Rural Development Roundtable Highlights s1

KENTUCKY Rural Development Roundtable Highlights

Top Priorities:

 Economic Development/Sustainable Community Development: Not enough community members are not involved in defining what is an appropriate econ dev strategy for the community/region or know about opportunities. At the same time, there is an understanding how entire community’s development hinges on sound economic development.

 Education & Workforce Development: Educators are frustrated in efforts to provide appropriate training and education for career opportunities because they need to know more about requirements for modern workforce. Recognition that economic development is tied to this issue.

 Leadership & Citizen Participation: Ongoing problem in finding new and a diversity of people willing to accept leadership positions—both appointed and elected. There is considerable competition for people’s time, many new residents do not feel connected to local area, and frustration with corruption and cronyism.

 Information & Communications Technology: It is essential to acquire expertise/advice/ knowledge on how to effectively use these tools and gain access to the knowledge of resources available from the Internet.

 Natural Resources Management/Land Use Planning : Loss of farmland, zoning conflicts, property rights, and contamination of resources are over-lapping concerns in this issue.

Specific Needs Under Each Priority:

Economic Development/ Education and Information and Natural Resources Sustainable Community Workforce Leadership and Citizen Communications Management / Land Development Development Participation Technology Use Planning

Strategies: Strategies: Strategies: Strategies: Strategies:

 Support  Communicate with  Clearly defining the  Develop central  Education for of entrepreneurs and existing businesses roles of leaders – location where people about the helping people to and industries – what are the those who don’t value and purpose transform an idea into a listen to their needs expectations for have computers of green space and business  Continuing leaders; what are the can have access to farm land  A education – legal requirements computers  Help educate the comprehensive vocational and and restrictions  Figure out how to public about the marketing strategy for technical, associated with make knowledge difference between economic development certification leadership positions that is out there planning and outlining impacts programs  Training/workshops useful to residents zoning  Meeting  Link with for elected officials of community  Create a toolbox s throughout region and entrepreneurship to help them have  Help communities for communities to communities and help programs for youth the skills and know what grants be used by public people learn about knowledge to are available officials to develop economic development perform their strategies for  Establis responsibilities moving the h diverse economic  Foster diversity in community toward development council leadership – looking planning and for the community to beyond those who growth think through the usually serve in management questions of what to do, these leadership how to do it, and positions toward what end RD Research Needs: RD Research Needs: RD Research Needs: RD Research Needs: RD Research Needs:

 Research for business  Extension develop  Data interpretation  Data  Data interpretation needs assessment for 4-H career of current research interpretation of of current research communities – share curriculum for  Develop knowledge current research  Develop with the communities county and facts about the  Develop knowledge and  Business surveys incorporating current situation in knowledge and facts about the  Marketing research career choices and the region facts about the current situation in  Product workforce training current situation the region research/product  Data interpretation in the region development of current research  Aquaponics and  Develop aquaculture knowledge and  Baseline data on facts about the tourism and arts current situation in financial impacts the region  Data interpretation of current research

RD Extension Needs: RD Extension Needs: RD Extension Needs: RD Extension Needs: RD Extension Needs:

 Host/org  Training  Revamping/ anize non-traditional teachers to help reinvigorating teen funding sources for them train students and adult leadership small businesses on life and work programs –  Create skills integrating teen easier access to leadership programs entrepreneurial into high school training programs curricula  Continu e funding county arts liaison and expand to all counties  Provide factual, unbiased information on topics identified