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Photo: Kentucky Department Fish and Wildlife
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will conduct public meetings across the state June 5 and June 6 to solicit feedback from the paddle sports community.
“We want to hear from the paddling community – and we will use this input to shape our paddling program going forward,” said Gregory Johnson, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
The meetings will address access, boater safety and other aspects of paddling.
“We are seeking to engage paddlers and learn more about the paddling community,” said Paul Wilkes, fisheries program coordinator for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “Kentucky’s paddlers are as diverse as the waters they traverse. They are whitewater kayakers, stand up paddleboard enthusiasts, canoeists, flatwater kayakers and anglers who fish from a kayak.”
All meetings will run from 6-8 p.m. local time.
June 5 meetings
London
- University of Kentucky Extension Office
- 200 County Extension Road
Morehead
- Morehead Conference Center West Collins Hall Room
- 111 East 1st St.
Bowling Green
- Barren River Area Development District Office
- 177 Graham Ave.
June 6 meetings
Gilbertsville
- Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park
- 113 Upper Village Dr.
Louisville
- Sawyer Hayes Community Center
- 2201 Lakeland Road
All meetings are open to the public.
The Work Ready Skills Initiative Advisory Committee has selected recipients for its second round of funding. Approximately $33.1 million in bond money was dispersed to 15 projects aimed at developing a highly trained workforce to meet the needs of employers and to promote sustainable incomes for Kentuckians.
“The response to the Work Ready Skills Initiative has been truly astounding,” said Gov. Matt Bevin. “This important initiative is a key component in our pursuit to make Kentucky the epicenter for engineering and manufacturing excellence in America. This historic investment in training our workforce will truly be transformative for the Commonwealth.”
The 10-member committee met Wednesday in Frankfort, to review the results of applicant interviews conducted last week. Proposals came from several state workforce areas and addressed a wide array of key industry sectors including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, technology, transportation and construction trades. Earlier this year the committee awarded more than $65.5 million to 25 projects. The $65.5 million in first-round awards leveraged $84.5 million in matching funds, including approximately $64.1 million in cash and $20.4 million in-kind.
Second round recipients include:
- Gateway Community & Technical College, $95,000
- Logan County Schools, $932,000
- Russell County Board of Education, $5,700,000Garrard County Schools, $1,346,000
- Freestore Foodbank, $267,000
- Estill County Board of Education, $5,700,000
- Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky, $2,690,000
- Kenton County Schools, $400,000
- Breckinridge County Area Technology Center, $3,325,000
- Taylor County School District, $2,375,000
- Adair County Board of Education, $238,000
- Green River/Hart County and Caverna Schools, $3,325,000
- Christian County Public Schools, $4,275,000
- Washington County Schools, $763,000
- Johnson County Schools, $1,710,000
In the second round, the $33.1 million in awards leverage $27,220,502 in matching funds, including approximately $17,365,041 in cash and $10,716,392 in-kind.
“Seeing the excitement build across Kentucky about improving our workforce has been an unforgettable experience. Since this process began in 2016, the committee has reviewed the requests of more than 150 applicants, covering the majority of our counties,” said Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Secretary Hal Heiner. “This program will bear fruit long after it ends, giving students the means to find jobs in a world exploding with technology.”
Forty-one applicants applied for the funding in April, totaling more than $165 million. Projects included requests for construction and equipping new facilities for the purpose of providing workforce training and education in top five industry sectors; renovation/upgrade of an existing facility; or purchase of new or upgraded equipment, software and furnishings. Applicants were required to be public-private partnerships that include private sector employers and high schools, secondary technical schools or postsecondary institutions.
For more information about the Kentucky Work Ready Skills Initiative, please visit www.KentuckyWorkReady.com.
Photo: Kentucky Heritage Council
Renaissance Covington was one of three communities honored recently with a 2017 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) presented by the National Main Street Center, Inc. (NMSC) during its annual conference in Pittsburgh. Other honorees were Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard Merchants and Business Association, New Orleans; and West Chester Business Improvement District, West Chester, Pennsylvania.
“The 2017 GAMSA winners showcase the realized potential of commercial district revitalization,” said Patrice Frey, president and CEO of NMSC. “Whether it’s attracting independent businesses, repurposing historic buildings or cultivating a thriving food scene, this year’s winners all understand the importance of growing communities that value historic preservation while supporting the changing shift in population and trends.”
Renaissance Covington is nationally accredited through the Kentucky Main Street Program (KYMS), administered by the Kentucky Heritage Council/State Historic Preservation Office. Kentucky Main Street is the oldest statewide downtown revitalization program in the nation, created in 1979 as a means to spark community economic development within the context of preserving historic buildings. The program utilizes NMSC’s successful Four-Point Approach® of organization, promotion, design and economic vitality.
“This award is a tremendous honor for a Main Street community to receive, indicating the quality of our statewide program and illustrating Kentucky’s success with economic development and downtown revitalization through historic preservation,” said Craig Potts, KHC executive director and state historic preservation officer. “Covington is a true standout and we are thrilled that their outstanding program has been recognized by the National Main Street Center.”
Situated in Northern Kentucky along the Ohio River, Covington is made up of 19 neighborhoods and commercial districts. According to the NMSC community profile, “The area features a casual mix of Midwestern strength and Southern charm and has developed a flourishing creative population. Brimming with beautiful Italianate brick buildings, the district has seen an influx of new independent businesses and insatiable demand for downtown residential units over the past few years.
“Established in 2003, Renaissance Covington has played a key role in spearheading efforts that integrate small business with creative public space projects to encourage civic engagement and Main Street revival. Since 2010, more than 40 new businesses have opened in formerly vacant storefronts, and many upper floors have transitioned into urban lofts. Since 2003, vacancy rates have dropped from 26 percent to 5 percent, and the district has added 790 jobs.”
For highlights including a video, visit https://goo.gl/qYA7YK.
Currently, 37 communities participate in the Kentucky Main Street Program, last year reporting a cumulative investment of $110 million including $75 million of private investment matched by $31 million in public improvements. KYMS can document more than $3.9 billion in public-private investment generated in participating communities since the program’s inception.
KYMS participation requires community commitment and financial support, with a local Main Street director administering the program through a volunteer board. The Kentucky Heritage Council provides technical and design assistance, on-site visits, a resource center, national consultants and grant funding.
The 2017 Great American Main Street Awards were made possible through support from PNC Bank.
Gov. Matt Bevin has recently made the following appointments to Kentucky Boards and Commissions:
Andrea M. Tucker has been appointed to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Advisory Committee.
- Dr. Andrea M. Tucker, of Winchester, is an OB/GYN. Tucker will represent obstetrician/gynecologists. She shall serve for a term expiring May 9, 2020.
The Pharmacy and Therapeutics Advisory Committee consists of 12 gubernatorial appointees. The Committee advises the Governor, the Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Commissioner of the Department for Medicaid Services on development and administration of an outpatient drug formulary.
Terry Lewis Bunnell has been appointed to the Real Estate Appraisers Board.
- Terry Lewis Bunnell, of Glasgow, is the chairman and CEO of the Peoples Bank and Peoples-Marion Bancorp, Inc. in Crittenden and Barren counties. Bunnell will represent the lending industry. He shall serve for a term expiring May 9, 2020.
The Real Estate Appraisers Board is composed of five gubernatorial appointees. The Board is charged with regulating and controlling the licensing and conduct of real estate appraisers within the Commonwealth.
Samuel Clark Corbett has been appointed to the Judicial Nominating Commission for the 30th Judicial Circuit and District of Kentucky.
- Samuel Clark Corbett, of Louisville, is the executive director of the Jefferson County Public Education Foundation. He shall serve for a term expiring January 1, 2018.
The Judicial Nominating Commission for the 30th Judicial Circuit and District consists of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (serving as chair), two members from the Kentucky Bar Association, and four gubernatorial appointees who are not members of the Kentucky Bar Association (equally representing the two major political parties). Members cannot hold any other public office or any office in a political party or organization.
Kentucky tangible personal property tax returns are due on Monday, May 15, 2017. Returns filed after May 15, 2017 are considered past due in accordance with KRS 132.290 and subject to penalties and interest.
Tangible property consists of physical property that includes, but is not limited to business furnishings and equipment, inventories, artwork, antiques, coin collections, and construction equipment. Answers to frequently asked questions concerning the assessment of tangible personal property can be found at http://revenue.ky.gov/Documents/TangibleFAQPamphlet.pdf.
Links to form 62A500-P and other useful resources are online at http://revenue.ky.gov/Property/Business-Personal-Property.
Returns filed by the due date should be mailed directly to the Property Valuation Administrator’s office of the county in which the property is located. Mailing addresses for the offices are included with the returns. Returns may also be filed with the Kentucky Department of Revenue.
The Kentucky Historical Society will crisscross the Commonwealth to dedicate five historical markers in May.
Here is the schedule:
May 4, Walton CCC Camp Bean Ridge, 1 p.m., 30 School Road, Walton
Civilian Conservation Corps company 3541 opened in 1935 in Walton. The 200 men stationed there specialized in soil conservation. They trained local farmers in contour farming, crop rotation and strip cropping; planted trees; built fences; and developed farm management plans. They also provided relief during the 1937 Ohio River flood.
May 8, Webster County Courthouse, 10:30 a.m., CDT, Webster County Courthouse, Dixon
The courthouse dates to 1941 and was a Works Progress Administration project during the Great Depression. Architect H. Lawrence Casner, from Webster County, designed the building, as well as the Caldwell County courthouse and the main vault at Fort Knox. His wife, Arminta Bowmer Casner, made the sculptured faces on the building’s exterior walls.
May 10, First Louisville Slugger Bat, 10 a.m., 118 S. First St., Louisville
This address is the site of the original J.F. Hillerich carpentry shop. The Louisville Slugger baseball bat has its roots with Louisville Eclipse player Pete Browning’s broken baseball bat. J.F. Hillerich’s son was at the game in 1884 when it broke and offered to make a new bat for Browning. Browning got three hits with the new bat, creating a demand from his teammates for their own bats. The company trademarked “Louisville Slugger” in 1884.
May 20, Ted Poston “Dean of Black Journalists,” 3:30 p.m. CDT, 9th and Main Streets, Hopkinsville
Hopkinsville native Theodore Roosevelt Poston began his journalism career in 1936 as a freelancer for the New York Post. He went on to spend most of his career there, covering major civil rights stories of his era. Among his many awards was a Pulitzer Prize (1949).
May 28, Bon Jellico, 2 p.m., Highway 92W and Bon Hollow Road, Whitley County
The Bon Jellico coal mine operated from 1912 to 1937 and employed 350 workers. It annually produced nearly 100,000 tons of Blue Gem coal. The town included 75 houses, a three-room school/church and a company store. Around 1,500 people lived in Bon Jellico over the 25-year period the mine operated. It closed primarily because the coal supply was depleted.
More than 2,400 historical markers statewide tell Kentucky’s history. More information about the marker application process and a database of markers and their text is available at history.ky.gov/markers. Also available on the site is the Explore Kentucky History app, a source of supplemental information about marker topics and virtual tours of markers by theme. KHS administers the Kentucky Historical Marker Program in cooperation with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
Interapt LLC, a tech development startup focusing on business innovation services and workforce development, will establish a new Louisville headquarters with a nearly $3.7 million investment and create 250 full-time jobs over the coming years, Mayor Greg Fischer and Gov. Matt Bevin announced yesterday.
“Louisville is seeing growth like never before in our tech sector right now. Interapt’s expansion is confirmation that we have created an environment where entrepreneurs, innovators and makers can thrive,” said the Mayor. “I look forward to seeing the continued growth of our trained IT workforce and applaud the company on its move to the Portland neighborhood in west Louisville.”
Photo: Interapt
For its new office, Interapt will renovate a 22,000 square-foot manufacturing and warehousing facility at 1226 Rowan St. in the city’s Portland neighborhood near downtown. The new headquarters will include dedicated space for community-focused workforce development and technology training programs.
Interapt develops mobile, web and high-tech wearable applications that help businesses improve their processes, communication and bottom line. Customers include Baptist Healthcare, Eurofins, Humana, Kindred Healthcare, YUM! Brands, General Electric and many others.
“Interapt has dedicated itself to creating a pipeline of highly qualified software developers in Kentucky, and their work is catching the attention of a national tech industry,” said Gov. Bevin “The tremendous work of founder and CEO Ankur Gopal, and his team, serves to further establish Kentucky as a premier location for high-tech businesses. With its new corporate office, Interapt will invest in both its own future and that of the commonwealth’s tech industry, and we are thankful for their continued commitment to Kentucky.”
In 2016, Interapt collaborated with multiple for- and nonprofit organizations to develop a technology workforce training initiative. That initiative includes TechHire Eastern Kentucky (TEKY), which has successfully re-trained under-employed individuals in the Appalachia region.
Gopal, who founded Interapt in 2009, said he hopes the company’s growth inspires the next generation of Kentuckians to start their own entrepreneurial journey, and that other global technology companies take notice and consider Kentucky when expanding their businesses.
“This is an exciting milestone for Interapt. Our team has worked very hard to establish ourselves in the global technology industry and help create technology skills across the Commonwealth. We are proud that our work is changing many people’s lives and creating new opportunities for people to embark on fruitful technology careers,” said Gopal. “I appreciate Kentucky’s support and commitment to Interapt’s growth, and look forward to our team making continued impact throughout my home state.”
To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in April preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $2 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.
Additionally, KEDFA approved Interapt for up to $75,000 in tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing.
For more information on Interapt, visit www.interapt.com
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