Contact Information

Sarah Bowker
Managing Director

824 Bull Lea Run Suite 222 Lexington, KY 40511-9383

859-257-7272

CEDIK@lsv.uky.edu

Create Bridges

Create Bridges

Create Bridges

Create Bridges logo

Create Bridges acronym text

Create Bridges process image

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. 

       

Access the CREATE BRIDGES 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


The Create Bridges Initiative is a partnership among:

National Partners

Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC)

University of Kentucky’s Community & Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky (CEDIK)

University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service’s Community and Economic Development (UACES-CED)

Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service

Regional Partners:

FOCUS "Five Original Counties Uniting for Success" Team from Jackson, Clay, Lee, Owsley and Leslie Counties. April Renner, Chairperson.

CEDIK - Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky

Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the University of Kentucky

Program Contact:

Alison Davis, PhD

Executive Director, CEDIK

(859) 257-7260 alison.davis@uky.edu 411 C.E. Barnhart Building Lexington, KY 40546

Contact Information

Sarah Bowker
Managing Director

824 Bull Lea Run Suite 222 Lexington, KY 40511-9383

859-257-7272

CEDIK@lsv.uky.edu