August EDC Newsletter - Growing Our Own KY Small Businesses / Kentucky Wildcats at the Olympics

UK EDC News | August 2024

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Talent Update

School-Record 11 Kentucky Wildcats Earn 13 Medals at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games

A University of Kentucky-record 11 Wildcats won 13 medals at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games – nine gold, two silver and two bronze.

A school-record 24 University of Kentucky student-athletes, alumni and coaches represented nine countries across six sports at the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in France from July 26-Aug. 11, 2024.

Innovation Update

CURE Summer Fellowship provides undergrads opportunity to enhance research skills

Fourteen University of Kentucky students spent the summer expanding their research skills through the Commonwealth Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Fellowship program, sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Office of the Vice President for Research.

Established in 2022, the fellowship empowers undergraduates to become leaders for their respective communities by providing opportunities to develop new knowledge and skills through research within UK’s Research Priority Areas: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity, energy, materials science, neuroscience, substance use disorder and UNITE.

Economic Engagement Update

UK Extension gathers Kentucky data,

informs future programming

The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension is releasing data gathered from its Statewide Community Needs Assessment survey, offering valuable insights to help communities across the Commonwealth.

The survey was conducted to identify and prioritize community needs, issues and opportunities that UK Extension can address through education and engagement. The results are now available on a public dashboard.

“The community assessment is an important tool that helps us shape educational programming and ensure we are meeting the needs of communities across the state,” said Laura Stephenson, associate dean for extension at UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

Place Update

UK HealthCare opens 1st psychiatric emergency unit in Kentucky

Community and state leaders joined UK HealthCare officials to celebrate the opening of a new emergency unit dedicated to the treatment of patients experiencing a mental health crisis. The unit, known as EmPATH (Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Healing), is the first of its kind in Kentucky.

Currently, there are only about 30 EmPATH units in the U.S. UK HealthCare and New Vista have collaborated with leadership from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to bring this new model of emergency behavioral health care to Kentucky.

Partnership Update

Beam Institute welcomes 1st class of interns

The James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits at the University of Kentucky welcomed its first class of interns this summer. The group is a mix of students from different programs and majors at UK. Head Distiller Glenna Joyce-Welsko has been leading the students through production training and encouraging their research outside of the distillery.

Outside of production training, each intern is tasked with a research project. Project topics range from investigating heritage grains and updating standard operating procedures to barrel char co-products to age beer.

Meet the Team

Part of a monthly series to introduce the Economic Development Collaborative Leaders

Heath Price has extensive experience in higher education, having spent over 15 years at two flagship research universities. He has also worked in the private sector as a partner to many institutions across the United States. During these periods, he has led various collaborative projects, including solving significant budget challenges, building strategies for smart campuses of the future, contributing to the creation of a startup business from the ground up, managing a trademark licensing program for the retail marketplace, and evolving business processes positioned for tomorrow’s customer.

Currently, Heath serves as the Associate Vice President for Partnerships at the University of Kentucky. He is known for his strategic leadership, collaboration, and bridge-building skills, frequently working with areas across a large campus, including Student Success, Information Technology Services, Academic Affairs, and the Athletic Department.

Heath earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Masters in Sports Management from Louisiana State University.

Central Kentucky Job Club:

From Resume to Interview: A Crash Course in Job Search

September 10, 2024 - 9:00 AM

Presented by Caroline Francis, CPRC, CCC, BCC, CCSP, Director, UK Alumni Career Services and Nicole Waite, Employment Specialist, UK STEPS Temporary Employment

This webinar is designed to equip you with strategies and tools for navigating today’s competitive job market. This session will provide you with actionable insights to land your dream job.

Access Here

EDC Communication

The news featured here does not exclusively represent the work of the EDC, but rather highlights the contributions of various collaborators. We are honored to showcase the remarkable achievements taking place across the University of Kentucky.

The EDC Mission:

To proactively grow economic prosperity in the Commonwealth by focusing on the areas of Talent, Innovation, Place, Partnership, and Economic Engagement.