The Morehead-Rowan County Chamber of Commerce has joined the Blueprint Partnership program at Shaping Our Appalachian Region, Inc. (SOAR).
By joining the Blueprint Partnership program, the Morehead-Rowan County Chamber of Commerce has formally committed towards implementing SOAR’s Regional Blueprint to build a 21st Century Appalachia.
“There are many organizations, businesses and people doing incredible work in Appalachia Kentucky,” said Jared Arnett, executive director of SOAR. “By joining the Blueprint Partnership program, they are part of a collaborative effort to implement our Regional Blueprint across Appalachia Kentucky. We can’t do this alone. Our partners are critical in building the 21st century Appalachia we so desire.”
The Morehead-Rowan County Chamber of Commerce is proud to work alongside SOAR in implementing the Regional Blueprint, which is a strategic plan that was created in 2016 to align the passion of people with tangible goals to transform Appalachia Kentucky.
SOAR’s Regional Blueprint has seven goals:
·Increase the availability of affordable, high-speed broadband, through fiber, to businesses and residents; and increase adoption rates throughout the SOAR region;
·Develop our regional workforce to be competitive in the digital economy and emerging industries;
·To create more and expand existing small businesses within the region by taking full advantage of the digital economy;
·To reduce the physical and economic impact of obesity, diabetes and substance abuse;
·Increase the amount of industrial employment, which includes manufacturing, natural resources, processing, and distribution by expanding existing companies and attracting new ones;
·Create a local foods movement by connecting local producers to markets for their product both within and outside the region; and
·Establish Kentucky’s Appalachian region as a tourism destination.
The Blueprint Partnership program is open to any organization, business or individual who believes in a 21st Century Appalachia, said Arnett.
“This is about building a movement that will take root and transform the region,” added Arnett. “The challenges we face are great, but the potential to collaborate with our partners around our Regional Blueprint is greater.”
To register or learn more about the Blueprint Partnership program, visit http://www.soar-ky.org/partner or call (606) 766-1160.
Formed in 2013, Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) is a non-partisan economic development agency tasked to expand job creation, enhance regional opportunity, innovation, and identity, improve the quality of life, and support all those working to achieve these goals in Eastern Kentucky.
(provided by Morehead-Rowan County Chamber of Commerce)
