FRANKFORT, Ky.  (Nov. 22, 2013) – Job creation, entrepreneurship, tourism, lifelong learning, and leadership development will be among the topics discussed at the upcoming “S.O.A.R.: Shaping Our Appalachian Region” summit next month. 

Governor Steve Beshear and Congressman Hal Rogers released the daylong conference agenda today. Already, more than 1,100 people have registered to attend the summit, which will be held on Monday, Dec. 9 at the East Kentucky Expo Center in Pikeville. 

In an effort to focus on the future success of southern and eastern Kentucky, Gov. Beshear and Rep. Rogers organized the summit to gather ideas and recommendations about how to move Kentucky’s Appalachian region forward.  

The summit will be moderated by Chuck Fluharty, President of the Rural Policy Research Institute. Sessions will focus on a number of topics, including how to encourage regional innovation, the importance of infrastructure, and developing youth engagement. 

One part of the day will be dedicated to the story of the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board, which channeled the collective energies and ideas of the people of the iron-mining region of northeastern Minnesota to forge a new and successful future.

The SOAR Summit will host hundreds of attendees from across southern and eastern Kentucky with varied occupational backgrounds and interests– including individuals representing education, business, nonprofits, arts, finance, tourism, local government and more.  The summit is open to any Kentuckian with an interest in the strength and future of Kentucky’s Appalachian region. Interested individuals are invited to attend the SOAR Summit by registering athttps://kydlgweb.ky.gov/.  The agenda is available on the website.

Kentuckians can also participate in SOAR by following the latest updates through social media:  “Like” the Official SOAR Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ShapingOurAppalachianRegion and follow SOAR on Twitter @SOAR_EKY, using the hashtags #SOAR and #SOARSummit.

Click here for a copy of the day’s agenda.

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