The Center for Rural Development awards ARC mini-grants to City of Corbin Parks and Recreation Dept.

The Center for Rural Development has awarded $16,480 in grant funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for a Corbin parks project and a leadership development program that serves Laurel, Whitley, and Knox counties.

The City of Corbin Parks and Recreation Department has been approved to receive a $10,000 ARC mini-grant to develop a master plan as part of the city’s long-term, citywide planning project.

The master plan will identify the community’s needs and vision for the Corbin Parks and Recreation Department through an open house workshop, staff input session, and web-based survey. The goal is to develop a plan that represents the ideas of all who utilize the facilities.

Corbin Parks and Recreation Director Jacob Roan said previously that there would be a town hall meeting in April to get community input on the master plan.

Leadership Tri-County (LTC), a leadership development program that serves Laurel, Knox, and Whitley counties, has been awarded a $6,480 ARC mini-grant to expand their website to include an online learning environment for current and future classes.

The project, Bridging Leadership Skills & Community Networks through Leadership Tri-County, will inform and connect current LTC classes and alumni through the development of short online, self-paced course modules that support the program curriculum and transform the online alumni database into a community.

The LTC project was developed out of a growing need for leaders in Southeast Kentucky to stay abreast of evolving skills and competencies in an increasingly dynamic professional environment.

LTC, a nonprofit organization, was established in 1987 as an educational program designed to identify potential, emerging, and current leaders to nurture their continued development into community leaders. The organization currently has over 500 graduates.

“This grant funding is a vital step toward moving forward with projects that will change the lives of people in Southern and Eastern Kentucky,” said Lonnie Lawson, President and CEO of The Center for Rural Development. “We are making a difference throughout our communities and investing in the economic development of our region.”

The two projects were funded through The Center’s Developing and Implementing Community Strategies Program in partnership with the Department for Local Government and ARC.

During this ARC funding cycle, The Center awarded $105,934 in federal grant funds to 13 projects in more than 15 Kentucky communities for capacity building planning and implementation projects.

Other projects to receive ARC mini-grants were AppalReD Legal Aid, $1,954; City of Hazard Department of Downtown Development, $10,000; City of Liberty, $8,000; Clay County Fiscal Court, $10,000; Gateway Area Development District, $10,000; Hwy 7 Community Outreach, Western Letcher County Tourism and Cultural Initiative, $7,500; Jackson County Development Association, $7,500; Jackson County Fiscal Court, $10,000; Lawrence County Health Department, $4,500; Rowan County Fiscal Court, $10,000; and Tri-City Chamber of Commerce,$10,000.

The mini-grant program (sometimes referred to as the Flex-E-Grant program) is open to qualified local units of government and non-profit entities in 35 ARC-designated economically distressed counties.

Grants are subject to approval for up to $10,000, require a 20 percent match of the total project costs, and are to be completed within a six-month timeframe. Mini-grant funds are available on a reimbursement basis only.

Since 2005, The Center’s Developing and Implementing Community Strategies Program has presented more than $1.1 million in ARC funding support to distressed communities across Southern and Eastern Kentucky.

Established in 1996 through the vision of U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, (KY-05), and other leaders, The Center for Rural Development is a nonprofit organization fueled by a mission to provide leadership that stimulates innovative and sustainable economic development solutions and a better way of life in Southern and Eastern Kentucky.

In its 45-county primary service region, The Center provides innovative programs in leadership, public safety, technology, and arts and culture. The Center is committed to constantly expanding its capabilities in order to deliver a range of key services throughout Kentucky and the nation.