The Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trails, a business development program offered through the Center for Economic Development, Entrepreneurship and Technology (CEDET) at Eastern Kentucky University, has received an award for Best Practices in Technology from the Center for Technology Enterprise (CITE).

The Artisan Trails project spotlights cultural tourism throughout a 33-county area of Central and Eastern Kentucky, including Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Clark, Clay, Elliot, Estill, Floyd, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Madison, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Rockcastle, Rowan, Whitley, and Wolfe counties.

The project’s Web site, www.KAHT.com, is designed to attract visitors, enhance community and economic development and create jobs by showcasing via interactive online maps and web pages the area’s natural scenery; craft shops; galleries and artist studios; historic sites, home and businesses; bed and breakfast operations; antique shops; regional restaurants; festivals and community celebrations; and other potential tourist attractions.

“The Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trails is an example of how technology can be used to promote business and economy in rural area,” said Cheryl Moorhead Stone, director of CEDET and the Eastern Innovation Region for the Office for the New Economy.