1. Eastern Kentucky Must Learn From the Past to Prepare for Its Future
Why has eastern Kentucky has not made the same level of progress as other Appalachian coal states?
Ron Daley – KVEC/Hazard CTC

2. How Far Have We Come in 53 Years
How Far Have We Come in 53 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

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. Major factors for Eastern Kentucky to not make same levels of progress as rest of Appalachia
The dependence on coal, a resource extraction industry, with boom and bust cycles
Failure to have an interstate highway cross the coalfields diagonally/ horizontally
No public/research university based in Kentucky coalfields
Political/institutional boundaries divide the region do not enhance regional collaboration
Lack of sustained regional development efforts
Successful, widespread effective leadership inside and outside the region

10. Historically, regions relying on resource extraction industries suffer boom and bust economic cycles and have more difficulty diversifying their economies The coalfields put its future in the hands of coal

11. Economic, commercial and population growth follows Interstate Highways

12. Universities enhance commercial and economic development, attract a creative and educated group, promote research development, and provide leadership in their communities

13. Higher education levels are critical to have a vibrant, skilled workforce
I-75 and I-64 university corridor
Coalfields underserved by access

14. Arbitrary boundaries from county lines formed in 1800’s to Area Development Districts created in mid 2oth Century have made it more challenging to have a regional vision and pursue collaborative economic planning today

15. The future of the region is bright due to the bright minds of our teachers and students The Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative embraces innovative approaches to advance learning and community development

16. 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

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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

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

22. 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 and agencies with private investment will enable our people to achieve their common vision and make the region's dreams become reality.

23. Tying Education to Community Development: The Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative (KVEC)
“Power of Education and 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