PZ Coordinator Speaks to the Tri Cities

By Nola Sizemore of the Harlan Daily Enterprise 

Sandi Curd, Promise Zone coordinator with Kentucky Highlands Investment Corp., told members of the Tri-Cities Heritage Development Board on Wednesday that Promise Zone planning is underway.  Earlier this year, an eight-county area in southeastern Kentucky was named one of five Promise Zones in the nation. The initiative will give the area a competitive advantage in applying for federal grants as well as additional assistance from various federal agencies that oversee housing, education, economic development, agriculture and safety.  The Promise Zone is comprised of Harlan, Bell, Letcher, Perry, Leslie, Clay and Knox counties, as well as part of Whitley County.

Curd said the six key focus areas include creating jobs, increasing overall economic activity, improving career education opportunities, reducing drug-related problems, improving broadband access and improving healthy food access. Curd added Harlan County has two representatives on an advisory council who report directly to her. She said those two individuals are local businessman and Meridzo Ministries Director Lonnie Riley and Harlan County Judge-Executive Joe Grieshop. She said Grieshop will be replaced in January when a newly elected judge-executive takes office.

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Roger Scholars

Congratulations Promise Zone Rogers' Scholars and Explorers

2014 Rogers Scholars

Bell– Taylon Baker, Clay– Evan Hensley, Harlan– Jerry Blake Blevins, Knox– William Matthew Dixon; Reagan Warren, Leslie– Morgan Pugh, Letcher– Dylan Caudill, Perry– Mahala Walker, Whitley– Ryan Richardson; Makenna Thibodeaux

Special Shout Out to Makenna Thibodeaux for being selected as a Rogers Scholars Ambassadors (only4 selected from among their peers; a total of 60 Scholars each year)

Rogers Scholars—TheCenter for Rural Development's flagship youth program—provides leadership and college scholarship opportunities to help upcoming high school juniors in Southern and Eastern Kentucky develop the skills they need to seize their potential as the region's next generation of business and entrepreneurial leaders.

During this intensive week-long program, Rogers Scholars work on building their leadership skills,participate in a series of team-building exercises; receive hands-on
instructional training from professional experts in engineering, healthcare,and video production; and interact with nationally recognized business leaders and entrepreneurs. The program focuses on developing skills in leadership,technology, entrepreneurship, and community service.

2014 Rogers Explorers

Bell– Alexis (Lexie) Brock; Sarah Combs, Clay– Bailey Hubbard; Chasity Sizemore; Grace Morris, Harlan– Autumn Dunaway; Bronwyn Haynes, Knox– Madison Gibson; Landon Hammons; Rex Miller; Tyler Engle; Trey Chesnut; Emily Bolinger, Letcher– Katie Braswell; Brooke Saurer, Perry– Alex Vermillion; Nick Gibson, Whitley– Lily Dennis-Bay; Molli Mulberry; Abbey Norvell; Ryan Shackleford; Christian Sharpe; Anna Grace Zehr; Julianne Devers; Braden Dickerson.

The Center for Rural Development's Rogers Explorers program helps rising ninth-grade students interested in science, math, and technology start the
journey toward careers in those in-demand career fields.

RogersExplorers spend three days and two nights on campus at some of Kentucky's top colleges and universities, where experts will guide participants through
hands-on assignments, all of which encourage creative thinking and teamwork and build leadership skills.

Promise Zone Hospital Opens New 3 Story Tower

The ribbon was cut on Hazard ARH’s new Joe Craft Tower, a three story addition adding 50 new private rooms, a new cardiac care unit and an expanded emergency department on Monday, August 4, 2014. Construction began in April of 2012 and upon completion made the Hazard facility the largest hospital in Southeastern Kentucky.

The ground floor doubled the existing Emergency Department and features 4 fully equipped trauma rooms, 5 fully equipped cardiac care rooms, 2 emergency pediatric treatment rooms, a private room dedicated to orthopedics and another private room for obstetrical and gynecological emergencies. Seven beds have been designed for minor emergencies and streamline to efficiently treat and release patients thus reducing waiting times.

The second floor holds a 16 bed cardiovascular/critical care unit. Each room is equipped with state of the art cardiac monitor systems, a pneumatic tube system for rapid transfer of lab specimens and delivery of pharmaceuticals.   Recognizing the importance of a family support system, all 16 rooms are furnished with recliners, sleep sofas and ergonomic patient chairs. The unit also spots the latest in cardiac equipment such as intra-aortic balloon pumps, pacemakers and defibrillators.

The third floor is a 34 bed medical surgical step down nursing unit. Nursing stations are decentralized placing staff within 2 to 3 rooms of the patients. Each private room is furnished with state of the art cardiac telemetry system, advanced alarm management software and built in renal dialysis ports. Again recognizing the importance of family support, all rooms have a sleeper sofa and 32 inch flat screen TV.

The tower is named in honor of Joe Craft, a Perry County native, entrepreneur, attorney and CEO of Alliance Resource Partners LP in recognition of his $1 million dollar donation.

Appalachian Food Map

Highlights 5 Promise Zone Eateries

Sharon Thompson’s, Herald-Leader Food Writer, July 30, 2014 column featured Appalachian eateries. The following modifies that article to focus on The Promise Zone.

“The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has created a new Appalachian food map guide to promote culinary tourism. Bon Appetite Appalachia features” 5 promise zone “culinary destinations in Kentucky that include local farms, farmers markets, farm to table restaurants, wineries, craft breweries and food festivals.” Featured from the Promise Zone are: The Old Homeplace Farm in Manchester, Holliday Farm and Garden in Hazard, the Poke Sallet Festival in Harlan, the Barbourville Farmers’ Market and the Whitley County Farmers’ Market operating in Corbin, Williamsburg and Goldbug.