Letcher County Promise Zone Community Forum
What are the assets and strengths of the county and the region?
People are our strength, assets, greatest resource
Hard working people
Hard work
Our workforce
Strong work ethic of community
Strong work ethic
Work ethic (among some)
Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurial spirit -- crafts co-op, farmer's markets
People (4)
We have a strong and long history of open discussion about issues
Openness of opinions
General acceptance of others
We have a self-sufficient lifestyle
We can improvise when we need to in order to make things happen
Strength of individuality
Resilient people
Natural problem solvers
Drive and commitment towards improvement
Mountain pride
Retiree wisdom
The county and region has many intelligent people
Strong knit community
Highly personal with strong relationships and kinship ties
Family oriented
Tight knit community
A community of creative professionals: arts, writing, graphic design
Media makers/creators/trainers (e.g., Appalshop, NMMT, AMI, etc)
Creativity and talent
Creative people
Creativity and ingenuity
People are motivated to live here
The potential for in-migrants as those who left reach retirement age
Youth/young folks who may have left but want to return
Our youth are our future
Young professionals want to live here
Flow of people in and out with new ideas and energy
Our natural resources (coal, gas, forests, limestone, farmland, surface water)
Land, forests, trails
Natural areas (Bad Branch, Lilley Cornett Woods, US Forest Service, Kingdom Come State Park)
Hiking trails, Bad Branch Falls
Pine Mountain Trail (2)
Horse trails
Outdoor recreation
We have a fantastic natural beauty that can not be found anywhere else.
Scenic beauty
Scenic area
Natural beauty (what's left of it)
Natural beauty - best vistas in KY
Natural beauty and points of interest
Our beautiful mountains
Beautiful views in areas
Beautiful area
Scenery, woods, trails, wildlife
Natural beauty
Bad Br. Falls
Fish Pond Lake
Terrain (Pine Mountain, strip mined land, cliffs, views)
Most recognized geological site
Rock formation
Pine Mountain
Pine Mountain is an asset
Unmined mountain ridge (Pine Mountain) for tourism
Natural resources (timber,,, natural gas, coal, limestone, clean water)
Coal (2)
Timber
Forests
Mineral resources
Energy resources
Natural resources (gas, coal, timber)
Coal, timber, gas
Diverse natural resources
Potential wind power from the tops of the mountains but this is not in the discussion
Agricultural production,
Our knowledge about the land and agriculture
Technically trained workers
A large proportion of adult males are skilled in trades and crafts from employment in the mines. But not necessarily licensed or certified for similar work outside the mines
People with skilled trades backgrounds
Skilled workforce
Excellent work force
Skilled technical workers
Highly skilled with hands -- crafts, mechanical
Skilled artisans and workers
Skills like plumbing, electricians, construction
Lots of people that want to work and have skills from previously working in the mines
Workforce with mechanical, industrial skills (miners)
Open to new industry
Work forces with hands-on skills
Deep complex history and culture
Places with a long history to attract visitors
Long-standing institutions that preserve our history
Rich history
Historic sites
A coal and railroad museum
Culture
Our history
Veterans museum
Strong sense of history
Rich cultural heritage of arts, music, and story-telling
Rich cultural heritage of music, arts, crafts, story-telling
Strong arts community (e.g., Epicenter, galleries)
Art shows
Appalshop
Music traditions with strong community and cultural ties
Musical and artistic talent
Many artists and artisans (Appalshop, AMI, Grow Appalachia, KPI Center Arts Group and other such groups). Perry County has Appalachian Arts Alliance, Harland has Higher Ground (performing arts group) and Black Mountain
Cultural heritage is shared across counties but Letcher County has exemplary arts legacy and supporting organizations like Appalshop, Pin Mountain Settlement School, etc
Our music impact on the world
Culture (music, arts)
While not being anywhere, we are close to everywhere
We are on the state line and so have access to a bigger population than lives here
We have highway access and good county roads
Highway 23 is the main north-south corridor
There is a rail system in the west to accommodate large trucking
Rail access
We are within 8 hour driving time of a large percentage of US population
We have available rail and trucking servings and we will (hopefully) have an airport (a multi-county project with Knott County)
We have industrial land and buildings with good infrastructure available
Vacant buildings available for new uses
Low cost electricity
We have space with infrastructure for incoming industries
Unused land from mining that could be sustainably redeveloped
A lot of useable property for development
Vacant buildings
Better off technologically than other counties (e.g., training available, high speed internet infrastructure)
We have a multi-county industrial site in this county
Education resources
We have a community college (3)
School facilities
Good education system (2)
Good school
Community college system
Education (Extension, Southeast CTCS, Montessori, County and city schools)
A college and a new central high school with a vocational center
Much undeveloped land
Undeveloped land
Lots of vertical land
Previously mined lands are not being used for anything so available for many uses
Reclaimed mine land
Land for farming and tourism
Access to high quality health care
Regional Center for Births - but no neo-natal unit
Hospital with medivac
Health clinics
Good health care (3)
Strong health care system
Good medical resources
Medical facilities - hospital, 2 medical clinics
Access to medical school and a major medical center
Health care internet network
We have a good small hospital
We have a medical school one county away
We are a regional draw for obstetrics and gynecology
Downtown Whitesburg
The city is wet
Golf course
Modern library
Libraries
Strong sense of community
Strong network of community organizations
Civic organizations
New recreation center
Historical Society with excellent genealogical records
Senior citizens center and programs
New Senior Apartment building
People working together
What are the challenges that your county and/or the region face?
Insuring that our children are well educated so that they are competitive
Brain drain
Aging public school building
Lack funding for competitive educational services
Low educational levels
An education system more focused on providing jobs and sports teams than providing high quality education for the 21st century
Education
Our children need more cultural activities
Enhanced vocational training
Few paid youth programs, not much public support for this
Our population is not as well educated as in other parts of the state, and this is unfortunately shared by the surrounding counties
Need a long-term cohesive (within Letcher County and between all counties) plan for a just economic transition
No inclusive process for growing and moving forward as a community
Tourism, especially as related to the arts. We have such talent and tourism money is not used to show that. Need to be more inclusive if more than just one artist. Establish a diversified tourism planning team
A total breakdown in supply chains:
Hotels would come if more tourists, but more tourists are needed to "justify" more hotels. Companies can't get established here because there are no IT services, but the same is true in reverse. Same for food systems - we need more processing, wholesalers, etc. Nearby communities also have this breakdown in supply chains
Lack of proximity to high value markets
Lack of hotel and motel rooms (if tourists come, where will they stay?)
No place to stay downtown -- no hotel
Not capitalizing on assets such as technology hub, scenery and hiking
The supply chain for agriculture is shrinking
Lack of broadband Internet access (even though ours is better than many other counties in the region)
Our broadband Internet access is not affordable for all of our residents
Cell phone access is limited geographically
Broadband internet is insufficient and not affordable
Need for more accessible high speed Internet and fiber optics
Lack of access to modern, fast and affordable Internet access
Lack of high speed, affordable broadband
Lack of broadband for rural areas
Lack of wide spread broadband
Lack of broadband (2)
Another weakness is the lack of true broadband Internet for many in the region
We have failed the people by not creating a more diverse economy to ensure jobs for our citizens
The county and region's economy is undiversified and too dependent on coal
Biggest challenge is that people here have known nothing but coal and still cling to the belief that it will be back to save us, when the reality is that most of the economically mineable coal is gone and we cannot compete with the Powder Ridge Basin
Undiversified economic base
No long term sustainable and diversified jobs
Lack of industry
No diversity in our economy
Lack of support for small business development and growth (TA)
No access to business-to-business services
A limited number of mentors for small business development
Lack of jobs is the biggest challenge
Lack of jobs (2)
High unemployment
No jobs comparable to what coal jobs pay
Unemployment
The downside of the widespread electrician and plumbing skills is that it makes it hard to establish a business to provide those services
No jobs
Lack of manufacturing jobs
Lack of jobs, especially jobs for college graduates
Need more living wage jobs
Lack of good paying jobs/careers
In need of good paying jobs
Poverty
Lack of financial wealth - wealthy has been extracted over 100s of years
Much of the wealth and wages still leaves the region through businesses that aren't locally owned
Poor
Too many folks wanting a hand-out
Lack of venture capital
Lack of funding for development
A lack of resources for the community to build from
Limited access to ways to reach the communities' real potential
Money
No venture capital
Lack of funds for development
Lack of venture capital to spark small business development
No access to venture capital
Lack of basic infrastructure (water and sewers)
No landfill (3)
Trash -- the attitude of throwing trash out
Lack of sewers and water (2)
Roads and transportation access
No major interstate access
No east or west arteries
2 hours to interstate
Lack of necessary conveniences (water, proper sanitation, roads, etc)
Lack of infrastructure to our mountain top removal sites
Transportation -- poor roads, no major airport, no interstate highway, now waterways for barges
Natural gas is not available to residential or business users
No rail line
No bus line
No solar or wind generated power
A culture of low expectations
Sense of fatalism
Fatalism of nothing good happens here
Fatalism (2)
Negativism
Unwillingness to think outside the box. Get creative and try something new!
Need more innovation and opportunities so folks who want to stay can!
Resistance to new ideas
Some don't want progress
Some are territorial not for regionalism or work together
Unwillingness to consider other views or opposing positions
A lack of opportunities both economic and socially to make members of communities feel empowered
Same old leadership = same old results
Tunnel vision
Tunnel vision focus on coal as the only source of economic growth
Resistance to renewable energy, sustainability etc based on pro-coal attitudes
Groups within our area fighting against anything coal related. We see what their agenda has already done
Loss of hope
Unwillingness to "bite the bullet" for the community good
Low expectations
The image or stereotypes of the region (2)
Poor community self-image
The perception that the region can't graduate high school students who can go on to become professionals
Perception problem goes both ways -- local attitudes about "outsiders" - Pine Mt. Trail Conference didn't want "hippies" hiking in Letcher County
Suspicion of "outsiders"
Negative self image
Questionable work ethic
Perception problems
Being the whipping boy for the rest of the state and nation
Politics
Washington DC
Priority #1 - we want our local voice to be heard. The problem is we have a group of outsiders speaking for us
Local politics - Tourism money being funneled into the pockets of one instead of spread to the many
Public art projects have not been offered to artists to bid on. All public arts projects have been given directly to one artist with no open bids
Entrenched political power
Political corruption and cronyism
Government interference and regulations
War on coal
Corruption and territorialism
Lack of strategic cooperation between city and county governments
The challenge is working together
Lack of government working with non-governmental organizations
Jealousy and sectionalism
Limited or no city/county government partnerships
Lack of shopping areas
People shop in other areas so our money leaks from the county
Lack of many of the consumer conveniences available elsewhere
Lack of needed shopping opportunities
Lack of a retail structure
Outward migration
Loss of population through out-migration has reduced our tax base
Not losing our citizens to other areas
Population is shrinking
Decrease in population
Lack of quality affordable housing
We have some of the highest electricity rates in the region because of poor housing quality
Not enough quality housing
Low quality housing
High land prices
Low quality housing stock - leaky which causes high electric bills that people can't afford
Poor health (2)
High levels of cancer, asthma, and obesity
Unhealthy population
Our hospital is over shadowed by those in Perry and Pike counties
Addiction (drugs and alcohol) problems (2)
Lack of specialized health services
Drugs and lack of counseling
Youth who are addicted to drugs or unwilling to work
Addiction (2)
Addiction problems (2)
Drug problem (2)
Polluted water
Devastated land
Land that is useable for economic growth is a big challenge. Most of the land in this area is in the flood plain or on the side of a hill. The reclaimed land is not fit for construction
Lack of a university
Lack of high quality early education
Lack things for families to do
Imagine it is 10 years from now. Describe how you hope the county and region will be different.
This will be a placer where people want to visit and live
This will be a place where everyone (income, class, race, age) is valued and respected and included
Young people will be staying here or coming back after college and building homes
A lower rate of outward migration
Highly regarded as a destination for families
A good place to retire
Tourists coming to see scenery, music, and hear history that mattered to America
This will be a place I can brag about and be proud of
This will be a place to raise a family and have a high wage job
A place where people feel at home and they don't want to leave. A place where there are jobs that give people meaningful livelihoods, doing things that are fulfilling. Where we have good health and clean water and our families and communities are healthy. A place where the wealth stays here in the region and provides full live through strong community and cultural centers and events. Where we are less worried and have art and joy in our lives.
More interested in regional economies creating supply chains for agriculture, energy, etc.
Letcher County and the Promise Zone will be an example of economic revival for the country
This will be a region where there are many different meaningful jobs and businesses, not just one mono-industry
Kentucky will have embraced the highlands instead of shunning it
A diverse economy regionally
This will be a region with ample tourism attractions, first-class health care and an educated work force
A place where people can choose to stay and raise family without worrying about whether there are jobs available
Letcher County fully embraced economic and community development from the ground up, supporting a new ecosystem of cooperative businesses and ensuring that the needs and expertise of community members are fundamental to planning
This will be like an economy that is built on a variety of small to medium locally-owned businesses that help us provide for ourselves
A more diverse economy
This will be an economy built on a variety of small and medium locally owned businesses
A booming economy with many thriving, locally owned businesses
Viable and vibrant economy
Localized diversified economy
Diversified economy
New economy that is not dependent on coal
I would like to see a diversified economy
Diverse economy (2)
We would have a diverse economy that does not depend on any single industry
Combination of industry, tourism, and sustainable jobs (medical and small business)
Business incubators will help people to establish their own businesses
Persons of all ages and interest will have access to the knowledge and resources to open new businesses
Small business assistance should include loans as well as "outside the box" assistance. For example, space or timesharing among small businesses so that Here Comes the Bread which is only open week days till noon, would share space with other aspiring bakers needing facilities who would be open afternoons and weekends.
Small business community
Community based co-ops supplying our needs and our neighbors (i.e., food, building materials, energy, technology) using a state of the art rail system to bring in tourists and move goods
More retail businesses
More businesses
More business-to-business within region activity
More shopping
We will be a technology hub for all of the central Appalachian region
Technology hub (2)
Technology hub training folks for gaming, networking, marketing and computer science
There will be more access to technology resources such as the Internet
Wind power and distributed solar power
Jobs in manufacturing, shipping and energy renewal
Available jobs will have increased
Industry -
Many more opportunities in various fields and areas
Better jobs
Employed
Job opportunities so people could move back here
More opportunities for our people
Poverty levels greatly reduced
Plenty of good jobs with good pay
Satisfying, rewarding and adequately paid work available for all with women paid equally with men
Jobs that make it possible for people to stay here
More agricultural and forest-based production activities on reclaimed lands
Gourmet foods and gifts based on local foods (e.g., kudzu tea and kudzu woven baskets)
As new economic development took hold, EKY throttled down its coal production, meaning that the value of our metallurgical goal increases dramatically for the markets that depend on it
Lots of people employed in agriculture, forestry and renewable energy on reclaimed mined land
Sustainable agriculture
Capital to start successful small businesses
Federal prison with multiple service providers from the community
We will have small towns busting with specialized shops
Still a strong community with cultural ties
Dispersed commercial centers for basics (milk and bread)
Year round farmers market
More variety of businesses in our downtown areas
Youth will have more opportunities for employment
There will by youth employment opportunities
Jobs available for our children
Youth will have more opportunities for internships
Young people staying here and with access to knowledge
Better economic opportunity for our children
Jobs for college kids
More youth employment
Young people being trained up earlier in business development
More cultural activities (2)
Arts, dance classes etc.
Theater
Museums
Art as part of the local economy
Cultural center
Cultural activities
Better craft market and traditional art training with producers co-ops
A fully developed and coordinated tourism infrastructure will provide a full range of services to visitors
Hotels and bed & breakfasts will be spread throughout the region providing overnight accommodations for visitors
Hotels (2)
Tourism based on the many different arts and crafts produced in the region along with the natural beauty of the area
Adventure tourism (2)
Tourism
Places for people to stay
Not Gatlinburg - stay simple and easy
Walking/biking trails
Tourist attractions - theaters, galleries, music venues
There will be a diverse range of activities available for persons of all ages
A physically and mentally healthier county and region
Walking and biking paths within our counties and connecting them
Bike and walking paths paralleling all roads
Lots of outdoor activities for locals and tourists
Varied activities for young people
Bike trails
Creative energy efficient housing of all types will be available
More good quality and affordable housing
New housing developments
A multigenerational population
Strong communities with large families
30% of the population will be 4 or younger
Accessible and affordable child care
Better services for our senior citizens
Assisted living facility
Younger population
People of all ages live here
A large population of people the ages of 1-40 years old
Infrastructure problems solved
Improve infrastructure
There will be public transportation available within the counties and within the region
A bus service runs up and down Hwy 23 and back and forth along Hwy 15
A tunnel through Pine Mountain providing more intra-regional access
Letcher County's general aviation airport will have grown large enough to handle commercial traffic
Public transportation
Transportation access to other areas
Roads widened
Electric trolley system (rubber tire vehicles) along all main roads
Airport
Like to be better connected to other areas
Clean and environmentally friendly
The county and the region will be cleaner
Recycling is something every household does and pick-up is free
Streams repaired
People would have stopped littering everywhere
Rivers clean, drinkable and useable for recreation
Land restored, reforested and improved for farming
Green and clean
Clean
Maintain our scenic beauty
We will have a strong education system - pre-K through college
There will be more access to a 4 year college education either physically or on-line within all the counties
Affordable colleges
A higher rate of high school graduation
A top-rated educational system
Better education system
Vocational School with numerous choices
Ability to get Bachelors degrees
We will have honest, open conversations and a willingness to try new things
We will act and not just talk
The county and the region will be more open to outsiders
This will be a place where our leaders listen to the people and now what might fatten their wallets or their eqos
Open and democratic government at all levels
Population above average in health
Drug abuse epidemic would be over
More healthy
Expanded health services
Drug treatment facility
Less or no drug addiction
Healthy community
Healthier community
Drug Free!
No "Friends of Coal" propaganda
Less immoral activity (gay-lesbian infiltration to our county)
What are obstacles the region and your county have to overcome to move forward?
Different groups refusing to work together within the county and different counties in the region refusing to work together to create regional draws and tourism opportunities
Government agencies fighting for the same incentives instead of working together
Stand together and stand strong
We have to move beyond political posturing to work together and move our county forward
No unity for a forward plan
Lack of unity of purpose
Lack of follow through and action
Think tank meetings but no action
Even though we get together and brainstorm ideas and seem to agree on what is needed, there has been and in some cases, still is a problem with folks from the different communities in the county coming together on projects
Territorialism
Don't reinvent the wheel - Many summits and listening sessions have been held in the region soliciting citizen input (e.g., Letcher Action Team, MACED, KFTC
Local elite has decided the county's priorities without any planning or little community input
Factionalism between towns
The push toward regionalism has come at the expense of Letcher County, with everything - resources and money - going to Hazard or Pikeville
Greed is holding us back
Unwilling local leaders and politicians who won't try innovative ideals and allow growth due to a fear of losing control or their power over the community
We have not been an inviting community so that people want to come into this area to invest in development
Make ourselves accessible to the needs of businesses
Openness to new people and new ideas
Resistance to change
Stereotypes and preconceived notions about our region
The negative stigma of mountain top removal -- we have much needed land because of it. Once again, outsiders speaking for us
Unprogressive attitudes
Lack of funding (2)
Financial help
No incentives for starting a business
Lack of incentives for renewable energy and sustainable agriculture
Lack of venture capital
Need to provide more incentives to our local entrepreneurs instead trying to send those incentives out of region
Lack of availability of money to make a difference with enough flexibility to be effective for our needs
Lack of a plan and no shared vision
Lack of sustained, local and inclusive planning
More flow of information and ideas from existing NGOs like MACED and KFTC with existing political power. Let's stop re-inventing the wheel. Everything done tonight has been done 5 times before by KFTC and MACED and NOTHING happened
Stop complaining and start making things happen
Need to engage regular citizens
Lack of vision AND the persistence to implement it
We do not focus on our assets, instead ask others to bring their businesses and their jobs
An unwillingness and an inability to confront those who have held power for many, many years
Infrequently acknowledge or addressed, the power and financial imbalance with the owners of our extractive industries along with public and private grant funders. Many private funders built their endowments with extractive dollars from this same area during boom times.
Poor discussion/analysis/vocabulary of conflict of interest in terms of the unavoidable forces it brings to bear for economic change even when it is acknowledged
No discussion of the land ownership issues (outside corporate landholders, heirships, etc)
Land not available as being held by only a few
Corruption
Breaking out of the status quo
Local politics
Don't duplicate efforts -- It is important to coordinate with SOAR. SOAR work groups are based on citizen input and cover major development areas
Government
A general feeling of lack of empowerment
Apathy
A lack of engagement of young people
An oligarchy -- not necessarily government vs democracy
The same suspects are involved in everything
Cronyism
Same old leadership and no youth involvement
Poor infrastructure
Poor roads (2)
Need better roads
Need access to interstate highway
Infrastructure (water, sewer, broadband, cannery, slaughterhouse)
We have enough roads and don't need an airport
More broadband for rural unserved residential areas
Need broadband internet
Drug problems
Widespread drug abuse among all ages
Lack of industry
No jobs for the community or graduating students
Lack of job opportunities (2)
Population flight
Not enough networking among our businesses
Can't get tourists because we have no place for them to stay. No one will build a hotel because we don't have enough tourists. So it is a catch 22
Which elementary school do you live nearest to?
1 Arlie Boggs Elementary
Calvary Christian
5 Cowan Elementary
8 Letcher Elementary
4 Martha Jane Potter Elementary
6 West Whitesburg Elementary
5 Jenkins Independent
1 Carr Creek Elementary
4 No answer
34 Total
What is your age group?
Under 18
18-24
12 25-44
5 45-54
6 55-64
7 65+
4 No answer
34 Total
