The University of Kentucky has launched an effort to promote and strengthen its ties with the Central Appalachian region. A new series of stories called “Rooted in Our Communities: The University of Kentucky in Appalachia” can be found on UKNow.
University spokesman Jay Blanton says the idea is to spotlight UK’s ongoing efforts in food, workforce, energy, and a host of other areas in the region – while looking forward to building closer relationships with residents and community leaders there. It’s a goal that might sound familiar to anyone involved in the Shaping Our Appalachian Region, or SOAR, initiative.
"UK people are deeply involved in the SOAR process and the initiative and so while this is not specifically tied to it, it's certainly very complimentary of that," he says.
Blanton points to advances that allow residents of Central Appalachia to access a virtual healthcare network that permits them to stay closer to home for most of their treatment. Those are the sorts of programs Blanton says the university is eager to expand.
The UK Appalachia page can be found here.
