The Center for Rural Development in Somerset, Kentucky, was established in March 1996. It is a

501(c)(3) nonprofit organization A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 50 ...

. The Center aims "''to provide leadership that stimulates innovative and sustainable economic development solutions and a better way of life for the citizens we serve''". The Center’s programs and services focus on the areas of public safety, arts and culture, leadership, and technology.

History

The Center was established in Somerset, Kentucky, in March 1996, and became a

. It was the idea of U.S. Congressman from Kentucky

Hal Rogers Harold Dallas Rogers (born December 31, 1937) is an American lawyer and politician serving his 21st term as the U.S. representative for , having served since 1981. He is a member of the Republican Party. Upon Don Young's death in 2022, Rogers b ...

. At the outset it was viewed as a partnership between the state and the University of Kentucky, and it was supported by state and federal funds. Due to the COVID-19

pandemic A pandemic () is an epidemic of an infectious disease that has spread across a large region, for instance multiple continents or worldwide, affecting a substantial number of individuals. A widespread endemic (epidemiology), endemic disease wi ...

, the Center held its programming virtually in 2020. In October 2020, the Center was awarded over $400,000 in grant funding by the Appalachian Regional Commission. In February 2021, it received a $440,400 PPP loan.

Programs

The Center’s programs serve residents in a 45-county area in Southern Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky. It has a 100,000 square foot meeting and convention facility. The Somerset- Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce meets at the Center. It provides free youth leadership programs for middle school and high school students. ''Rogers Scholars'' is a partnership with 19 colleges and universities. It provides scholarship to students who meet certain academic requirements. The Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky, offers a $1,000 scholarship to all "Rogers Explorers" who attend camp at their location. The "Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute" (ELI) provides instruction to high school students in how to initiate and manage a business venture. The students who win the ELI’s Business Concept Competition earn a $16,000 scholarship to Eastern Kentucky University, in

Richmond, Kentucky Richmond is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Madison County, Kentucky, United States. It is named after Richmond, Virginia, and is home to Eastern Kentucky University. In 2019, the population was 36,157. Richmond is the fourth-la ...

. The Center's "Displaced Coal Miner Training" program provides technical skills training in 15 career fields for displaced coal miners and former coal employees who were adversely impacted by the region's declining coal industry.

References

{{Authority control 501(c)(3) organizations Non-profit organizations based in the United States Public safety Economic development organizations in the United States Rural community development Rural development in the United States 1996 establishments in Kentucky Somerset, Kentucky Mining in Kentucky