Owsley County Action Team Champion Community

Lead Entity: Owsley County Action Team

Demographics

State:   Kentucky

Counties (Census Tracts):  Owsley (9901, 9902, 9903)
Community Population:   5,036  (1990 Census)
Poverty Rate:   52.7%

Net Land Area:   198.1 square miles
 

Background: 

• Unemployment rate:   46.8% ("real" unemployment rate in 1989 based on figures from the University of Kentucky's Appalachian Center)
• Median Household Income:   $8,885  (1989 income reported in the April 1990 Decennial Census)
• Per Capita Income:  $5,791  (Based on 1990 US Census Data)
• Education:  High School Graduation rate in the county is around 57%.  There are few jobs paying a living wage.  Young people tend to leave the county to find better employment.

Community Overview:

Located in the hills of eastern Kentucky, Owsley County is small, rural and one of the poorest counties in the United States.  The county has a population of 5,036 and an overall poverty rate of 52.7%.

Our mission statement:  "Providing the leadership to enable the people of Owsley County to achieve self-empowerment, sustainable community development and an enriched quality of life." 

Strategic Plan Highlights:  

With the implementation of its strategic plan, the Owsley County Action Team seeks to achieve a balance in economic and community development.

• Business Development/Job Training--(1) Increase the opportunities for people in Owsley County to take advantage of economic development; (2) Increase the number of people becoming job ready and obtaining employment.

• Environment and Natural Resources--Improve the environment by decreasing the amount of trash in illegal dumps.

• Education--Increase the number of people becoming job ready and obtaining employment.

• Public Safety--Increase the security of the community through more adequate law enforcement and emergency service communication.

• Capacity Building-- (1) Improve the quality of life in the community by increasing the number of recreational and cultural activities available to all ages; (2) Increase the number of people involved in community activities and aware of community services; (3) Increase the number of low-income families building assets and capacity to manage money.

• Health Care--Improve the quality of life in the community by having more accessible health care.

Partnerships

The Owsley County Action Team has partnered with the Mountain Association for Economic Development, the Eastern Kentucky Goat Producers Association, the Owsley County Fund for Excellence, the Booneville/Owsley Industrial Authority, state, federal and local agencies, etc.

Leveraging

Funding from USDA Rural Development, Appalachian Regional Commission, Community Development Block Grant, Economic Development Administration, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Waitt Family Foundation, P.R.I.D.E. and the Center for Rural Development are some of the funding sources and resources being used by the Owsley County Action Team to help implement the strategic plan.

Community Involvement:

Community participation has been tremendous in planning for our community.  The Owsley County Action Team has an average of 16 persons in attendance at each of its monthly meetings.  Special efforts are made not only to invite but also to encourage everyone to come out to the meetings.  Verbal invitations, newspaper articles, flyers, brochures, staggering meeting times are some of the methods that have been used to try to get everyone involved.  Having a meeting place of our own, the Action Place, has brought people out for meetings as well as for many volunteer hours working to better our community.

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