EKU committed $20,000 to support five interns who will work directly with each of the 10 working group chairs until August. The interns will support each group by communicating progress and discussions in an effort to promote transparency and increase citizen participation in the SOAR initiative. Additionally, a UK graduate student will work directly with communications teams from the offices of the Governor and Congressman to assist with media relations.

“It is my hope that this internship will inspire more students to get involved in the SOAR initiative. SOAR is designed to shape the path forward for our region, and it is our young people who will be the long-term beneficiaries of the efforts and decisions we make today,” said U.S. Rep. Rogers. “We appreciate the commitment from EKU and UK to support these students as we steam ahead.”

“I cannot think of a better way to further show our commitment to eastern Kentucky than involving our young people who are our future leaders,” Gov. Beshear said. “SOAR is an important initiative to this region, and the more we can communicate and involve all the participants, the greater our success will be.”  

Also today, Gov. Beshear and U.S. Rep. Rogers met with the executive committee and working group chairs to discuss the structure and bylaws of SOAR, the next steps for the working groups and initiating the search for an executive director to be in place later this year. He or she will organize a second SOAR summit to be held this fall.

With an overwhelming response to help shape the future of Kentucky’s Appalachian region, 250 people are now involved in the initiative’s 10 working groups and executive committee. Those individuals are leading discussions focused on the region’s future economic well-being and quality of life. Based on citizen and organizational input, the groups will identify significant opportunities and a long-term vision related to their topics.

The working groups’ focus areas include broadband; agriculture, community and regional foods; business recruitment and incubation; education and retraining; and health.

Groups also include infrastructure; leadership development and youth engagement; regional collaboration and identity; and tourism, including natural resources, arts and heritage. 

To help carry the mission forward, East Kentucky Power provided a contribution of $5,000 to support various SOAR meetings and activities this summer.

The Kentucky Campus Compact has also committed multiple VISTA volunteers to support SOAR committees, operations and communications for one year, starting in July. The VISTA positions are part of a project called “Toward a Sustainable Kentucky” or TASK. To learn how to become a VISTA member, contact Kristen Hedgebeth at Kristen.hedgebeth@kycompact.org.

The next SOAR joint committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for July.

For more information about SOAR, visit http://governor.ky.gov/soar/ and follow SOAR activities on Facebook @ShapingOurAppalachianRegion and on Twitter @SOAR_EKY.

To contact the SOAR office, call 606-444-5127 or 606-437-5127.

About the SOAR initiative

The SOAR initiative was launched by Gov. Beshear and Congressman Rogers in late 2013, after a stunning downturn in the coal market exacerbated historic challenges in eastern Kentucky related to unemployment and poverty. More than 1,700 Kentuckians attended a one-day SOAR summit in Pikeville in December. SOAR is intended to help the region develop and put into action new locally-oriented strategies to attack persistent challenges.

SOAR Executive Committee Meeting

(Left to right: Chuck Fluharty, Interim Executive Director; Gov. Beshear; 
Congressman Rogers; & Bob Mitchell, executive committee member)

Daniel Wilson from Wolfe County
SOAR Chair of Agriculture, Community and Regional Foods Working Group

Lonnie Lawson from Pulaski County
SOAR Chair of Broadband Working Group

Jared Arnett from Pike County
SOAR Chair of Business Incubation Working Group

Michael Cornett from Perry County
SOAR Member of Education and Retraining Working Group

Dr. Nikki Stone from Perry County
SOAR Chair of Health Working Group

Sandy Runyon from Pike County
SOAR Chair of Regional Collaboration and Identity Working Group

Jack Sykes from Pike County
SOAR Chair of Infrastructure Working Group

Johnathan Gay from Rowan County
SOAR Chair of Leadership Development and Youth Engagement

SOAR Executive Committee Meeting

(Left to right: Chuck Fluharty, Interim Executive Director; Gov. Beshear; 
Congressman Rogers; & Bob Mitchell, executive committee member)

Daniel Wilson from Wolfe County
SOAR Chair of Agriculture, Community and Regional Foods Working Group

Lonnie Lawson from Pulaski County
SOAR Chair of Broadband Working Group

Jared Arnett from Pike County
SOAR Chair of Business Incubation Working Group

Michael Cornett from Perry County
SOAR Member of Education and Retraining Working Group

Dr. Nikki Stone from Perry County
SOAR Chair of Health Working Group

Sandy Runyon from Pike County
SOAR Chair of Regional Collaboration and Identity Working Group

Jack Sykes from Pike County
SOAR Chair of Infrastructure Working Group

Johnathan Gay from Rowan County
SOAR Chair of Leadership Development and Youth Engagement

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