Kentucky group to present ideas on improving Appalachia

[theHandpuppet]

Would appreciate it if anyone could post a follow-up to this meeting being held today.

WLKY News
Louisville
Group to present ideas on improving Appalachia
Sep 23, 2014

SLADE, Ky. —A group working to create new economic opportunities for eastern Kentucky will present its findings to Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear and Republican U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers.

Beshear and Rogers started the Shaping Our Appalachian Region initiative last year. For months, 10 working groups have met to discuss ideas on how to help the struggling region move on from a coal-based economy. The region has lost 7,000 coal-related jobs since January 2012.

Some ideas the groups have discussed include expanding agriculture and marketing the region as a tourist destination.

The event begins at 10:30 a.m. with a discussion about long term solutions for the region. The working groups will present their findings to Beshear and Rogers at 1 p.m.

Read more: http://www.wlky.com/news/group-to-present-ideas-on-improving-appalachia/28201798#ixzz3E9KojFEi

[get the red out]

1. I think several things are worth a try

Wind power, put those windmills on mountains.

Solar power, maybe on the strip mined former mountains

Tourism, turn multiple communities into Berea, KY clones and set up more mountain activities, bed and breakfasts, the whole nine-yards.

Through this attract more people, I will sound bad saying this, but the right people, to move to Appalachia and help with this transition. At first there probably won't be people with the skills necessary for these jobs, but the vocational schools and community colleges can design programs to help young people step up to the plate and have a future.

JMO

[theHandpuppet]

3. Stopping the "brain drain" is critical

The best and brightest leave Appalachia for college and never come back because there are no jobs at home. So it's not so much a matter of getting the "right people" to move to Appalachia but retaining an educated work force.

[get the red out]

5. That would work

But the improvements might need to prove themselves first. Generally, those who want out REALLY want out, the culture is oppressive. The culture needs some advancement also. Just my very jaded opinion.

[theHandpuppet]

6. It's the old "chicken and egg" debate, though

I think if the young people who leave to experience the outside world and to get an education, return to their roots the culture would undergo a natural transformation. The problem is there are no jobs that would motivate them to come home. How do we finally break that cycle, that's the rub.

[A Little Weird]

2. SOAR

The SOAR initiative seems like a really good idea and I hope that some good ideas will come from it. Here's some more info about it:
http://www.soar-ky.org/
http://governor.ky.gov/soar/Pages/default.aspx

I hope that it will amount to more than lip service. Here's an editorial that talks about how the health impacts of coal is one of the main concerns that's been brought up by citizens at the listening sessions but there has been very little done to even acknowledge there's a problem. http://www.kentucky.com/2014/08/18/3385968_moment-of-truth-for-hal-rogers.html?rh=1

To really make progress, the people in power will have to honestly listen to and address the concerns of the citizens regardless of how it affects the coal companies. I'm not sure if any of Kentucky's leaders are willing to do that. If they will then I think this can help turn things around for our Appalachian counties.

[theHandpuppet]

4. Will our leaders take a stand against Big Coal?

That's the question. The writing is on the wall with regard to the future of a coal economy and we need leaders who will point the way and residents who will listen.

[theHandpuppet]

7. Can anyone provide some news regarding the results of this meeting?

There were a couple of articles yesterday and today in the Lexington Herald Leader but I can't access them without a subscription. If anyone has a link to some coverage could you please post? Thanks!