1. The Power of Partnerships in Community Revitalization in Rural America
We Are Not There Yet-But We Are Getting There:
Connecting the Stakeholders/Resources
Delivering Outcomes for Communities– Washington, D.C. May 27, 2016
Ron Daley – KVEC/Hazard CTC

2. Oldest K-12 educational cooperative in Kentucky serving 19 school districts is pulling scho0l districts, counties and communities together

3. Our Appalachian region serving 14 counties
Densely populated and mountainous (approximate geographical size of Connecticut)
High Poverty Rate
Lowest Quotient of Well Being in Nation
Declining coal industry-massive layoffs with potential for outmigration

4. The $30 million spanning four years is all about the 42,256 students served by 2,860 educators in 99 schools in 14 counties.
Education is being transformed-a national model of excellence
The “Appalachian Renaissance Initiative,” focuses on personalized/customized learning and empowering students with their voices and choices.

5. How Far Have We Come in 52 Years
How Far Have We Come in 52 Years? President Lyndon Johnson listens to Tom Fletcher describe some of the problems of his Martin County community in April 24, 1964 in iconic photo symbolizing the War on Poverty.

9. We have been bleeding coal jobs for decades In 1914 at the peak there were 180,000 anthracite miners; by 1970 only 6,000 remained. At the same time steam engines were phased out in railways and factories, and bituminous was used primarily for the generation of electricity. Employment in bituminous (coal type in Kentucky) peaked at 705,000 men in 1923, falling to 140,000 by 1970 and 70,000 in 2003.

10. KVEC Region Census Data
We’ve been bleeding population for decades, especially our young, talented and educated
KVEC Region Census Data
County 2014 Population %+/-(since 2010) Population
Pike 63, % 71,222
Floyd 38, ,986
Magoffin 12, ,490
Johnson 23, ,771
Wolfe 7, ,997
Lee 7, ,860
Owsley 4, ,957
Perry 27, ,828
Letcher 23, ,592
Breathitt 13, ,946
Harlan 28, ,275
Knott 15, ,007
Bell 27, ,812
Leslie 10, ,981
Region 303,749 (6.8% of state) ,724 (16.3%)
Kentucky 4,413, ,845,627
Source: quickfacts.census.gov

11. Factors for Eastern Kentucky to not make same levels of progress as rest of Appalachia
Failed to embrace regional approach.
Region operated as City-States, competing instead of collaborating
Coal/mineral severance tax funds not used as effectively
Many institutions/organizations serving region based outside
No public/research university based in Kentucky coalfields

12. Need paradigm shift in thinking and planning to address historic economic challenges and not just Band-Aids for immediate circumstances

13. Rural areas often lack connected civic capacity to plan collaboratively in their region
The KVEC team created networks and forged alliances to connect citizens, organizations and resources in Appalachian Kentucky
KVEC Consortia is model for regional approach sharing best practices

15. Establish First U.S. “Rural Edu-conomy Innovation Zone”
Using Work Ready model to build community support for education
Inform community about K-20 education
Engage business and local leaders in education
Tie education to economic and community growth
Creating Global “Silicon Holler” Innovation Hubs

16. Preparing Region for Global Economy Implementing vision of U. S. Rep
Preparing Region for Global Economy Implementing vision of U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers

17. STRATEGIES TO ASSIST REGIONAL PLANNING
Using KY Work Ready Community program with organizations in each county to promote community and economic growth and the New Economy
Open meetings held at different hours in day and evening
Use as opportunity to get K-12 and older youth engaged
Creation of Millennial Think (Do) Tanks to develop strategies to build New Economy and attract and retain creative talent to get youth more involved
Create and sustain local leadership development programs/trainings

18. REGIONAL PLANNING - Continued
Host meetings with professional learning (development) component to encourage team spirit and team planning
Start with easy wins to build pride and sense of accomplishment
Creation of community toolkit preparing communities for the New Economy and community team spirit
Use The Holler.org to build an on-line community digital framework promoting county and regional work including data use

19. REGIONAL PLANNING - Continued
Develop and use county contact lists to promote regional work
Traditional and social media campaign to promote New Economy, community growth, and regionalism
Use the largest roll out of Next Generation classroom technology in rural America and live feeds from Promising Practices/Action Research Summits to promote regionalism
Create common strategic plan (contain elements of partner plans); plan based on data (create community, regional data base repository) ; and Goals/Outcomes/Sustainability based plans

20. SOAR (Shaping Our Appalachian Region) positive bi-partisan initiative promoting regionalism and collaboration began in The KY Highlands Promise Zone is enhancing collaboration.

21. We Are Not There Yet-But We Are Getting There
There is a Renaissance going on in Appalachian Kentucky
But, a vision or dream without funding is a hallucination. Our federal agencies will enable our people to achieve their common vision and make the region's dreams become reality

22. Tying Education to Community Development: The Appalachian Renaissance Initiative
“Power of Partnerships in Community Revitalization in Rural America”
Ron Daley, Strategic Partner Lead
Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative (KVEC)
To learn more about great work of students and teachers in KVEC consortia visit