Celebrating REtail, Accommodations, Tourism and Entertainment by Building Rural Innovations and Developing Growth EconomieS

CREATE BRIDGES

CREATE BRIDGES was a 3 year program for multi-county regions to develop their retail and hospitality industries. Kentucky was fortunate to be one of 3 states to participate in the pilot of this program. The project brought an innovative approach to addressing business and workforce development at no cost to the region, thanks to a Walmart grant.

The CREATE BRIDGES initiative was launched to develop and test a process to promote and strengthen these industries, particularly in rural areas. The process was designed to:

1. Raise awareness of the role these important businesses play in the local economy;
2. Determine challenges and barriers negatively impacting those businesses; and
3. Develop and implement strategies to strengthen the retail, accommodations, tourism, and entertainment sectors within a region. 

Curriculum

Now available on the Southern Rural Development Center's website! Access the curriculum.

Kentucky Pilot Program Successes

• Create Bridges and FOCUS Inc. Provide Worker Incentives to Local Employees
• Regional Youth Assist Local Business Owner with Online Marketing

Regional Partners

• FOCUS "Five Original Counties Uniting for Success" Team from Jackson, Clay, Lee, Owsley and Leslie Counties. April Renner, Chairperson.
• Blueprint Kentucky (formerly CEDIK)
• Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the University of Kentucky
• Jackson Energy Cooperative
• Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc.
• Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corp.
• Goodwill Industries of Kentucky
• Kentucky Retail Federation
• Hazard Community Technical College
• Local Chambers of Commerce
• Local business owners
• Local school systems