The Center for Rural Development in

Somerset, Kentucky Somerset is a home rule-class city in Pulaski County, Kentucky, United States. The city population was 11,924 according to the 2020 census. It is the seat of Pulaski County. History Somerset was first settled in 1798 by Thomas Hansford and rec ...

, was established in March 1996. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 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 Public security or public safety is the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety and security of the public from significant danger, injury, or property damage. It is often conducted by a state government to ensur ...

, arts and culture, leadership, and technology.

History

The Center was established in

, in March 1996, and became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It was the idea of U.S. Congressman from Kentucky Hal Rogers. 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 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickly ...

pandemic, 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 The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a United States federal–state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life. Congress established A ...

. In February 2021, it received a $440,400

PPP loan The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is a $953-billion business loan program established by the United States federal government during the Donald Trump administration in 2020 through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES ...

Programs

The Center’s programs serve residents in a 45-county area in Southern Kentucky and

Eastern Kentucky Eastern may refer to: Transportation *China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai * Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways * Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 1926 to 1991 * Eastern Air ...

. It has a 100,000 square foot meeting and convention facility. The

Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lord_ ...

- 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 Union College is a private liberal arts college in Schenectady, New York. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, and second in the state of New York, after Columbia Co ...

Barbourville, Kentucky Barbourville is a home rule-class city in Knox County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 3,165 at the 2010 census, down from 3,589 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city was formally established by ...

, 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 Venture capital (often abbreviated as VC) is a form of private equity financing that is provided by venture capital firms or funds to startups, early-stage, and emerging companies that have been deemed to have high growth potential or which ha ...

. The students who win the ELI’s Business Concept Competition earn a $16,000 scholarship to

Eastern Kentucky University Eastern Kentucky University (Eastern or EKU) is a public university in Richmond, Kentucky. As a regional comprehensive institution, EKU also maintains branch campuses in Corbin, Hazard, Lancaster, and Manchester and offers over 40 online u ...

, in Richmond, Kentucky. 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