health Manchester, Volunteers of America, and countless others to bring development and opportunity to the city and county. 

There’s much more to the story of the Axis. Check out this video we produced with Pike TV on why this place is the axis for so much good in this community.