Google
 
Web Osi Speaks!

Sunday, February 10, 2008

UK Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute Announces Fellowships in South Central KY

30 community leaders have been selected from across the old 5th by UK to serve in one of the state's premiere economic development training programs. This program was praised by Gov. Beshear in last year's gubernatorial election and received support from Gov. Fletcher while he was in office. Among the awardees: Michah Terry, an up and comer in the KY GOP who many will remember as being active in the conservative blogosphere during last year's Republican gubernatorial primary.

I went through the inaugural class a couple of years ago and the training really opened my eyes about how crucial entrepreneurship is to economic success in this age of "capitalism without the capital." It also impressed upon me the need to encourage and support entrepreneurship in public policy. For example, how often do we hear of the need to teach more math and science in our schools? What about e'ship? Shouldn't we teaching kids the basics of business creation?

Anways, Congrats to the chosen few... I know this was a tough decision for the selection committee and I'm sure a few folks who could have gained from it just couldn't spare the time.

If you know any of these folks, congratulate them first, and then get them to promise you that they'll share what they're learning. This is a great program that has the potential to change the region once it achieves critical mass.

Here's UK's press release:

LEXINGTON, Ky., (February 8, 2008) - Thirty leaders throughout South Central Kentucky have been awarded fellowships by the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture to take part in the third class of the Kentucky Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute. Those selected to participate in the Institute will receive a fellowship valued at $18,000 in the form of eight seminars lasting two to three days in length and a week long study-tour throughout the Western United States. Fellows will learn from regional, national and international leaders in rural entrepreneurship while taking part in the Institute.

“Investing in rural leaders makes rural communities better places to live and work,” said RonHustedde, Director of the Kentucky Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute.

The Institute was formed in response to the transitions in rural communities. “If current selfemployment trends continue one rural worker will be self-employed for every three salaried workers by the year 2015,” said Hustedde. Fellows will explore ways to help tobacco-dependent communities throughout South Central Kentucky.

Fellows in the program represent over a dozen counties in the South Central Kentucky region.The 2008-2009 fellows include: Danny Adams (Wayne County), Ann Beard (Taylor County), William “Bud” Blair (Marion County), Kaye Bowman (Adair County), Denise Brooks (Hart County), Sharon Burton (Adair County), Gary Carroll (Barren County), Sarah-Neil Cook (Warren County), Holly Davis (Taylor County), Virginia Davis (Hart County), David Dinwiddie (Allen County), Thomas Dodson (Monroe County), Vivian Gentry (Warren County), Hal Goode (Washington County), Chris Hamilton (Marion County), Barkley Hancock (Green County), Jim Hatchett (Washington County), Todd Hoskins (Casey County), Shannon Hutchinson (Wayne County), Greg Karsner (Washington County), Bonnie Kilby (McCreary County), Melissa Knight (Marion County), Bill Lytle (Metcalfe County), Claire McGowan (Washington County), Karisa Peterson (Barren County), Pat Rose (Washington County), Anita Skaggs (Casey County), Tracey Skinner (McCreary County), Micah Terry (Hart County) and Cindy Thrasher (Adair County).

The Kentucky Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute is funded by the Kentucky Ag. Development Board and administered University of Kentucky College of Agriculture’s Cooperative Extension Service in cooperation with the Center for Rural Development in Somerset.

More information about the Kentucky Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute can be found online at: www.uky.edu/AG/CLD/KECI. Please direct questions to Ron Hustedde, Program Director, at (859) 257-3186 or Katie Ellis, Program Coordinator, at (859) 227-0911.

(Originally posted at Cyberhillbilly.blogspot.com)

Labels:

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home