Create Bridges
Create Bridges
CREATE BRIDGES was a 3 year program for multi-county regions to develop their retail and hospitality industries. Kentucky was fortunate to be one of 3 states to participate in the pilot of this program. The project brought an innovative approach to addressing business and workforce development at no cost to the region, thanks to a Walmart grant.
The CREATE BRIDGES initiative was launched to develop and test a process to promote and strengthen these industries, particularly in rural areas. The process was designed to:
- Raise awareness of the role these important businesses play in the local economy;
- Determine challenges and barriers negatively impacting those businesses; and
- Develop and implement strategies to strengthen the retail, accommodations, tourism, and entertainment sectors within a region.
Curriculum
Now available on the Southern Rural Development Center's website! Access the curriculum.
Kentucky Pilot Program Successes
The Create Bridges Initiative is a partnership among:
National Partners
- Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC)
- University of Kentucky’s Community & Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky (CEDIK)
- University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service’s Community and Economic Development (UACES-CED)
- Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service
Regional Partners
- FOCUS "Five Original Counties Uniting for Success" Team from Jackson, Clay, Lee, Owsley and Leslie Counties. April Renner, Chairperson.
- CEDIK - Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky
- Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the University of Kentucky
- Jackson Energy Cooperative
- Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc.
- Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corp.
- Goodwill Industries of Kentucky
- Kentucky Retail Federation
- Hazard Community Technical College
- Local Chambers of Commerce
- Local business owners
- Local school systems
