Promise Zone forum planned for Thursday

A Whitley County community forum is planned for Thursday afternoon in Williamsburg to update local residents on what has happened with the Promise Zone over the last 12 months.

Promise Zone Coordinator Sandi Curd will also give an give a review during the forum about the strategic plan and provide information about new partners participating in the program.

“Share what you have done to grow small businesses, advance leadership, train entrepreneurs and create jobs,” Kurd said in a release. “Changing our economy will take all of us. Share your ideas. Please join us for a chance to voice your opinion on what you want to see for our community.”

The forum will take place from 1 – 3 p.m. at the old Whitley County Courthouse.

In 2014, President Barack Obama announced that five low income areas across the country had been selected as Promise Zones, including an eight county area in Southeastern Kentucky comprised of Bell, Clay, Harlan, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, Perry and all but two census tracts in Whitley County.

Southeastern Kentucky is the only rural region in the nation to receive the designation.

The Promise Zone designation doesn’t guarantee its regions any additional grant money, but it does give counties in those regions additional points on some federal grant applications, which can sometimes be the difference between receiving or not receiving grant funds.

For more information about the forum, contact Kurd at 524-7785 or Amber Owens at 304-6112.