SOAR Summit FOCUS Breakout Sessions to Explore What Makes Eastern Kentucky Communities Places People Choose
Sessions will tackle housing, broadband, child care, workforce barriers, and talent attraction while bringing together leaders and practitioners from across the region
PIKEVILLE, Ky. and build a future? — What makes a community a place where people choose to live, work, invest?
That question will take center stage during a series of FOCUS Breakout Sessions at the SOAR Summit, presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Through the themes of Building Competitive Communities and People & Place, speakers and panelists will explore some of the interconnected challenges and opportunities shaping the future of communities across Eastern Kentucky.
The sessions will address housing, broadband, child care, workforce participation, and talent attraction, with an emphasis on practical strategies, real-world experiences, and ideas communities can put into action.
“Some of the best solutions for Eastern Kentucky are already being developed right here in our communities,” said Dr. Reed Adkins, Executive Director of SOAR.
“The FOCUS Breakout
Sessions are about bringing those local voices to the table, sharing practical ideas that are working, and creating space for people to learn from one another. We want attendees to leave with more than inspiration. We want them to leave with ideas, connections, and solutions they can take back to their communities and put into action.”
Building Competitive Communities
The Building Competitive Communities theme will examine how communities can become places people choose to invest, work, and live.
The Housing Opportunity: Rethinking Growth in Eastern Kentucky will explore housing as essential infrastructure for economic growth. Panelists will discuss how increasing housing opportunities can support employers, attract talent, strengthen communities, and position Eastern Kentucky for future growth. The moderator and panelists for this session will be announced soon.
Beyond Broadband: Turning Infrastructure into Opportunity will look beyond connectivity to explore how communities can leverage broadband investments to strengthen workforce development, entrepreneurship, education, healthcare access, industry attraction, and quality of life. The conversation will also address what communities should be doing now as Kentucky prepares to deploy BEAD non-deployment funding. Chris Boggs, operations manager at SOAR, will moderate the session. Hilda Legg, founder of Legg Strategies, will serve on the panel. Other panelists will be announced soon.
People & Place
The People & Place theme will focus on building healthier, stronger, and more connected communities where people can participate in the workforce, build careers, raise families, and put down roots.
Building Access to Quality Child Care Through Public-Private Partnerships will examine child care as both a family need and a workforce development opportunity. The session will explore how employers, local governments, child care providers, nonprofits, and community partners can work together to identify local needs and develop solutions that help more parents participate in the workforce.
Kerrigan Bolling, business accelerator coordinator at SOAR, will moderate the session. The panelists include: Amanda Kelly, Small Business Training Director, Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation (SKED); Michelle Spriggs, Eastern Kentucky Center Director, Kentucky Small Business Development Center (SBDC); Kate Dean, Director of Community-Based Partnerships and Strategy, Child Care Aware of Kentucky; Karen Thompson, Interim Executive Director, Appalachian Early Childhood Network; and Sarah Fugate, Business Programs Manager, SOAR.
EKY Remote: Meet Those Who Made the Move will put the spotlight on people who have chosen Eastern Kentucky as their new home. More than 80 families from over 30 states have relocated to the region through EKY Remote. Attendees will hear firsthand why participants made the move, what their experiences have been like, and what their stories can teach communities about attracting talent, growing population, and strengthening local economies.Latasha Friend, director of EKY Remote, will moderate the session. Ben Ledo, vice president of MakeMyMove, will serve as a panelist alongside two movers from the EKy Remote program that will be announced at a later date.
Making Work Work: Removing Barriers, Building Opportunity will explore what happens after someone gets the job. Employers, workforce organizations, and community partners will discuss barriers such as transportation, child care, and the benefits cliff, along with strategies to recognize challenges earlier, support employees, improve retention, and create pathways toward lasting careers.
Kim Albright, Chief Program Officer at SOAR, will moderate the session. Panelists will be announced at a later date.
More Than a Breakout Session
The FOCUS Breakout Sessions are designed to give attendees opportunities to learn from practitioners, exchange ideas, ask questions, and connect with people addressing similar challenges in communities across Eastern Kentucky.
Those conversations are part of a larger Summit experience.
Attendees will have opportunities to build relationships with leaders and organizations from across the region, participate in networking, and explore the EKY Experience, where businesses, organizations, initiatives, and partners will showcase the people and work moving Eastern Kentucky forward.
Whether attendees come looking for solutions to a specific community challenge, potential partners, new ideas, or stronger connections across the region, the Summit is designed to bringtogether people who believe in Eastern Kentucky’s future and want to play a role in shaping what comes next.
Register and Save $25 with FOCUS
Registration for the SOAR Summit is open.
As part of the FOCUS Breakout Sessions announcement, attendees can use promo code FOCUS to save $25 on Summit registration.
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About SOAR: Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) is a nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives and communities across Eastern Kentucky through meaningful employment and economic self-sufficiency. With a vision to leverage the unique talents and gifts of every individual, SOAR is championing local projects, empowering regional collaboration, and driving measurable impact, setting a national standard for rural community and economic development.
Learn more at www.soar-ky.org.
