Perry County Promise Zone Community Forum
What are the strengths of this community?
Strong work ethic
Good workers
Good leadership base
Much of the work is completed toward certification as a Work Ready Community
The demographics of our work force
We have a younger workforce
We lead the state in certified work ready employees
We have a strong nonprofit sector
We have many high performing nonprofits
We have a highly interconnected nonprofit infrastructur
We have the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky which is a Perry County - Hazard community Foundation
We have a Youth Leadership Program
Appalachian Arts Alliance trying to build a community arts center
This is a community that shows up when something needs to be done and we work together well
We have many volunteer organizations
Envision Hazard is a downtown revitalization initiative working on downtown walking, biking and river walk with public art spaces and community gardens
Access to a strong community college that is engaged in community life
Hazard Community and Technical College
The University Center of the Mountains (UCM) is a dynamic consortium of postsecondary educational institutions bringing more Bachelor's and Master's degrees and educational opportunities close to home in southeastern Kentucky.
Access to energy sources
Natural gas is available in Hazard
Coal and oil resources
Rich natural resources
Forest resources
Rich agricultural areas
Our renewable resources
We have 2 lakes and 2 state parks that offer many tourism and recreational opportunities (Buckhorn Lake State Park, Carr Fork Lake)
We have a spring and fall two day trail rides that bring thousands to the community from several states
There are many options for adventure tourism
Excellent grasslands on reclaimed mining lands that are perfect for cattle production and the restored elk population
We are the medical hub for this part of Kentucky (ARH and UK Center for Rural Health
Our hospital has over 300 beds
We have 150 physicians
We offer health-related training and degrees
We have a Hospice Center
We have a Veterans Nursing Home
We have a great Senior Citizens Center
We are an Investing in Kentucky's Future community and working on improving children's health with private foundation funding
We have the largest airport in the region and it has the potential to be extend the runway another 2000 ft
The airport is only one mile from the regional industrial park
There are many regional offices located here (e.g., KRADD, KY River Headwaters, LKLP, EKCEP, KUFC)
We are the hub for Teleworks USA
WYMT-TV is located here
Perry County schools have a Farm-to-School program
We have many artists and artisans and an active arts sector
The Challenger Center is in Hazard
We have development sites available from reclaimed mining land
About 90% of the county has access to broadband
We have many high quality child care choices
We are the natural hub for the region
We have several major population centers
We are centrally located with the US
Which of these strengths are shared by other counties in the Promise Zone?
Grasslands suitable for livestock production on reclaimed lands
Cultural history of agricultural production
Timber resources
Beautiful natural environment
Potential for expansion of tourism
What are the challenges you face?
Inadequate infrastructure
Insufficient water capacity and areas of the county lack access to public water
Insufficient sewage treatment capacity
Inadequate storm water management capacity
Poor roads
No access to natural gas at the industrial park
We do not have a broadband superhighway for technology jobs although we are 92% Internet capable
Internet access is not county wide and typically not cutting edge wireless access required for technology-oriented industries
The immediate and devastating loss of 2000+ coal mining jobs that everyone realizes will not be coming back. So this is not a cycle but a bottoming out of this sector of our economy
Jobs are our need at this time in all of the region
Our biggest challenge is working together regionally and being able to think regionally
Lack of regional planning
Lack of regional collaboration
Lack of a regional vision
Attitudes and beliefs of the people
People have lost hope, they don't believe that things will not change, what is the point of working hard to create change
We have done a lot of this work before (e.g, with Foundation for Appalachian KY, HCTC, etc). This could be a weakness because if we spend too much time covering territory we've already discussed, people will be discouraged
Individuals and families have had a significant loss of hope for their personal economic future and the possibilities for economic growth that will enable them to thrive in this community. As a result, more and more people have or are considering leaving Perry County.
Lack of entrepreneurial spirit or even an understanding of what it means to be an entrepreneur
Not enough of a culture of entrepreneurism
Strengthen the K-12 educational system
Find "out-of-the-box" ways to address how weather leads to such inconsistent education. For example, move to year-round school or use the Internet to connect students with teachers
Increase the focus on entrepreneurship and career options in elementary and middle school
Begin teaching foreign languages in elementary school
Enhance the quality of and access to early childhood education
Lack of arts education in schools
There are not enough educated young people to fill jobs to expand the nonprofit capacity for community and economic development
It's not clear that our education system is providing relevant skill development for our youth
There is a lack of emphasis on the arts. We need to build the arts more into
Community life in general
Tourism
K-12 education
There is a real need for public transportation that is affordable and reliable
Within our county
Among counties
We need to expand and enhance programs and opportunities for seniors
We don't have sufficient choice in assisted living
We have limited senior activities, for example, we have no walking trails to allow seniors and others to move through the community
We have high obesity and smoking/tobacco use rates
Very little enforcement of tobacco use prohibitions in schools
Poor health especially related to obesity
We have a "stale" downtown - we need a more vibrant "micropolitan" district
Deterioration of downtown business district
As a community, we need to have more of the dominant US culture here in this community so that residents, especially our youth, can feel that they have access to what others do in major metropolitan areas but still have the unique quality of life in this community
Lack of affordable housing for both low and moderate income families
Financing (public and private) for housing is a challenge
Lack of capacity to apply and compete for a broad array of federal grants
Our desire to develop trail systems often run into resistance from the Forest Service and other federal agencies that are not willing to allow us access to their lands
If you go on to the Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet's website it has misleading information about Perry County and its assets for economic development. For example, it says that we are 100+ miles from the nearest airport with regularly scheduled passenger flights. This is true, but it ignores the fact that we have the only airport in the region with a 5000 ft runway that has 1000 ft lanes and has the potential to be expanded to a 7000 ft runway. When the state posts the wrong information about your community, how can we hope to attract new industries and businesses?
Lack of or loss of green spaces
Need beautification of downtown and other areas of the community
Which of these challenges are shared by other counties in the Promise Zone?
Improvement of K-12 education to include:
Enhancing the quality of and access to early childhood education
Increase the focus on entrepreneurship and career options in elementary and middle school
Increase the emphasis on the arts
Internet access that is affordable and equal to the highest speed/quality available in urban areas
Loss of coal mining jobs and the subsequent loss of hope
Greatest obstacle is skepticism that anything can be done to improve our situation
When you think about the future, what opportunities are there for more economic and community development? What would you want the region to be like in 20 years?
Strong system of localized agriculture
We will have sustainable communities
We will have a local agricultural base
Thriving organic/natural food products available from local producers
We will have increased the number of farmers and food processors to meet local demand
We have excellent grasslands on remediated mountain top removal tracts that are perfect for the production of hormone free cattle
We have vacant facilities that would be perfect for growing algae and some other specialty crops
We are well situated for expanding vineyards and wine production
Bee production
We have existing large food users (jail, hospital, schools, nursing home) that could purchase locally grown foods for their institutional populations
Expand farm-to-school programs throughout all the schools of the Promise Zone
We will have converted coal fields to agricultural areas
Vineyards
Hydroponics
Aquaculture
Expansion of trail systems for different users (hikers, horse back riders, ATVs) and interconnection of trails across the counties in the Promise Zone
Capitalize on our nature beauty and natural resources to offer:
River trails
Bike tours
Horse trails
Increase road interconnectivity among all the counties of the Promise Zone. In particular, real development will depend on:
Connecting Hazard with Hyden and Harlan with a well designed multi-lane road
Making KY 15 into a four lane road
Increasing north-south interconnectivity within the region
A world championship golf course and conference center in Hazard would significantly broaden tourism and event opportunities
Golf course
There will be jobs and other opportunities for those wanting to stay in the area
Low unemployment
Good paying jobs
Our people will have good jobs
We would have a stable manufacturing base with some national connections
We will have improved small business opportunities
We will have support for entrepreneurial talent
Gourmet restaurants
Boutique shopping
Our people will have nice homes
Good mid priced housing for rent and ownership
A strong educational system creating strong young leaders
Decent education. Perry County schools do not meet Kentucky standards for proficiency
We need to be much more effective in marketing/promoting the assets and resources of our county. Perry County and Hazard are the best kept tourism secret in the eastern US --- as is the rest of this region
We would be the type of community that others want to move to
We would be similar to western North Carolina
We would have retirement amenities we do not currently have
Good health - people would be coming here to retire for health retreats (instead of running away from the cancer rates!)
We would be a healthy community
Downtown redevelopment to utilize existing building and other local assets
Beautification of downtown area with flowers and in other ways
There would be public/private investments in the community
If these are the opportunities you see, what has kept you from pursuing them?
Lack of money -- financial resources has limited our choices and actions
Lack of capital
We have a limited tax base
High cost of improvement to our transportation system
We have needed more private investment (return on investment from those out of the area - transfer of wealth)
Lack of regional planning and cooperation
No city, county or regional plan
There is no regional ecotourism plan to capture these opportunities
We have not been effective in attracting new businesses and industries because we don't do a good job nurturing the ones who are already here. This means we can't build a critical mass of industries or businesses that can be mutually sustaining
We haven't invested in growing our own businesses by developing entrepreneurs
We are missing a critical mass of business
Lack of entrepreneurial training
Even when we have businesses here, we often aren't willing to buy local or to support each other by buying goods and services from our own
Lack of aggressive, progressive, transparent political leadership
We don't necessarily see and/or value our own assets
The loss of hope undermines efforts to change our situation and to encourage people to develop their own talents into new economic opportunities here
We can't ignore the impact of drug abuse on our community and our economy
We have had no job diversification
We have depended on our natural resources to supply us with jobs
Myopic focus on child care
No highway system (4 lanes or better)
We are Scotch-Irish which means we are stubborn and loyal but hard working
Please indicate which elementary school is nearest to where you live?
AB Combs Elementary
1 Buckhorn School
1 Chavies Elementary
2 East Perry Elementary
Leatherwood Elementary
1 RW Combs Elementary
Robinson Elementary
Viper Elementary
Willard Elementary
4 Hazard City schools
What is your age group?
Under 18
1 18-24
1 25-44
3 45-54
3 55-64
2 65+
Action Strategies for the Region
Most important would be a north-south connector which could be an enhanced 421.
Should 4-lane 421 through Harlan to US 23
From Perry County, a 421 connector should come east of Hyden not through Hyden
Job creation - important to bring a business here to show that change is possible
Policy at the state level requires loans to businesses for being established or expanded be paid off. The challenge is: What is the state willing to do?
Is it willing to give a discount on repayment of loans for every x number of years that the business remains or adds new employees?
Is the state willing to wave for a period of time the requirement for community wage rates on state funded projects to enable EKY businesses to be more competitive
What is the state of Kentucky willing to invest in developing jobs in EKY?
Establish a state funded enterprise zone for the 8 Promise Zone counties to provide incentives to keep businesses in the region once their tax breaks end
For this to succeed, it is critical to identify WHY these firms are leaving after their state tax incentives end
Provide incentives for the development of the over 2 million acres of abandoned mining lands as orchards, vineyards, other commercial products (e.g., paw paws) grazing lands, and for tourism development
Jobs Program for short term public works projects to do critical infrastructure improvements and address the substandard housing in the region
For example, expand the current energy audits for homeowners that is a partnership with EKY Power to include KU and AEP
Short-term hires to complete the renovation of housing to reduce energy use
Train these short-term hires to develop their skills for long-term employment
Identify and analyze the factors making the Promise Zone not competitive with other regions and resolve those that can be affected by state policy
Have the Promise Zone local, state and federal legislators visit Washington to demand an update of the flood zone maps to reflect the effect of the construction of Buckhorn and Carr Fork Dams
WHY?
The cost of flood insurance is now so high and growing that individuals are abandoning their homes or businesses or being forced to leave because they cannot afford the cost of flood insurance
Industrial quality broad band for the region
Action strategies for Perry County
Short term projects (0-24 months to initiate implementation or completion)
Leave on the lights at the blue basketball courts until 9PM so youth and adults can play in the evenings
Pull together all the existing data, studies, and strategic plans related to Perry County and combine the information related to:
Needs
Resources
Actions related to the 3 legged stool essential to diversifying our economy
Forestry
Agriculture
Tourism
Existing data
Survey of 100 EKY employers on EKY concentrated employment
Hazard Community and Technical College
P-16 (Focus on Work Ready Communities
The Farmer's Market accept EBT cards to enable low income families to access locally grown foods
Have Farmer's Markets at different locations and on different days to increase geographic access to locally grown foods
Implement the existing business plan and architectural design for the renovation of the proposed Arts Alliance Building in downtown Hazard and implement arts-based activities in the summer of 2015
Roof stabilized
Façade improvements
Develop a Perry County Welcome area to be located near the Wal-Mart and elementary school by seeking donations of the design, the materials and the labor required to construct. Do this as an old-fashioned barn raising activity
Implement the plans for the Hazard downtown River Walk
Establish a youth entrepreneurship program as a partnership of schools and Chamber and Hazard Community and Technical College that provides both training and a co-op market for youth businesses
Establish a scholarship fund for low income youth to participate in non-school and school sports programs in collaboration with the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky
Establish a safe place for youth to hang out after school in consultation with youth as to an appropriate site and the characteristics of the site
Assure the $115 million funding for KY 15 improvements that are already in the road budget
The new water plant has been designed, sited, and everything else required to begin building this critical facility
Mid to Long-term projects (24-60 months to begin implementing or to complete)
Small Business Center Innovations and entrepreneurial education to help local people start and expand their small businesses
Identify commercial property owners (public or private) who are willing to offer free rent for one year to those who want to start a business in order to reduce the financial threshold for a successful business
In Pikeville, they established a coffee shop this way by offering an individual a location downtown for $1 for 5 years
Build a Community Wellness Center which already has:
A site selected
Focus groups with youth and adults as to what they would like to see in such a facility
Completed feasibility study
Construction plan
Establish a commercial processing facility combined with a community meeting room
Assist schools in becoming the site for wrap around community services
Establish boat dock access to Buckhorn Lake and build 20 cabins with boat docks
Build a ramp off the Hal Rogers Parkway to provide access to the golf course
Improve access to the airport and extend the runways to permit more commercial flights
We need to identify ways to take advantage of the 3 buildings available for new industries -- Hardwood flooring building, Hannah GilJo Company, Trus Joist bldg -- and discover those industries that would benefit the most from access to such buildings
AEP-KY Power service areas coming back to the Coalfields Industrial Park to invest to make it more competitive
Natural Gas processing plant at Coalfields Industrial Park
Explore option of utilizing the Begley Property as the site for a senior continuous care community and professional multi-family and single-family residences
