Southeast Kentucky Downtown Revitalization Project

Abstract

The Southeast Kentucky Downtown Revitalization Project is a strategic partnership to revitalize Eastern Kentucky’s downtowns, support entrepreneurial ecosystems and begin readying our communities for new investment. Stakeholder teams representing each community have access to CEDIK’s suite of services and technical assistance to support the creation of downtown revitalization plans oriented towards supporting entrepreneurs, building the capacity of local leaders, and attracting new private investments. The goal of the project is to build capacity in our downtowns to attract private investment for revitalization projects that present the following entrepreneurial opportunities:

• Improve infrastructure and the built environment.
• Start and grow small businesses.
• Retain and attract families.
• Draw in visitors for extended stays across the region.
• Attract additional private investment

As a result of the project, to date 12 downtowns have participated in the project, there has been $800,000 in leveraged private investment and 29 new businesses launched.