The Jackson County EZ Community, Inc. Lake Committee has completed an extensive study on construction of a lake for water supply and recreational needs. Financing for the project will include $5,000,000 of Empowerment Zone funds. The study looked at nine possible locations and examined issues including cost, relocation, land ownership, and historic/environmental significance. The lake committee conducted three public hearings attended by more than 400 people prior to the study and held biweekly open meetings. Three sites were recommended with a location on South Fork of the Kentucky River ranked highest. The Kentucky River Authority agreed to contribute up to $250,000 for engineering and environmental studies initially for three sites. However, two of the potential sites are within the Cumberland River watershed and were not eligible for Authority participation. The local EZ committee is providing a $250,000 match for this effort. However, it was determined that two potential sites lie within the Cumberland River watershed so currently only the South Fork site is under review. The Jackson County EZ Community, Inc. prepared a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the studies with proposals received on July 19, 1996. The Board evaluated the submissions and selected Kenvirons, Inc., Frankfort for the scoping and intial phase of the project, which is currently underway. Negotiations are now in process with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the project.
The Jackson County EZ Community, Inc. in cooperation with the Jackson County Industrial Authority completed design on a 25,000 s.f. industrial spec building. Bids were received March 28, 1996 with the low bid being $720,334. The contractor for the project, G&G Constuction of Annville, is from within the Empowerment Zone. Construction began on May 6, 1996 and was completed November 15, 1996. On that date the spec building was sold to a new tenant, Jakcson County Rehabilitation Industries, for $830,000. The proceeds from the sale will be used to construct a second spec building.
The Industrial Authority also used $48,000 in EZ funds for infrastructure improvements to accommodate a new facility for Image Entry, Inc. The company created 30 new jobs in Jackson County at a temporary location and will grow to 200 employees over the next eighteen months. Image Entry, Inc. focusses on data entry and computer training. Their new 6,000 s.f. facility was completed the first week of October 1996.
The Jackson County EZ Community, Inc. has contracted with Eastern Kentucky University to open an Entrepreneurial Training Center for Jackson County residents. This ten-year program will utilize $70,000 annually of Empowerment Zone funds. The course consists of twelve sessions, held twice-weekly and is geared toward business plan development followed by start-up.
The first class, consisting of fifteen individuals, began
March 19,1996 and was completed in June. From this initial class
six new businesses were started and all continue in operation.
The second training class began in September 1996. In addition,
the program is working with clients on a one-on-one basis that
are not in the class. Anyone interested in the program can
contact Phil Danhauer at 606-287-4184.
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The Kentucky Highlands Empowerment Zone included in its Strategic Plan the establishment of two 100 employee rehabilitation workshops to assist disabled and disadvantaged workers develop life and vocational skills training. The first of these workshops was opened in November 1995 and has grown to 40 employees. The workshop is currently manufacturing caps and packaging sporting goods. The company is also negotiating with Mid-South Electrics, Inc. to assemble electronic components for appliances. This project includes $650,000 in Empowerment Zone funds.
The City of McKee and the Downtown Revitalization Committee has completed the public participation process on updating their 1993 Downtown Revitalization Plan. The Tourism Committee and the Jackson County EZ Community, Inc. board have approved a plan that includes sidewalk improvements, drainage/sewer repairs, general landscaping and facade upgrades. A Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application was submitted in August 1996 to expand this project.
The Annville City Council and the Annville Downtown Committe approved a comprehensive revitalization program on July 15, 1996 for the community. Included in the plan is the renovation of historic Lincoln Hall, an upgrade of the recreation facilities at ALB Park, funding of a 201 Plan for a new sewer system, construction of a new fire station and the purchase of a privately owned natural gas system that will later be franchised and extended into town. In addition, an engineering firm has been hired to design sidewalks through town as part of a $60,000 CDBG project. The total project involves $250,000 in EZ funds, with significant private donations and matching grants involved. On August 30, 1996 an application was submitted to the Kentucky Department of Transporation for $920,000 in ISTEA funds to assist in the restoration of Lincoln Hall at the Annville Institute. This application is still pending.
A preliminary agreement was reached in January 1997 for Delta Natural Gas Company to purchase the privately held natural gas company in Annville and extend it throughout the city. Currently natural gas is available only in the industrial park and the system has only six customers. With this agreement, the system will be extended to all residents in the community and a long-term source of natural gas has been secured. A total of $150,000 in Empowerment Zone funds will be used to help pay for line extensions. In return, the city of Annville will receive a 5% franchise fee on the gross sales of natural gas in the community.
The first Executive Director of the Jackson County EZ Community, Inc., Mr. Terrence Bride, resigned the position effective November 15, 1996 to return to his native Utah. Mr. Bride did an excellent job during his tenure with the organization in getting the program off the ground and ensuring widespread opportunities for participation. A search for a replacement is currently underway.
As a follow-up to the CyberEd Truck visit to in May, the Jackson County Schools organized and held a "mini-NetDay". On July 16-17, 1996, a group of volunteers pulled 45,000 feet (about 8.5 miles) of computer network cable in the Jackson County Middle School. This project, which is the first of a series that will see that all five schools in the county are networked, placed five data lines and a voice line in each of the 27 classrooms. Expert technical assistance was provided by volunteers from the People's Rural Telephone Cooperative and the C&W Television Cable Company. A second school, Jackson County High School, was wired by volunteers in Fall 1996.
Jackson County, along with Clinton and Wayne Counties, have several requests pending for surplus federal computers, with the first forty-five 386's arriving on August 27, 1996 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Each school system is receiving 15 units for classroom use.
The Kentucky Highlands Empowerment Zone has made a $175,000 equity award to the Central Appalachian People's Federal Credit Union to assist them in opening a branch in Jackson County. The credit union provides alternative affordable financial services to low-income individuals. They also provide financial counseling, consumer education and a cooperative philosophy to their membership. The EZ funds are being used to finance start-up operations ($75,000) and for equity ($100,000). The Credit Union branch opened in late July 1996 and is under the direction of a local Advisory Council. Mr. Jim Rowland, former President/CEO of the Bank of Williamsburg (Kentucky), began work on May 1, 1996 as Manager of the credit union branch. To date, the Credit Union has 300 new members from Jackson County. The credit union's annual meeting was held on September 26, 1996.
The Jackson County Home Page on the Internet opened in January 1997. The site can be visited at http://www.mis,net/jacksonco.
An adult day care facility operated by Jackson Manor Nursing Home was recently approved by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services. The facility will provide services for up to 20 patients and is expected to open in March 1997. Care will be provided for persons who are unable to stay at home by themselves during daytime hours. In addition, hearings are scheduled in February on a 40-bed expansion of the nursing home.
On July 8-10, 1996, the Jackson County EZ Community, Inc. hosted a Leadership Training Seminar for Zone residents. The three day session, conducted by The Pacific Institute, Seattle, was free and open to the public. A total of 31 persons attended the training which concentrated on individual development and team building. The second portion of the training, which focusses on community orientation and leadership, was held on August 5-6, 1996. The program is sponsored by the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Kentucky Highlands Empowerment Zone and the Jackson County EZ Community, Inc.
The Jackson County Empowerment Zone Housing Project Group held an initial meeting on August 26, 1996 with the Kentucky Housing Foundation and the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland about expanding opportunities for single family housing ownership in the county. The local group hopes to participate with the Kentucky Housing Foundation on cost and interest rate write-down program.
To support this initiative, the Jackson County Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank have agreed to be the sponsor of the permanent financing for the project, which in known as "Sand Gap: Houses that Empower". Twenty homes will be constructed at a cost of approximately $55,000 for families with incomes between $13,000 - $21,000. With assistance from HUD, the Kentucky Housing Foundation, the Federal Home Loan Bank, the Daniel Boone Development Council and the Empowerment Zone, the actual cost to the family will be written down to about $31,000. This write-down is part of the FHLB Affordable Housing Program.
The Jackson County Water Association was awarded $1,942,500 in RECD Empowerment Zone set aside funds, along with $490,000 in CDBG funds, to add 265 new customers to the system. The project is currently out for bid with construction set to begin in early November 1996.
A community based group, Northern Jackson County Committee (NJCC), completed in late March the Northern Jackson County Strategic Plan. The plan, as envisioned by the residents of the various communities, strives to address the current and future needs of the area. The plan establishes a community priority list as determined in community meetings. A copy of the plan is available by contacting the Northern Jackson County Committee at P.O. Box 293, Sandgap, KY 40481. The group also sponsored a roadside clean-up campaign in April 1996, collecting more than 20 tons of garbage.
The NJCC also received in August 1996 an $5,000 grant from the Kentucky Department of Local Government as part of the Community Rivers and Streams Project. The grant, which was one of only 10 awarded in the state, will develop an awareness program in the schools of the stream resources in the county. The match for the grant was provided by the Kentucky Chapter of the Nature Conservancy.
The latest undertaking by NJCC, in cooperation with the Solid Waste Committee, was to sponsor a daylong cleanup at Deer Stables on January 20, 1997. More than 11 truckloads of garbage and old appliances was gathered by 17 volunteers at a roadside dump.
Students at Jackson County High School assisted the Empowerment Zone staff in conducting a survey as part of a marketing plan to recruit new businesses to the county and to retain existing business. One of the issues being looked at is the emerging labor force and how the school systems can best prepare graduates.
January 23, 1997.........Community Center Project Group
Meeting, McKee, 6:00p.m.
January 27, 1997.........Infrastructure Subcommittee Meeting,
McKee, 3:00 p.m.
January 28, 1997.........Quality of Life Subcommittee Meeting,
McKee, 4:00 p.m.
February 3, 1997.........Industrial Authority Meeting, McKee,
4:00 p.m.
February 4, 1997.........Jackson County EZ Community Board of
Directors Meeting, McKee, 1:00 p.m.
Send comments and mail to Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation
kentucky@www.ezec.gov