Corbin could join VisitLex, other Kentucky tourism agencies in new venture involving celebrity chef

Corbin could be about to take yet another step towards solidifying itself as one of the top “foodie” destinations in the southeast portion of the United States.

On Tuesday, Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission Director Maggy Monhollen informed her board of an exciting new opportunity during their regular monthly meeting. “An amazing opportunity popped up out of nowhere,” she said. “VisitLex called, and they want to do a huge, multi-jurisdictional project with a big Kentucky chef – Ouita Michel.”

VisitLex is the name of the tourism agency dedicated to promoting the happenings in and around Lexington. Monhollen said that their proposal includes Corbin joining in with them, Louisville, Northern Kentucky, Paducah, Owensboro, Somerset and Bowling Green in a joint venture that would ultimately see Michel visit each location to film episodes for a new show that would air online, as well as on PBS/KET.

Michel is well known in the culinary world for being an award-winning chef and restaurant owner.

She prides herself on not only creating innovative and delicious dishes, but doing so with ingredients that are completely sourced from right here in the Bluegrass State.

Monhollen also explained that, while the reward for getting to be a part of this program would be great, it would also come at a minimal cost to the Corbin Tourism Commission. A total of $50,000 is required to move forward, but the VisitLex, Northern Kentucky and Louisville tourism agencies have all agreed to foot the lion’s share of that, in the amount of $40,000. After splitting the remaining $10,000 among the other agencies, Corbin’s portion would be somewhere around $2,000.

Monhollen said that an application is to be submitted to the Kentucky Department of Tourism this week, and Corbin Tourism has submitted a letter of support agreeing to provide the $2,000 match in the event that the project is funded.

In other tourism news:

• Monhollen mentioned that she has applied for a total of $500,000 in a second round of ARPA funds from the Kentucky Department of Tourism. This money, should it be awarded, would go to help market Corbin as a conference and convention destination. Monhollen described this as a “multi-tier strategic plan” that would result in a “multi-year marketing blitz” for the city. It would include access to a variety of valuable tools and resources, and she expects to be informed of a decision in the near future.

• A date has been set for the first-ever “Grillin and Chillin Steak Competition,” with the event scheduled for September 16 in downtown Corbin’s Sander’s Park. Additional event details are now available at the tourism commission’s website, www.corbinkytourism.com. Click on the “Calendar” tab at the top of the home page in order to be directed to the event listing.