UK Economic Development Collaborative to host 'State of the EDC' Dec. 14

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 6, 2023) — The University of Kentucky Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) will host its fourth annual State of the EDC from 1-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, in Woodward Hall (Room 307) in the Gatton College of Business and Economics. The event will also be livestreamed here.

The State of the EDC tells UK’s economic development story and engages all interested parties through a two-way communication channel to ensure the work of EDC addresses the needs of the university's internal and external stakeholders.

Those in attendance include economic development leaders, strategic business partners and interested faculty/staff, students and community members.

“The State of the EDC highlights the great work that UK staff and faculty perform to proactively grow economic prosperity in the Commonwealth,” said George Ward, EDC chair and associate vice president for economic development and real estate at UK. “The presentation includes a progress report on the EDC’s bold ideas and this year we will be announcing a fifth bold idea specific to talent and workforce development.”

This year’s event will begin with a celebration for the launching of OneUK, a holistic business engagement program developed by an EDC partnership subcommittee task force. UK President Eli Capilouto will be announcing the OneUK pilot cohort.

It will then transition into EDC updates from Ward. Followed by an audience-led panel discussion with the following subcommittee chairs:

• Joshua Taylor, senior director, Graham Office of Career Management, Talent subcommittee chair;
• Ian McClure, associate vice president for Research, Innovation and Economic Impact, Innovation subcommittee chair;
• Melody Nall, engagement director, Community Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky, Place subcommittee chair;
• Kim Kluemper, director of Business Engagement, Partnership subcommittee chair; and
• Marilyn Clark, Economic Inclusion manager, Equitable Economic Development subcommittee chair.

“Looking back over the past four years, I clearly see the enhanced focus and momentum that has been built around economic development at UK and for the Commonwealth, especially in the areas of talent and workforce development and the innovation economy,” said Melody Flowers, UK assistant vice president of economic development and real estate. “I am excited at how we continue to expand our partnerships and welcome new players to this critical table.”

The event is free and open to both the campus and the community. Register for the event here https://forms.gle/wS2kd1BmY8y5ercG9.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.