Published: December 23, 2008 04:54 pm         

Strategic plan unveiled

Document will guide future development here

HAZARD — A local band of government and civic leaders recently traveled to Hazard where they presented to the Appalachian Regional Commission a strategic plan which could guide McCreary County’s development for years to come.

The plan was developed with a $20,000 grant from ARC (awarded through The Center for Rural Development’s Developing and Implementing Community Strategies program), which the McCreary County Industrial Development Authority received last April, along with a $4,000 match from the county. This year marked the first time communities could apply for funding to develop a strategic plan.

Lexington-based engineering firm Strand Associates, Inc. was retained to work with community leaders to outline development recommendations in four areas:

• Medical and Healthcare

• Labor, Education and Training

• Utilities and Transportation, and

• Hospitality and Adventure Tourism.

The draft was one of four projects presented to more than 70 officials from across Southern and Eastern during the “Developing and Implementing Community Strategies” summit held at the Rural Law Enforcement Technology Center in Hazard.

Bob Mitchell, district administrator for U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05), attended the event on behalf of Congressman Rogers, who was participating in a special congressional session in Washington, D.C. Mitchell said the ARC has been instrumental in helping fund community projects that improve the quality of life throughout Appalachia.

“ARC has been vital in transforming this region,” Mitchell said. “So many times ARC has come to the rescue of Southern and Eastern Kentucky.

“Without ARC, we would not be able to have the infrastructure that we enjoy in Eastern Kentucky,” Mitchell added.

Also during the summit, new ARC mini-grants were announced for the communities of Beattyville, Bell County, Corbin, Lee County, Letcher County, Liberty, Morgan County, Mt. Vernon and Paintsville.

Tim Duncan, McCreary County Office of Economic Development Director, said the county’s strategic plan is being reviewed by the McCreary County Industrial Development Authority before it will be presented to Fiscal Court for formal adoption.

     

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