New With KAHT
Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trails (KAHT)
Recognized For Best Practices in Technology By Center for Information
Technology Enterprise (CITE)
Richmond, KY—The Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trails (KAHT), a business
development program offered through the Center for Economic Development,
Entrepreneurship & Technology at Eastern Kentucky University and supported
by the Appalachian Regional Commission was recognized by the Center for
Information Technology Enterprise (CITE, Inc.), part of the connectkentucky
initiative, for best practices in the KY120. KY120 involves profiling
businesses and initiatives in each of Kentucky’s 120 counties to
identify lessons learned on the path toward successful and sustainable
innovation.
The Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trails program has been recognized
as a model for technology-driven businesses in Madison County as well
as the Commonwealth. KAHT reflects actions taken that will preserve Kentucky’s
natural and historic advantages while enhancing economic opportunities
that will ensure the state’s success in the global economy.
“The Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trails is an example
of how technology can be used to promote business and economy in rural
areas,” commented Cheryl Moorhead Stone who serves as both the director
of CEDET and the Eastern Innovation Region for the Office for the New
Economy.
Connectkentucky is enhancing Kentucky's competitiveness
in the networked world by creating a better understanding of existing
technological infrastructure, access and usage, and implementing the resulting
action plan to build upon advantageous resources within the Commonwealth.
connectkentucky is a public-private partnership between the Office for
the New Economy, private industry, Kentucky's universities and the Center
for Information Technology Enterprise (CITE, Inc.).
Riding the Waves!?
KAHT has been riding the air waves all across
Kentucky. Don’t be surprised if you turn on your radio and hear
about the Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trails. As part of our marketing mission,
we are using the Kentucky News Network to access 89 stations and reach
people across the entire state. This is an excellent tool for raising
awareness and attracting tourists from Kentucky and bordering states.
Additionally, we have been interviewed for several radio talk shows. These
usually air during the morning commutes, so we hope to entice many travelers
to our trails. You never know where we could pop up next, so keep listening.
Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission
Visits Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trails
Anne Pope, the Federal Co-Chair for the Appalachian
Regional Commission recently made a visit to the Kentucky Artisan Heritage
Trails. This was an opportunity for her office to see firsthand the labors
of the funding that ARC provides to our state.
“An important asset that this area has is its cultural heritage,
the traditions it has and the skills the people have,” Pope said.
“Cultural heritage tourism is one way to increase rural revenues,”
she said. To emphasize the importance of cultural heritage tourism, KAHT
members took Pope and several delegates from the federal ARC office as
well as the state ARC office on a tour of several points of interest including
the Kentucky Artisan Center, Old Town Berea, Churchill Weavers, Snug Hollow
Bed & Breakfast and Tater Knob Pottery. “This is a beautiful
part of the country,” Pope said. “I have been very impressed
with what I’ve seen.