AROUND THE OFFICE January 26, 2024 Digging out of the snow one day, short sleeves the next…Welcome to Kentucky! Last week we visited the South Ashland area. On Thursday, January 18 the team pulled into 2828 Holt Street to cut a ribbon with Candice Steele at White Oak Wellness. Candice is a certified herbalist, she leads workshops and classes and has an apothecary onsite, as she brings holistic wellness to our community. This week we joined our friends from Pathways to cut yet another ribbon at another new clinic! We headed to Greenup County to cut a ribbon for the Grand Opening of the new Pathways South Shore Outpatient Office at 472 Main Street. The new office is a Comprehensive Care Center and Pathways CEO, Jennifer Willis is getting really good at cutting ribbons, meeting the needs of the community and providing jobs. We couldn’t be more excited! More ribbon [...]

Christmas is just two days away and you can feel the magic in the air! Sometimes we get caught up in the hustle and bustle, the plans, the shopping and, for some, the travel to see loved ones. However, stop sometime during the festivities and just be thankful - in our office we are thankful for the opportunity to support and serve the businesses in Northeast Kentucky for 136 years! It has been especially rewarding to see so many people shopping locally, as we have so many great locally owned and community proud shops! Drive anywhere in our two-county region and you see shops, stores, and great restaurants to make your visit a rewarding one. From Downtown Russell to Downtown Ashland, Cannonsburg to Flatwoods, South Ashland to South Shore, Summit to Downtown Greenup, Catlettsburg to Raceland…you get the idea… we are surrounded by great communities filled with great people! It [...]

Time to Fall into Fall! It's been a great week to be in Northeast Kentucky! Scott and Missy celebrated the opening of a new store in Ashland today. Las Palmas, Abarrotes, and Antojitos (groceries and food) opened their doors at 2116 13th Street, Ashland. German Flores, owner, was proud to share great tasting authentic and unique food items from Mexico and Central America with Ashland and Northeast Kentucky! Las Palmas is open seven days a week to explore the flavors sure to bring a smile to your face. We are just three weeks away from the Ashland Alliance Annual Meeting at Sandy’s Racing and Gaming. If any of you have attended our Annual Meetings in the past, you know they are not to be missed! This is the largest business social in all of Northeast and Eastern Kentucky. Tickets are available now. This week, I expect we will announce the [...]

How is it September already? Good day from the desk of the Alliance. I am happy to share the activity of the week, the last week of Summer! The Alliance hosted two ribbon cuttings this week and one Lunch and Learn! The first ribbon cutting was a new business to our area with a wonderful product. One was a needed service that changes the lives of the citizens of Northeast Kentucky. iFoam opened its doors in Paul Coffey Industrial Park this week. Jacob Clark, along with Zach and Ben Roach are the proud owners of an insulation contracting company that has products that can cut your energy expense by up to 40% and provide comfort to your home and workplace. The Alliance was proud of the crowd that came out to celebrate the newest business in Boyd County! Thursday’s Ribbon Cutting was at Pathway’s newest facility, Pathways’ Addiction Services at [...]

Good Friday afternoon everyone! Yet another Friday and Tim has again left his office unlocked… actually, Tim has been on the road most of the week at an economic development conference and attending meetings associated with that…Go Tim Go! There has been a lot of activity this week at the office as the backpacks have found their new homes on the backs of some great kids…lots of smiles! I was able to get some more Ashland Alliance podcast guests recorded. The name of the podcast is “Northeast Kentucky Regional Update” or “NEKY Regional Update.” Those will be available soon on the website and other places where podcasts are available. I want to get a few more recorded so there is somewhat of a library of them…stand by, you may be my next guest! Next week we will be cutting a ribbon to signal the opening of the Boyd County Fair, [...]

Hey, it’s Scott and I have hijacked the President’s report once again! There’s a really good reason for it, Tim is on the road again for economic development. You probably already know this, but Tim is on the road a great deal working extremely hard to bring industry, jobs and families to our region. We applaud his efforts and wish him safe travels…but, he left his office unlocked, so here I am. Our office is always hopping with activity. This week has been one of the most rewarding times we have. Tim mentioned it last week, but the Backpack Program, headed up by our young professionals, have our hallways and offices swelled to capacity as nearly two hundred backpacks have come in and then started leaving to go into the hands of great children in our two-county region. We thank the generous donors, our volunteers, and the school officials that [...]

Welcome to the weekly update from the Ashland Alliance. My report today will cover topics from new business openings to recruitment activity. Today we welcomed Oasis Point RV & Adventure Lake to Northeast Kentucky. This Boyd County go-to adventure park and RV center has lots to offer for the entire family. It's easy to see why our area is becoming a popular place for families to come for fun and adventure. This week we also held a full board meeting of the Ashland Alliance. The board heard from John Marshall, President/COO of Revolutionary Racing and Sandy’s Gaming, about their investment and opening facilities in Boyd County. The full board also elected Sara Marks, President/CEO of UK King's Daughters, and John Holbrook, Business Manager of Tri-State Building and Construction Trades Council, to the Executive Board. Hold on for next week! As of today, we have three ribbon cuttings for next week. There [...]

Today was an exciting day for the Ashland Alliance. Scott, Samantha, and I were invited to tour the new Sandy’s Racing Facility at Camp Landing. Seeing the progress made in the building that once housed Sears was substantial. The Union Trades from the Tri-State are building a showplace for Northeast Kentucky. The facility is 74,000 sq. ft. of excitement. This, along with the Equestrian Center and Horse Track in 2025, will change the landscape of the region. In the coming weeks, you will hear more about this regional and statewide attraction. Over the next week, you will see more new businesses that are calling Boyd and Greenup County home. We are proud to share with you, the membership, what is coming and how we can support their new business. This week also marketed another chance for the Alliance to partner with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development in sharing our [...]

Hello from the desk of the Ashland Alliance. This week we celebrate working with others, highlighting a community, and recognizing how hard work makes a difference. We had a short work week, but we sure did pack a lot of handshakes and “good to see you” into it! The reason for the short week gave us yet another memorable Summer Motion. Our hats go off to the committee of volunteers, the City of Ashland and its employees that give so much of their time and efforts and all the sponsors that make it happen!  Last night we partnered with Members Choice Credit Union, Revitalize Russell, the City of Russell, and the downtown Russell businesses for Business After Hours. They welcomed northeast Kentucky to their hometown. It was a great evening to see the work and the investment that has taken place in Russell. A great crowd, many familiar faces, community leaders past [...]

We’ve had another exciting week at the Ashland Alliance as we prepare for many fun events around our region. As we celebrate our Nation’s 247th birthday, we are reminded daily how lucky we are and it’s easy to see why we are a great nation…we are made up of great people. We had another fantastic Lunch and Learn this past Tuesday at the KDMC Pavilion. Our friends from Humana supplied lunch and a really informative session, “Medicare 101” with Jacob Chapman and his Northern Kentucky Market Manager Matt Miller making the presentation. Lots of information was presented and many questions were asked! Our week has been made up of many meetings of sharing information and the spirit of working together in this amazing region. We have brought back the Alliance Ambassadors! You will be hearing a lot more from this group as we continue to get the word out about [...]

Greetings from the desk of your Ashland Alliance. The first week in a long time that we are not celebrating the opening of a new business in Boyd or Greenup County. With Monday being Memorial Day, this was a week of honoring our military, families and welcoming summer to Northeast Kentucky. Today’s report may be a little short, but there are nuggets for you, our members. Over the next few weeks, you will hear an organized effort to highlight how this community has more to offer than you think. This community is a destination. Events such as First Friday, Boyd County Tourism’s recent exotic car drive-in, to Russell's Farmers Market show the region and the country just what we have to offer. Monday, we hosted the largest Lunch and Learn in the last three years. Fifty people came out to Giovanni’s Pizza & Pub in Summit to hear about Tourism [...]

It's been a busy week here at Alliance!! Let's recap - last Friday, the Alliance celebrated our 28th annual Spring Golf Outing at Bellefonte County Club. It was a Chamber of Commerce Day with perfect weather for the 28 teams to enjoy golf and connect with our business community. I have special thanks to Fat Patty’s and KFC as our Event Sponsors, ACTC as our 19th Hole Reception Sponsors, to Don Hall GM Superstore for the hole-in-one contest and GJ Pepsi provided drinks to keep all the golfers happy. Next week we have two new businesses opening! Please join us to celebrate Cargo House Pizza on Thursday the 18th and BodyWorx on Friday the 19th! It is wonderful to see new businesses and dreams coming true in Northeast Kentucky. I hope each one of you has the opportunity to enjoy your Mother’s Day Weekend! We look forward to seeing you [...]

Hello from the desk of your Ashland Alliance. We’ve had a busy week welcoming new businesses to our area and working with those looking for a new location in North East Kentucky. On Thursday evening, the Alliance was proud to partner with United Way and their Board Members for their annual campaign kickoff. A significant crowd came out to network, eat and celebrate the excellent work of our United Way. Today the Alliance welcomed Food Coma and their Cajun-style food in Summit with a fun & tasty ribbon cutting! This Saturday, we are in South Ashland for another new business opening. So Ash Haberdash is a men’s and women’s boutique specialty shop opening at 2036 29th Street in South Ashland. Their ribbon-cutting celebration is this Saturday, April 15 at 11 am.  Please come out and have a great time with owners Laura Geremia Reaves and her husband, David Reaves. The Ashland Alliance also continues [...]

March 31, 2023 We are celebrating another productive week here in Northeast Kentucky. The Ashland Alliance welcomed New Life Insurance to their new Downtown Ashland location on the corner of 16th and Winchester. Their Ribbon-cutting was a fabulous opportunity to see the renewed property of the Business Club Facility and to meet Stephanie Osterkamp and her dedicated team of insurance professionals. This week also marked the collaboration of five counties, EastPark Board, and the Ashland Alliance on a $750.000.00 Grant (Kentucky Product Development Initiative) award to purchase the land and buildings formerly sold for the Unity Aluminum project. This grant, along with a $750,000.00 donation from Steel Dynamics, gives EastPark the largest spec building available in the State of Kentucky, along with 240 acres of certified development land with no debt. The leadership of our two counties (Boyd and Greenup), along with Carter, Lawrence, and Elliott, has prepared this community [...]

This week marked the return of the Lunch and Learn series was a big success! Even with the inclement weather (icy morning, lots of cancellations around the region), we were at standing room only in the Ashland Visitors Center’s conference room.  A lively discussion about working together and helping each other grow was the focus, with Scott speaking about the role of the Ashland Alliance and its position as the regional chamber of commerce for Boyd and Greenup counties.  Brandy Clark spoke about the tremendous growth and interaction that Visit AKY has had, with over 800 events last year alone.  Also on hand to field questions about the city and growth was commissioner Josh Blanton, who always brought great perspective to our topics.  We thank our members and attendees that came to be a part of the series…stay tuned for details on next month’s Lunch and Learn!   This week we [...]

Hello from the desk of the Alliance. Today I want to share a short but powerful message. The Ashland Alliance's strength is made up of the collective strength of this community and you as the business community. Together we have helped build this country and this tristate. Even in the midst of a pandemic and economic challenge, we have done great things together.   Today, I was honored to be a partner with King’s Daughters Health Foundation's Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. October is the month of the year when all of us highlight the fight to end breast cancer. Today was a special day. We heard stories of triumph. We heard the value of early detection and world-class treatment right here at home.    King’s Daughters Health Foundation kicked off a campaign for a new mobile mammography unit. KMDC serves many regions of Kentucky that don't have access to or resources for early detection of [...]

INVESTING IN YOU! Hello from the desk of the Ashland Alliance. We've had another busy week here as summer starts to role by. We just walked back in the door from a great ribbon cutting for Bluegrass Mama Creations in the City of Russell! A wonderful crowd of citizens came out to see another example of the revitalization of a proud city. Mayor Simpson and council were present for the opening of a beautiful arts and crafts boutique in the heart of the city. We are proud to be a part of this! Watch and share the LIVE stream on our Facebook page. I also want to give a shout out to some of our training partners. ACTC Workforce Solutions and TENCO Workforce Center have great training solutions for you and your employees. We have been asked several times lately about ways to invest in workforce to help companies find efficiency and methods to do more. The Alliance and [...]

APPRECIATION Hello from the desk of the Alliance. Our theme for today is our appreciation for you. We don’t always realize the value of our normal everyday lives. This week was a positive week for the Ashland Alliance and our community. We celebrated DESCO Federal Credit Union with a ceremonial Ashland Alliance ribbon cutting for their beautiful, full service, new home on Carter Avenue. Today we honored our Work Seal Seniors at Raceland High School and Greenup County High School. This week highlighted the investment that is happening in our community. This investment is both in brick and motar and in the youth of today that is the workforce of tomorrow. The Alliance Board held our first in person board meeting in 14 months. It was amazing to see the talent and dedication this board represents and to share news and activity with those both in person and online. As spring days fade to [...]

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER NEW BUSINESS Hello from the desk of the Ashland Alliance! It is a great time to be in Kentucky. We are celebrating the first steps to life feeling back to a new normal with over 60,000 people receiving COVID-19 vaccines. I appreciate each one of you and what you have done to help make this community as safe as it has been for all. It was one year ago that the Alliance was working with the State of Kentucky on sourcing PPE for our first responders, having no idea what the other side of this crisis would look like. Today we are one step closer to finding our way and moving ahead. Thank you. Today we are also celebrating a new business’ grand opening ribbon cutting! Home Builders Supply, LLC, located at 1560 Diederich Blvd. in Russell, had a wonderful event this afternoon. This building supply outlet is just [...]

DERBY TIME IN KENTUCKY! Hello from the desk of the Ashland Alliance. Derby time in Northeast Kentucky has not always been the first Saturday in May. From 1924-1928 our own Raceland Racetrack was known as the “Million Dollar Oval." This 1.5-mile thoroughbred track hosted the Raceland Derby on July 28th, 1924. Five horses that had been in the Kentucky Derby were in the field that day. Over 15,000 spectators were in the stands and on the rail. Black Gold was the winner that day. After the demise of Raceland, Jack O. Keene went on to build another Kentucky track you've probably heard of — Keeneland. There is so much history here in our community. Every year on the Day of the Oaks and before the Kentucky Derby it is ok to think, 'what if Raceland was still here today'? My attention is focused on what is here now and how we can help this community grow! The Ashland Alliance hosted another [...]

WHAT A WEEK! Hello from the desk of the Alliance. Kari, here! This has been a crazy week! Crazy good, nonetheless. This morning we had the honor of partnering with ACTC for a job and internship fair. It was a huge success and definitely the first of many. The students and employers present had a great time with loads of successful conversations. This kind of event is especially important to us because it gives us the opportunity to be a part of helping students find their careers.... and that's just pretty darn cool. The only downside is having to leave the door prizes for the students. Was really hoping no one would claim the Ipad or the flat screen TV... We had two very successful ribbon cuttings in Russell. Congratulations, Buff City Soap & Members Choice Credit Union. Thank you to everyone who joined us both in-person and online! Who [...]

START ANEW! Have you noticed how many new businesses we have welcomed to our area in last few months? This week we hosted a ribbon cutting for Plentiful Wealth, in the Remax building on Greenup Avenue. Ashland native, Jeb Jarrell, is starting out with a bang and has a great insight to share for his clients. Over the next few weeks, we have 6 additional ribbon cuttings scheduled. We always want to invite you to come out and join us or tune in online to watch these events on Facebook. We have been averaging 1,000-5,000 sets of eyes on every ribbon cutting we have had over the last couple months. This is a great way for new businesses to introduce themselves to our community. You help drive the traffic on social media that is vital for these new businesses. Please continue to like and share links that are posted. This helps more [...]

Happy Spring! Hello from the desk of the Alliance. Kari, here! April is a busy month for the chamber side of our house! I have included multiple dates for each of you to put on your calendars. If you can't make it to our April ribbon cuttings, make sure to tune in on our Facebook page. One of the best ways to support the Alliance is to engage with us online, so make sure to comment on or share our posts and live streams. Every view counts! For our April Lunch & Learn we're partnering with Canopy from Louisville, KY for Keeping Kentucky FIRST in Good Business. This --members only-- event is scheduled for April 15th at 12:30PM. RSVP is required. Canopy is one of Kentucky's coolest organizations, so I am really excited about this one. Congratulations to The Edge Business Center on Business of the Month! The Edge will be hosting an Open [...]

NEW NORMAL Hello from the desk of the Alliance. I usually start off sharing how busy we have been and yes we have had a busy week. We celebrated another business opening in our downtown. Welcome Merle Norman! Their new space (346 15th street) is fantastic. If you missed their ribbon cutting, you can view it on our Facebook page. We had a Full Board Meeting and shared what we have learned over COVID-19 and how to apply our lessons to be better for you as our members. We also had the chance to pitch to the world how we could/would be a great place for a project. All and all a very good week. We are moving back to in person meetings. We will be safe, responsible, and offer a virtual option since we understand everyone is connected online. But it is time and you deserve it. The sun is shining and the [...]

STARTING TO FEEL NORMAL Hello from the desk of the Alliance. With two ribbon cuttings this week and an Executive Board Meeting, we have had a good week! Spero Health and Davis Handyman both had great turnouts and awesome things to share about their businesses. I always start ribbon cuttings off by saying it is a wonderful day when we welcome a new business to our community. Twice this week we have done just that. Let’s go out of our way to help each one make Ashland and Northeast Kentucky home for years to come. (As always, for bonus points with Kari... SHARE those LIVE streams to your personal Facebook pages and/or leave a COMMENT welcoming the business to our community.) We are also getting ready for the Ashland Alliance Board Meeting this coming Wednesday. I am looking forward to sharing with the Board the progress our team has made in adapting and learning from [...]

ANOTHER BUSY WEEK Busy week here at the Alliance! Hosting three ribbon cuttings and announcing our Business of the Month was a wonderful way to welcome in Spring. On Wednesday, we hosted Boyd County Clerk Kevin Johnston's ribbon cutting for their new Summit location. We had a great time! Check out their Facebook page for details on how the Boyd County Clerks Office can serve you. Thank you Alliance Ambassadors & Board Members for being there as well. We appreciate the support for this great new addition. The LIVE stream has 1K views so far and has reached 2K Facebook users. I enjoyed reading about it in the Daily Independent too! Great article! Congratulations, Kool Hits 105.7! We appreciate each of you! Kool Hits is proud to be the only radio station in the Tri-State market that is truly local, with LIVE on-air personalities from 6AM-12 MDT. They also provide community service [...]

ON THE OTHER SIDE! Hello from the desk of the Alliance. It’s nice to be sitting in the office with power, internet, and our team together. I want to say thank you to the front-line utility providers of our area. Working in adverse, dangerous conditions through two winter ice storms has been hard on everyone. I also want to thank our government partners. Their response and messaging to help neighbors and family was spot on for all to get to the other side of this. We found a spring in our step this week getting back to the job of helping you and our community. On Thursday John Spears, CPA & Partner at Kelley Galloway Smith Goolsby, PSC and Alliance treasurer for life (Haha!) presented a Lunch and Learn on 2021 Taxes. His timely information will make a difference for all that attended the virtual event. We have not let this year long pandemic pass [...]

SPRING IS COMING! Yes, there are 29 days until Spring. Though it won't be that long until we feel the warmth of spring’s days. I think we all need a little pick me up! Let’s get it…. Over the next three weeks the Alliance, and more importantly our new businesses, have 5 Ribbon Cuttings scheduled. We will live stream each one of them and encourage all who attend to join us safely, using practical social distancing measures for all. We also have a great Lunch and Learn on February 25th discussing everybody’s favorite topic — TAXES! This virtual event hosted by our own John Spears from Kelley Galloway Smith Goolsby, PSC is very timely. With taxes due, stimulus checks, and PPP income all businesses need a fresh look at their taxes. Even in this time of snow and ice, things are happening! Kari has been busy with many of you [...]

HAPPY FRIDAY! Hello from the desk of the Alliance. Kari, here! We have a lot of Chamber related activity to share with you but I will try to keep this as short as I can. This morning we had a ribbon cutting at Five Below in Ashland Town Center. If you missed it, you can watch the LIVE video on our Facebook page or tune into WSAZ or WCHS this evening. We were grateful to have Ashland City Commissioners Gute & Blanton there to celebrate yet another business opening. Susan and I had a successful week dropping in to see several of you with donuts from Dave's Bakery! We are looking forward to continuing that tradition many weeks to come. We've also had several opportunities to sit down with some of you and discuss ways to strengthen your business' brand. If this is something you're interested in, give us a [...]

ONE STEP FORWARD Have you ever had one of those days where you think it has been a very productive day but at the end you still have not done what you started off to do? That was today! Zoom Meetings, phone calls, emails, and payroll all had to be done today. In the end I had to make time to share with you some news of the week and a message of hope. I would like to comment on the news from King’s Daughters Medical Center. It certainly has been an active week for our largest employer. Buying the Bellefonte Pavilion and adding 150 new jobs is good news for the area. Greenup County receiving $3 million in revenue is certainly good news as well. King's Daughters partnership with UK HealthCare is very positive news for the area. Most communities try to attract medical students and residency training as a means to strengthen their hospital and [...]

BRIGHTER DAYS Hello from the desk of the Alliance! Happy to be back in the chair and updating you on this week's activity. I think most of you have heard that our area has been awarded $3.5 million dollars in grant funding for a building at EastPark. There are a lot of folks out there that I feel we need to thank. Many times the Alliance has the chance to carry the baton but there is no way we get there without a lot of help. First off is our partners at EastPark. The Alliance serves as the marketing and recruitment agent for the park. Without this close relationship, with us serving them and the attributes they offer, we would not be where we are today. Today we are moving forward. We have had the great fortune to have some strong and powerful partners in Washington D.C. and closer to home in Frankfort. At the Alliance Annual Meeting Governor [...]

COMMUNICATING THROUGH THE NEW YEAR Hello from the desk of the Alliance. Kari, here! Tim is off solving all of the world's problems so I thought I'd share a few of the communicative updates we're making this year. In order to organize our weekly communication methods, we want to categorize our e-blasts in 2021. That being said, we will be sending out a Wednesday newsletter called Shop Members. It will contain all of your business' deals/promotions/advertisements, etc. (We will include them on our Facebook page as well as our Instagram.) We know life gets busy and it's easy to forget to send things in, so if you would like we can send you a reminder before the inclusion deadline each week. Simply reply to this email if that is something you'd be interested in. We will be starting a similar idea but instead of advertisements, it'll be fundraisers, community events, [...]

TOGETHER WE CAN BE BETTER It has been a difficult week to be an American. I have worked at the Untied States Capital. I was an LBJ College Intern for my congressman and will never forget how honored I felt walking on the floor of the United States House of Representatives Chamber. I was a young man from Eastern Kentucky. I was full of idealism of what government could do with the support of the governed. I was in Washington the day Iraq invaded Kuwait and knew this country was going to war. This week was different however. When I was in D.C. we knew those that stood against us and our government. Today it is a much harder time for all Americans to find a common cause and vision of our future. This week has been hard for me. I come to work to find ways to make this community better for each of you. I [...]

HOLD ON TIGHT! Hello from the desk of the Alliance! In my mind, since this is the FIRST Friday Report of the year, it needs to be a good one! 2021 will be a good year but it will take some time to get going. I just want you to know we have learned valuable lessons in 2020 and will make progress for you and this region in 2021. Leading into this year we have received an Abandon Mine Lands Grant for $1.5 million from the Kentucky Diversion of Abandoned Mine Lands for a new site at EastPark. We hope this new development will be a great project in 2021. We have completed a $4 million AML Grant for Unity Aluminum at EastPark and we have contracted for lead generation services for even more opportunity to bring growth to Northeast Kentucky. 2021 will be better for this organization and for [...]

HAPPY FRIDAY! Hello from the desk of the Alliance. Kari, here!! Thank you all for tuning in to our Annual Meeting! I don't think I'll ever be able to speak at a public event again while wearing a blouse & blazer with Lululemon leggings and Vans tennis shoes behind the podium. Thanks for sharing in that moment with me. Haha! We were honored to have the speakers that we did. Our region has a ton to be proud of. This has been a terribly difficult year, but our people have proven to be resilient. It was nice to shine some light on that! Hope is in the air!!! We had viewers from 8 states (Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina, Virginia, Indiana, Washington D.C, and Georgia). I am going to take a stab in the dark and assume the viewer in Georgia was my mom though. Haha! MyTown TV broadcasted the event [...]

2020 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING Hello from the desk of the Alliance. You are ALL invited to our 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting! The meeting will be held Tuesday, December 15th from 5PM to 6:30PM. It is completely FREE and we would LOVE for you all to share the link with all of your employees. There is no login information, simply click the link and you’re in! You don’t have to worry about fixing your hair and PJ’s are 100% accepted. You will be able to see our speakers but we will not be able to see you. This will be the largest gathering of business professionals in all of Eastern and Northeastern Kentucky in 2020. We will hear from Governor Andy Beshear and a few other highly-esteemed leaders of our region. For questions reach out to the Alliance at info@ashlandalliance.com. Meeting Link: https://www.mytowntv.com/mytowntv-sports-channel-3.html — Tim Gibbs Ashland Alliance

2020 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING Hello from the desk of the Alliance. Actually, it is the desk of my home since, we too, are working remotely and exchanging one person daily in the office. It is a crazy world out there! Since we are all practicing safety in our workplace and daily life, the Alliance is adjusting how we are having our 2020 Annual Meeting. It is going to be virtual this year. But, it will be different and in some ways better than in years past. Our featured speaker for the event is our Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. This is the sixth year in a row that a Governor of Kentucky is addressing our Annual Meeting. The night will also highlight a few other special guests and the passing of the gavel from 2020 Chairperson Kristie Whitlatch to Cindy Wiseman, Kentucky Power's Vice President External Affairs and Customer Service. This event will be produced and hosted [...]

THIS TOO SHALL PASS Hello from the desk of the Ashland Alliance. It would be hard to put a positive spin on the days and activity of the last week. We have been challenged. We have been asked to think about others and protect ourselves. Weeks like this one will pass and our economy and interactions with one another will return. Please take care and practice social distancing. Think about how to protect you and your family. I am sad to announce the Winter Wonderland of Lights Christmas Parade is officially cancelled for 2020. The Winter Wonderland Committee had to make a difficult decision. They want to keep our traditions alive but look out for the health of all of you. It will be back, and it will be even sweeter next year as we gather to celebrate the season. For now, enjoy the lights in the park, be safe and take care. The Alliance is here to [...]

STAY SAFE! Everyone out there probably knows someone that has had or has COVID-19. We all are trying to keep our economy going and protect ourselves and our families from this disease. This week at the Alliance we too have dealt with knowing people and family that have been affected. My message today is a simple one. Please stay safe and vigilant! We can make a difference and I hope everyone does their part. Elections are over and sooner or later we will have all the results. For the Alliance, we dance with whoever brings us to the ball. We are here to support you and your business. As things change we are here to help. Please reach out and let's sit down, zoom, or even smoke signals if need be to find a way to keep you in front of your customers. We are here for you. Today's message is short but the meaning is [...]

VOTE! Good day from the desk of the Alliance. I hope each of you are happy and healthy. 2020 has been an interesting and trying year for everyone. This is not the first year our character has been tested. There have been years and events in the past that have brought the fight out in us. Today I wanted to say thank you. I know I would be hard pressed to not say thank you in every Friday report but today is a special one. Thank you to each of the people in our community that have run for political office to make things better. Thank you to the ones that felt they had an answer, the passion, and the burning to do something for all of us. As you go to the polls next week lets all gather as Americans first and a community of one. President Theodore Roosevelt had it right. After leaving the presidency in 1909, [...]

NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND NEW IDEAS Hello from the desk of the Alliance! After last week with Kari Huffman taking the reins of the Friday report, I had to get mine done early to grab my spot back for the weekly update. This week the Alliance held a full board meeting. Of course, it was a safe gather via Zoom.. We had over 85% attendance of our board gathered to hear what is going on with the organization and voice their ideas for what we can and should be doing. One of the actions approved by the board was adding new board members. For the first time in a year, five new board members were added! David Deborde, Members Choice Credit Union, Debbie Cosper, Boyd County Library, Steven Lycans, MyTown TV, Tyler Burke, Columbia Gas, Tim Muffley, Desco Federal Credit Union, and Aaron Snyder, The Daily Independent. It is always a great day when individuals [...]

SHOP LOCAL INITIATIVES & MY TACO MASK Good afternoon from the desk of the Alliance! Kari, here! I've stolen the opportunity to write to all of you, as Tim is working on an exciting project that requires his undivided attention. I like it when Tim is super busy because I secretly love writing to all of you. I debated changing the title today to 'The Kari Report', but as the new kid on the block, I probably shouldn't push my luck. 😉 The ladies and I have been working on a really cool project that I am excited to share with all of you as we move into November. I'm not going to give you all the details just yet but I'll drop a teaser or two while I'm here... We have been studying best practices for sharing 'Shop Local' initiatives and are looking forward to launching a campaign for [...]

THIS IS OUR HOME Hello from the desk of the Alliance. Yesterday I had the honor of attending Safe Harbor’s Candlelight Vigil and an Ashland Alliance Ribbon Cutting for their new art studio and their new pet kennel.  I sat in the fall sun and heard the story of how Safe Harbor was formed. I heard how victims of domestic violence have a home, place of recovery, and a place to heal. What I actually heard is how special this place we call home is. It is hard not to be moved by the dedication of many for those that are in need. Our community has kind hearts and vision. We are working for the days when opportunity, for all, helps build our families and strengthens the bonds we share. We certainly have work to do, but it is important to say thank you to those that are working to [...]

MARCHING ON! Good afternoon from the desk of the Alliance. Each week we bring our news of the week and share positive notes and activity from the Alliance and our community. This week is a little harder than most.  The news of Marathon Petroleum’s layoffs at the Catlettsburg facility is sad news. It is terrible for the families affected. Since 1916 there has been a refinery here in Northeast Kentucky. It produces 277,000 barrels a day and employs over 1,500 members of our community. Marathon is a great company to have in our area. They have stepped up time after time to help the Ashland Alliance and other organizations as a community and civic leader. Each year they have bought and supplied backpacks and school supplies for our backpack program making sure kids have what they need and feel good about themselves as they start back in school. They have sponsored our golf tournaments and our annual meetings. The world is changing and with COVID its been crazy. We feel for the 60 plus families that are [...]

ANOTHER NEW NORMAL Good afternoon from the Alliance Office! Kari, here! Tim is running from one meeting to the next today so I stole the privilege of writing to all of you. This week has been a little different. Since COVID hit, we've frequently been discussing our new normal and how we can use it to create more value for all of you. But this week our office has been a little dimmer than usual as we adjust to another new normal-- one without our hard working, loving, tell-it-like-it-is Paula. We miss her so much. Thank you for all of the messages, calls, and flowers. We appreciate it! Things certainly won't be the same around here without her grit and gumption. Today we had a ribbon cutting for Pam's Primitives on the corner of Beech & 29th Street. Stop in and see her tomorrow between 11 & 6. She's having [...]

HONORING PAULA MAYO It is with a heavy heart that I share these words with you. The Alliance and this community lost a wonderful lady this week. Ms. Paula Mayo has been the center of all things Ashland Alliance for 40 years. She knew and cared for many of you. Her work and passion for this organization has made all of us better. I am honored to have had the chance to work with her over my last 6 years. Visitation is Saturday from 5-7 PM at Steen Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, her family has requested donations be made in Paula’s memory to James Cancer Center, 460 W. 10th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210. Paula would be upset with me if I did not continue to do what we do and help our businesses and community move forward. This week we did this with two wonderful ribbon cuttings. Frye & Troxler PSC and Happy Heart [...]

PARTING CLOUDS Good afternoon from the desk of the Alliance. My title of today’s update for you represents where I think we are today. Just as the weather may blow in rain and darkness, light and sun come soon afterwards. The same thing is happening here. And it's about time. Tomorrow there will be a nice announcement of a company joining our community. Some of you have heard about it and everyone will be happy to learn more about what is coming and the reasons why they have chosen here. It is because we have something to offer. It is because this community still has people that want to work and talent to offer their employer. We have people that want a career not just a job. This is who we are and what we have to offer. There will additional announcements coming soon from our partners as well. Things are moving in the right direction. This week we also have developed a partnership [...]

NEW BUSINESSES IN COVID Good day from the desk of the Alliance! Today's message is a simple but powerful one. Even with a worldwide pandemic going on, there are individuals starting new businesses. Just in the last few months, the Alliance has helped with 7 new businesses that now call our community home. We have shared each one with you so you can stay up to date with what's happening in our community too. Just this week we partnered with Just a Lil Tease Salon on 29th Street and WASH in Ashland Town Center. I have always said you can teach people how to run a business but the one thing that I have never seen shared is how to teach someone to have the burning in their belly. That sense that I CAN do it! This is strong and it is needed now more than ever. I am proud of our local business community and our [...]

PACKING IT UP! Hello from the desk of the Alliance! As you can see it is back to school time...well..kind of. There is still a lot of need out there for kids to have what they need to learn in school. The Alliance and our partners are helping meet that need. Each one of you should feel proud of the donations and smiles the backpack program brings to our kids. Our Young Professionals have once again found a way to make a real difference in the lives of the children in our area. Special thanks goes out to each and every business that has sponsored a child so far. You are making a difference! Thank you... Our lobby is a little cluttered today, but for a good cause. We've got 161 backpacks and counting! If you're interested in sponsoring now or when the kids go back to school, please let [...]

CUSTARD'S FIRST STAND (IN ASHLAND) Hello there, from the desk of the Alliance. Our week started on Saturday with a masked & socially distant ribbon cutting at Whit’s Custard Shop on Winchester Ave. It’s located in the old Nobles shoe store building. If you have not been yet, you've got to try it out. From the moment you walk in and see the old, Nobles mosaic floor you'll know you are in historic Ashland. You can treat yourself to a delicious cup of frozen custard and a coffee from the full coffee shop… they even have a lunch menu that has something for everyone! Whit’s ribbon cutting builds on what is happening here in Ashland. Even in a pandemic people are investing their time and money to start their own businesses. This ribbon cutting also represents how the Alliance is changing with the times. We live streamed the ribbon cutting on [...]

A BRIGHTER HORIZON Hello from the desk of the Alliance! Today I want to take a different track on our update to you, our members. This week was a special week. It was a week that we had a chance to market who we are and what we have to offer. Usually the economic development side of the house is silent running until there is the correct time to share the news. At this point, I have no idea if we’ll reach that time from this week’s projects. I am happy, however, we had the chance to pitch and show the world this great community. COVID has been and continues to be hard on everyone in the business community. It is important for you to know there is hope out there. This week we have worked on an expansion of an existing company and a recruitment for a new one. We [...]

DID YOU KNOW? Hello from the desk of the Alliance. Each week we try to bring to you useful information for navigating this new world of COVID and business. I think we have stressed the fact that we, like each one of you, are finding our new normal and new ways to reach those that need our services and to assist our members. We have started delivering Dave’s Doughnuts again each Friday Morning. If you would like to have a few smiling faces stop by give us a shout here at the office. There is a few pieces of information we need to share. There is another round of Federal Financed PPP or Payroll Protection Plan to help keep your workers in the job! We have several Alliance Member banks happy to help you even if you’re not a member of their bank. We hosted a Ribbon Cutting for the Mill Cafe & [...]

FINDING NEW WAYS FORWARD Good afternoon from the desk of the Alliance. It feels good to be sitting here today and sharing positive news about our area. Over the last few months the Alliance, like most of you, has fought to find ways to hang on to what we have always known and find new ways to help you during this crazy pandemic we’re living in. Today, I have a few examples of what we are doing and how it’s helping many of the businesses in our area. I mentioned last week that the Alliance is using online advertising and social media more than we ever have. I have a great example of this. In the last 48 hours the Alliance released an online flyer for The Mill Café and Bakery. It has been viewed over 5,000 times! Kari and our team have been meeting with more of you than [...]

ZOOMING ALONG Good afternoon from the desk of the Alliance. After having last Friday off for the July 4th weekend it is time to get back at it! I have a couple themes that will be persistent today. All of us have to be flexible and amend how we deliver what we do. My second point is we will get through this and see the other side. A week ago, we hosted two ribbon cuttings, one for Christian Alexander Home Decor and one for Bombshells and Ales. Both of which had great attendances. It’s wonderful to see another new store and a another new restaurant in our area. The events were live streamed on Facebook and had over 1000 views in just a few days! For these businesses this is a home run. We also concentrated on media and the press releases that followed. Just like you and your business we [...]

ZOOMING ALONG Hello from the desk of the Alliance. As we fall into the routine of summer and our new normal in COVID-19 world your Alliance has been busy. We held our first full board meeting of the Alliance since January! We used a Zoom Meeting platform and had 27 board members all tuned in for updates and discussions. All and all a very positive turnout to hear the response and activity of your organization in this difficult business cycle. A few highlights discussed were that it’s time for a nomination committee meeting to help select new Board Members and Executive Board officers for next year. We also discussed what the Alliance has done to help local business along and how to get the best possible information and help there is out there to the business community. We also hosted a presentation from the Cabinet for Economic Development to hear how Kentucky is starting to reboot from this crisis. Each one [...]

TIPPING POINT Today’s message to the membership of the Alliance is not about tipping cows or anything else as silly. Today is a recap of what could be the week that sets the stage for the year and our future. I know that is a big lead in but stick with me. Tuesday was a big day for the Alliance and the community. We hosted the United States Senate Majority Leader for a private/off the record call for members of the Alliance only. Actually, we also chose to invite the members of the Grayson Area Chamber of Commerce, as well. It was an example of how collectively we are stronger and we should work together more than we do. This call lasted about an hour and was actually pretty special. We had the 3rd most powerful elected official in the United States talking to us. He answered questions that were submitted by you! This [...]

FINDING OUR NORMAL Good Morning! Usually my report comes out late afternoon and is a recap of the week. However, this week we are sending it out earlier so we can get all those who want to be in on a personal Alliance members only call with United States Senator, and Kentucky’s own, Sen. McConnell next Tuesday at 4 p.m. If you have not signed up yet please do so ASAP to info@ashlandalliance.com or call the Alliance office 606-324-5111. Any questions you would like to be answered on this call, must be submitted to the Alliance by 9 a.m. on Monday, June 8. Other activity is starting to crawl back into play for the local economy and for the Alliance. I attended an Ashland Business Boosters Meeting on Thursday (6’ apart), next week we will have an Alliance Executive Board Meeting, and on June 18th we will do a Zoom meeting for the full Ashland Alliance Board. We [...]

GETTING OUT THERE! Tuesday was the first day the Ashland Alliance was fully staffed for many weeks. Our staff had been working from home, contacting members and finding ways to share information that kept your businesses informed and marketed to the community.  I have to say how great it was seeing these ladies walk through the office door on Tuesday! Missy has been working with our schools to make sure every senior that earned a Work Seal Certificate in partnership with the Ashland Alliance, our work partners and our school systems get their graduation cords, diploma seals and laminated cards they earned and deserve.  She has also been busy with the application process for the upcoming Youth Leadership class.  Kari has been working with businesses on marketing plans and how to get their message and  products to market, as well as maintaining the Ashland Alliance website.  Susan has been walking in [...]

WE ARE OPEN! Thank you for the opportunity to update you today on all things Ashland Alliance. Actually, this week we turn our attention to you and your business. Today is a day that is very important to each of us. It is a day that the local economy begins to turn back on. We know that each of us has to do our part to be safe, keep social distancing, and use our masks. However, all and all, we are going to settle into our new normal. Malls, restaurants, and downtown businesses are starting to open and welcome all of us in. This is a big deal for the economy. If you go to the www.ashlandalliance.com homepage there is an up-to-date listing of what is open and how to take advantage of things that have not been open or available for 6 weeks. Even with the limited restart of the economy, [...]

LET'S GET GOING! Hello from the desk of the Alliance. It's nice to start this week's message with a positive note. In the next week and a half our economy will start to come back to a new sense of normal. It is still important to stress social distancing and wearing personal protection equipment but, we are getting started. I scheduled a haircut today.  I never thought I would be so happy to be able to sit down and get what I have left professionally cut.  I may have saved a few dollars with my back porch haircut. However, it's time to get going again.  I hope each one of you has a favorite business or a special place that you are looking forward to visiting.  It will be important for us to get back out there and support our local businesses! I mentioned last week that the Alliance was working with [...]

MAY RAIN FOR GROWTH AHEAD Hello from the desk of the Alliance! It's another spring day here in Northeast Kentucky. I have a few things to share with you today. The Alliance is open every day for your business. We keep one person in the office at a time, while the rest of the staff is working diligently from home. We are here to make the issues you never thought you'd have to think about go a little easier. Each day we have found a way to help at least one business navigate this new normal and make their way forward. We have also started receiving the applications for our Youth Leadership program. Later this summer, Community Leadership will start taking applications, as well. Our world will continue after the restart of our economy. We continue to place the information of the day in one location for you on the Alliance web page and we are [...]

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG I write to you today with very mixed emotions.  We witnessed the closing of one of the long standing pillars in our economy this week. Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital had one last celebration for those that worked, were cared for, and benefited from the generosity of this wonderful hospital. When I first moved back to Kentucky, nearly 6 years ago, it was OLBH that offered me a place to live while I found my spot in the community. They have been a great partner for the Alliance and for Northeast Kentucky. Changes in our economy and the news of the week have been hard on us. Impacts are real and families have been affected. Everyday our Ashland Alliance is open and working towards helping businesses remain open and provide the economy this community needs. Our newly revamped website offers up to date information on what businesses are open, [...]

WHAT IS NEXT? For many of you this week ends like the last several weeks: as our version of Groundhog Day. But there have been significant differences felt this week by many. Our local banks and credit unions have been extremely busy in working with the business community on the Payroll Protection Program. This Program entitles business to receive a forgivable loan to offset the cost of keeping employees on payroll and not unemployment. If you missed out on the first $350 billion, please talk to your financial institution now for the additional funding that was approved this week! Each week the Alliance has been here to field questions and direct assistance to the issues facing the business community. None of us have ever lived through times like this before. It remains important today to keep vigilant in protecting ourselves and our families. But it is also time to start working towards a new [...]

FINDING A WAY TO HELP It feels like Groundhog Day again as we await for a return to normal or perhaps a new normal. We have been keeping business hours with one person in the office each day for the help that many of you have needed during this COVID-19 outbreak. Nearly everyday we have found a way to cut through the red tape and make connections for our members and the community. It’s a new normal but it goes to the core of being there for you when you need us. Late last night we received the President’s plan and guidelines for the reopening of the national economy. This along with the work of the State of Kentucky has shown us how we can support each other, lend a helping hand, and start the economic engine of the business sector. For many, this can’t happen too soon. But there is another side of this. We know [...]

HANG IN THERE! Hello from the desk of the Alliance. We are keeping office hours every day to serve you and your business. If we can help you get the word out about how your business is operating during this crisis please let us know and we will help you market on our new COVID-19 website and on our Facebook Page. This week we have been reaching out to you, our members, on behalf of Governor Beshear, Kentucky Cabinet of Economic Development and the Kentucky Association of Economic Development. Governor Beshear has asked us to help the state find and develop a network of companies that can provide PPE (personal protection equipment). We are competing with 49 other states, the federal government and basically every other government in the world for a scarce product of PPE. We have worked with Kentucky Power and their AEP lead GIS department to identify all the [...]

PLEASE READ THIS ONE Each week I use this piece as a method of sharing the activity of the Alliance and how we can serve your business. There is no way around that this is uncharted territory for our local business community. But this week has given me faith. It has shown me that collectively—United We Stand. There are new commodities for standard methods of business operations. It’s nearly impossible to buy a laptop, web cam, microphone, and stables such as hand sanitizers. They are incredibly hard to find. Just yesterday in a matter of an hour I had two Alliance members reach out to us for completely different needs. When we connect we’re able to assist the other for the operation of their businesses. We can collectively make a difference. We can together get through this. Thursday night I was on a conference call with Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet. They are [...]

COVID-19 Hello from the desk of the Alliance. Ashland Alliance today is launching a platform to assist our business community in response to the COVID-19 crisis. We have used our Facebook page and Ashland Alliance Website to provide information to both the business community and the public. First, we want the public to know what businesses are open and how to access their services. Secondly, we want the business community to know all the resources that can help them in this time of uncertainty. For 126 years the Ashland Alliance has been here helping build the economic health of this region. That will not stop! This crisis is changing by the day. However, good people and organizations are working together to get through this crisis. The Alliance remains open each day and is here to answer questions, help with any government forms or connections to agencies or elected officials. There are roles for each one of us [...]

SPRING FORWARD Hello from the desk of the Alliance. Every week it has been pointed out how I say its been busy but, this week I can assure you it has been. Between the 10 hours of driving across the State of Kentucky we have shared the message and opportunity this community represents. Monday, the Alliance presented a plan for Economic Development to Boyd County Fiscal Court. We had been working with Judge Executive Chaney on an action plan to kick start the marketing of this region. Our plan was approved and now $100,000.00 in new funding is allocated to making sure we have a seat at the table for growth and development. This along with our relationship with City of Ashland and Greenup County will ensure we have the best possible chance to support our existing companies and recruit new ones as well. I believe this was a powerful first step forward. Thank you to [...]

"LEAPING" INTO MARCH Hello from the desk of the Alliance. On Thursday, February 20th Ashland Community and Technical College hosted our February Business After Hours at their EastPark Campus. Attendees had the opportunity to tour and view demos of the 3D Printing/Computer Aided Drafting and Design, Advanced Integrated Technology and Welding programs. It was a great evening and was one of the best opportunities of the year to see what the new economy is going to be like and how our young and lifelong learners are going to be prepared. We have had several member meetings this week. These meetings are to get to know you and your business better and see how we can serve you better. Please call the Alliance office and set up a time that we can come visit you. We also want to congratulate Christopher and Banks at the Ashland Town Center on their Grand ReOpening!! Your [...]

SHARE THE LOVE Hello from the desk of the Alliance. Nice to see a little snow falling to make it feel a little like winter. I am happy to make a run at sharing the activities of the week. There has been a lot of miles up and down I-64 this week. Since last Friday I have been to Louisville and Frankfort 4 times! With the Kentucky 60-day Legislative Session in full swing and our Youth Leadership Class spending the day in Frankfort it has been a busy week. Any time you gather 46 Juniors from all 8 school districts we represent it is going to be busy. It seems that of the 46 that attend half will be quiet about the on goings in Frankfort, the other half take it in, but are glued to their phones, and a few-just a few-a new world opens up for them. When Rocky Adkins takes our group to [...]

SNOW DAYS ... Good afternoon from the desk of the Alliance! Today will be a short version of my recap of the week. I am on the road for the third day this week chasing opportunity and working in Frankfort with our Legislative Leaders. I can say this for certain that on Friday morning at 7:00 am it looked like winter for the first time this season! Two events were key for the Alliance this week. On Wednesday the Alliance awarded Peoples Bank the Ashland Alliance Business of the Month Award! This recognition is for all the work that Peoples Bank and their employees have done for and with the Alliance and the community over the years. Gary Coovert and his team have been there for nearly everything that we have touched over the last nine months. Our Leadership programs, Winter Wonderland of Lights, the Ambassador program - all are better because of the participation of this [...]

DREAMS TO NIGHTMARES Welcome to the Alliance weekly update. This is one of the hardest reports that I have faced in my nearly 6 years with the Alliance. The week started with something that I was truly proud of. I sat Monday with several hundred of my closest friends and watched the Martin Luther King celebration at the Ashland Transportation Center. I heard speakers, that were always better at speaking than me, celebrate the life of a man that fought to overcome hardship, that wanted to bring prosperity to all and knew what right was often hard. I watched as our community honored one of our own in awarding Dr. Larry Ferguson the NAACP award. I heard the quotes of the man the day was to honor. I want to use one of his quotes to show where we are today with the news that followed this week. I have never had a day in my [...]

TIME TO RUN! Hello from the desk of the Ashland Alliance. Now that the New Year is completely underway it is time to get going for you! Middle of the week holidays are hard on the business community. However, this week has felt, for the first time, like the New Year is finally here and it’s time to get going! Last night I had the honor to represent the Alliance at the Kentucky Chamber Day in Lexington. This event is the unofficial kick off of the 2020 Kentucky Legislative Session. 2020 is the 60 day budget session with a large cast of new people in new positions. The Alliance will represent and keep you up to date on all things politics that can affect your business. Over the next week you will see additional opportunities with the Alliance to have your voice heard in Frankfort. Over the last year we have asked each of you to make [...]

ENJOY THE MOMENT, LOOKING AHEAD! Good day from the desk of the Alliance. I hope this finds each one of you working to close out another year and making plans to make 2020 an even better year. This is the theme of the message today. It represents the week we have had and what we are doing to help each one of you make 2020 a better year than 2019. The Alliance hosted the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce for the Legislative Preview at Bellefonte Country Club on Thursday. This gave 40 members a firsthand look at how changes in Frankfort could affect their businesses. It also linked them to the Alliance and the Kentucky Chamber legislative updates during the session. This event would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors: Braidy Industries, Marathon Petroleum Company, and Kentucky Power. Thank you to each of these sponsors. I also had the honor and privilege, last [...]

WEEK IN REVIEW Hello from the desk of the Alliance. It has been a fun week to work for the Ashland Alliance. We are coming off some of the biggest and best events of the year with Business After Hours at the Festival of Trees and Trains sponsored by Desco Federal Credit Union and just last night Bellefonte Centre, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital & Our Lady of Bellefonte Foundation hosted the largest Business After Hours of the year. I hope all of you that attended had half as much fun as I did. Our Young Professionals gathered food supplies for local food banks last night as well. It was a great night to be a part of the Alliance. Tomorrow morning at 9 am is the Winter Wonderland of Lights Breakfast with Santa at the Round House in Central Park. It's always wonderful to see families come out to spend time with Santa, hear [...]

PRIDE IN OURSELVES Each week I have the honor to recap the week of activities and share news about the Alliance and our members. I am especially proud this week to share the news of the day. My report is centered on how this community celebrates the holidays and shows its pride. On Monday, we partnered with the Winter Wonderland of Lights Committee and the City of Ashland in lighting up Central Park. For 38 years the park has served as the centerpiece of pride for the holidays. This year over 850,000 LED lights highlight the Christmas spirit here in Ashland. Since the early 1900’s the City of Ashland has decorated for Christmas and brought the holiday season to life in downtown. Starting in the 1915-1920’s lights were introduced to the city streets for the holidays. For over 100 years people from all over the Tri-State and beyond have come here to feel the joy of the [...]

WORKING FOR OUR FUTURE Certain weeks stand out for me. I remember one professor that said “If your not willing to make today the day, you will never complete the task". I was invited to participate with City of Ashland on a work plan for the Downtown District of the City of Ashland. I will remember this week and today as the beginning of something special for all of us and our business community. Today was that day for me. The Alliance also partnered with the Daily Independent for a great Business After Hours last night. The opportunity to see the back end of what it takes to produce a daily newspaper and to see what the Independent is doing both in digital and in the area of job search, partnering with Monster online services, was wonderful. Printing presses and people, represent an art form in providing a daily recap of the news of [...]

NOVEMBER IS HERE! It's a wonderful day to be in our community! Hard to believe that November is here. Leaves are falling and holidays are just around the corner. The Alliance is entering one of our busiest times of the year.  With Winter Wonderland of Lights beginning in just a few short weeks and the activities of the season, there is plenty of opportunity to see why this community celebrates like no other in Kentucky. The lights are going up in the park as I type today. Soon the Santa House will be ready to receive our special guest and children from around the region. It is a glorious time to be home for the holidays. It is also a great time to highlight our local businesses. I noticed this week Braidy Industry posters supporting local businesses. In the next few weeks Ashland in Motion will be hosting Shop local events. The Alliance asks that each one of [...]

VICISSITUDE! Vicissitude — change over time, that is the word of the day. As many things are changing here in our community there are things that do remain the same. This is the week we had here at the Alliance. We celebrated a few things and opportunities and found reason to be appreciative for long held friends. The Ashland Alliance offers congratulations to Kentucky Power for 100 years of business in eastern Kentucky. The company started providing electrical service to customers on July 21, 1919, as Kentucky and West Virginia Power in downtown Ashland. So, it is only fitting that in its centennial year, Kentucky Power is moving back downtown into the Old Post Office. Kentucky Power recently purchased the historic building on Winchester Avenue as a permanent home for its headquarters. While the move is a few months away, Kentucky Power remains busy in the community. As part of its 100th [...]

LOOKING BACK TO SEE FORWARD! It is a great day to be in Northeast Kentucky! Fall is a wonderful time of year and it serves as a great metaphor for my piece today. Fall is the changing of the season; it’s when colors come to peek, and it sets the stage for rebirth in the spring. This week has been like that for me and the Alliance. We too were in full color this past Saturday night with over 550 of our closest friends for the Annual Meeting and Regional Celebration. We tried something different. We wanted to highlight the work and progress of the City of Ashland and the rebirth of our downtown. Thank you to all that attended and sponsored the night, there are many that worked to make this a special evening. We didn’t do it for one person, we did it for all to celebrate who we are and where we are going. It [...]

TIME TO COME TOGETHER Usually my titles are a way to capture the thought of the week or to highlight the work the Alliance is undertaking. This week is exactly one of those moments. The largest gathering of business leaders in Eastern/Northeastern Kentucky is happening tomorrow with the Alliance Annual Meeting and Regional Celebration. I am proud of the work of many that will highlight our organization and the economic change that is underway here at home. It is a rewarding experience to host this event. It gives us the chance to say "thank you" to many and honor those that are making great strides and investments in our community. We are honored to host our Governor, Matt Bevin, for the fourth year in a row. He has been a true advocate for this region and the competitive advantages we represent. We are also hosting the University of Kentucky Athletic Director, Mitch Barnhart, as keynote speaker. Mr. Barnhart [...]

FRIDAY THE 13TH AND A FULL MOON TO BOOT!! Nearly 20 million people call off work and stay home on Friday the 13th. Most of the anxiety of the day comes from the crucifixion of Jesus which was on a Friday and he had 13 people at the last supper. To top it all off, it is a full moon! We won’t have another Friday the 13th and a full moon on the same day for 30 years. So, let’s just hang together and get thru this together!!! We have had a busy week here at the Alliance. We are into the second of eight weeks with Community Leadership and getting ready for Youth Leadership to start around the corner. We also welcomed a new business into the community with a ribbon cutting for Herb N Stone Tea Shop on Monday. They are located at 1425 Carter Avenue, Ashland. This coming Monday we are working with BWH on a [...]

LABOR DAY WEEKEND!! Today seemed like one of those symbolic days that stand out in the year. It feels like the end of Summer and beginning of Fall. It is time to turn your attention from the yard and the lake, to football, leaves and family gatherings to celebrate the one national holiday in honor of work and the value of it. This week the Alliance has worked to honor this day and what it stands for. We work for you! This week, just as in weeks before, we partnered for a great Business After Hours with Re/Max Real Team Realty. CJ held a wonderful event with great food, drink and even prizes! Two 50’ TV’s, three crisp $100 bills, and one $100 gift card were drawn for at the event. It is always a great time for the business community to stop on the way home and unwind. Between the music, food, drink and prizes I [...]

WE CAN HELP! Each week the Alliance brings news and notes to this piece to inform and inspire each of you. There are times that on Friday I look around and say what is the words that best represent who we are and what we have done to make this a better place for you and your business. This first rainy morning that felt a bit like fall is one of those weeks. As I look back at the week and the activities happening, one core function stood out to me and its one of the most important for this organization. We found ways to help our members. I had the honor of sitting down with one potential new member and one past member of this organization. The conversation wasn’t "please join the Alliance". It was "let’s have a talk about how we can help you". Topics from better road signage, to unemployment insurance rates were the [...]

LEADER IN ME!! Hello from the Ashland Alliance! Today I'm traveling on the road and have an abbreviated message for all. Our 40th Annual Community Leadership Development Program is still accepting applications. This is a wonderful program geared toward identifying and developing leaders in our community. For 40 years this community has come together and given an inside look into what it takes to make this our home and to address the issues that are at hand. This program is actually ran by former graduates. People think enough of it that they want to give back and ensure the next group has the experience they did. This is a wonderful gift for your up and coming management and/or anyone that wants to know more about their community and how to make it even better. Plus, you make friends that will last a lifetime. Feel free to reach out to our office for information on how to apply. There [...]

WONDERFUL DAY!! Few of you have heard of Wonderfully Made Salon and Boutique in Worthington. Today the Alliance had the honor to host a ribbon cutting for this new business and to welcome Madison Mauk to the business owners club! I have been participating in grand openings for years, even decades, now and there is something special when you see the look in someone’s eyes that say "It starts today and I am going to make it happen". This is the part of being an entrepreneur that you can’t teach. That burning in the belly that they have the recipe, drive, and passion to start their own business in their vision. Each one of you should visit 916 Market Street in Worthington. Madison’s business is small but, it’s loaded with cool hand made jewelry, beauty salon, and even some vintage clothing. More then anything, it's perfect. It’s hers and her vision. We need more of this vision [...]

70 YEARS AND COUNTING!! I have been writing my Friday reports for a couple years now. I try to highlight activity of the Alliance and good news of our business community that makes a difference in your community. This week I would like to focus our attention on a long-standing business in our community, Don’s Men’s Shop. This Saturday will mark 70 years of business.  Since 1949, Don and Betty have ran the shop, until Don passed away. Since 2012 Betty continues to work six days a week providing what our community has known all their lives, tuxedos and men's wear. I think everyone has a story they can relate to Don’s. Just last year I needed a tux for our Annual Dinner with, of course, a one day turn around. Don’s made it happen and it fit perfectly. It means something when you can count on someone. When you know they will do it right - [...]

PACK IT UP!! By the title of my report you would think we are moving?? Well, that's not the case. Today is a special day for all of us in the region. Today is the day when the best of us is represented. How often can we say that is the case? How often can we say I have made someone's life a little better and I did it without ever knowing their name. As of today, the Ashland Alliance Young Professionals has partnered with you, the business community and individuals to help nearly 500 kids have a great start back to school! Backpacks filled with what the kids need (pens, pencils, paper) along with clothing and a pair of shoes are ready to find their way to little hands in the community. This program in its 15th year, is even bigger than making a difference for 500 children. It represents families coming together and shopping [...]

LOOKING FORWARD TO TOMORROW Just as the weather is hitting its high point of the year, we too have gone up a few degrees on activity and actions for the week. July 4th week always seems a difficult week for business to take place. This week feels like the first true "let’s get back at it." I must start with the opening of the New Delta Marriott Hotel and The Winchester. For those of you that haven’t been there yet (and I doubt there are many) stop and try it. This is something we have been missing for a long time in downtown Ashland. With over 85-90% occupancy rates for our hotels and no downtown options, this is a milestone event for the community. On top of this is the fact that all the options a full-service hotel offers will help strengthen our downtown and help the business community. Over [...]

LOOKING FORWARD TO TOMORROW Hello from the desk of the Ashland Alliance! I know it has been a few weeks since my last update. I have been on the road and I’m glad to be back in the office and sharing the news of the day. Last week I had the privilege of traveling to Greensville SC with a delegation of 12 people, including 5 Ashland Alliance Board Members, to see firsthand how a community can make a plan, work a plan and change the face of the community they live in. I think the best quote of the trip was from Carlos Phillips, President/CEO of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. He said, “people here planted the trees knowing they would never see the shade.” Our trip to Greenville was an important one. Greenville, like Ashland, has underwent economic challenges over the last several decades. Their main industry, textiles, moved away much like Ashland Oil and [...]

GRAVY AND BISCUITS AND COUNTRY CLUB GRUB Northeast Kentucky has had a wonderful week. Bellefonte Country Club and City National Bank hosted a fantastic Business After Hours at the Bellefonte Country Club. The new remodel and additions that have been added to the club are beautiful. Since 1921 Bellefonte has led the way as a premier facility in the Tri-State. If you haven’t been there lately come out and see the new restaurant, deck, and lounge, it is truly a wonderful place to enjoy friends and community. Thursday was also a special day. The Small Business Awards Ceremony was held at the Boyd County Community Center. Morehead State University Small Business Development Center took the lead with great partnerships from three counties to highlight what is right with our business community. Highlighting the best of the best only strengthens the core fabric of Northeast Kentucky. The Ashland Alliance is proud to help in such a great [...]

TIME TO RUN! Hello from the desk of your Alliance! It has been pointed out to me that I am constantly saying how busy we are and what crazy week we have had. The truth is this one has been exactly that. We have had a wonderful week with tangible results to show for it. I had a consultant in this week working on a new workforce alignment program for the Alliance and our partners. I hope you know that over the last three years we have been using a detailed analysis of what this region has in workforce, skills, and talent to attract business and industry. This competitive advantage has led to many of the announcements that we have had over the last 36 months. The Ashland Alliance has worked on adding certifications, studies, and any other piece of ammunition we can to help show the world who we are and how we can compete [...]

CLARITY AND GOODWILL FOR ALL Hello from the desk of the Ashland Alliance!  These are incredible days to be living in our area. I feel blessed to have the chance to play our role in the rebirth of this place we call home. I know at times issues, situations, and perceptions seem to divide us. I hope everyone can hold on to hope and realize our best days are ahead. Now that I have my sermon out of my system let's talk about the week! Monday, I experienced a magical day. I made a one-day trip to New York and was invited by Braidy Industries to the New York Stock Exchange for the announcement of their lead investor in the Braidy Atlas Mill by EN+ Group Subsidiary, United Company Rusal the world’s largest aluminum company outside of China. To say this was a wonderful experience is an understatement. The NYSE is the symbol of American capitalism. The history [...]

SPRING HAS SPRUNG Hello from the desk of the Alliance. Monday started with your organization marketing our area to a series of new companies in Atlanta Georgia. We attended the MRO Aviation Show held once a year. Over 850 companies were represented with our group meeting with 23 different companies to share the opportunity and growth this region is experiencing. Weeks like last show us we have talent in this region and need to continue to highlight the people, skills, and opportunity we represent. We are also proud to have partnered with Hopes Place and Kentucky Farmers Bank for a great Business After Hours on Thursday. We had a wonderful group of people that came out to see firsthand how people helping people is a benefit to all. This is the season for people reconnecting after the winter. Our Business After Hours is a wonderful way to wind down after work and make the connections that help [...]

COMMUNICATION AND PARTNERSHIP Greetings from the desk of the Ashland Alliance. I start this week with several well-deserved thank yous. On Monday, the Alliance hosted the 25th Annual Youth Leadership Graduation Banquet. Over 140 people gathered to celebrate 37 juniors from 7 school districts and their completion of our Leadership Class. Over 1,000 students have experienced first-hand what this community has to offer, how to make it better. Along the way, they discovered something about themselves and how they can be a leader in life. I want to thank the Youth Leadership Committee and their Chairperson for the last 20 years, Chuck Williams and special appreciation to Missy McCalvin for support to this great program. I also want to express my apologies for not sending out this piece last week. It is important for you to know what your organization is doing each week to make this community stronger. Last week, I had a travel day on Friday and was [...]

SUN DAYS AND BASKETBALL Hello from the desk of the Ashland Alliance. I start my recap of this week with a reminder that this Tuesday is one of the largest Business After Hours of the year at Citizens Bank Ashland Main Branch. This After Hours is themed March Madness and is a great time to come out, wear your team colors,  and have a shot at some great door prizes with food and drink as a bonus. It is always a great kick off to March Madness and spring in the region. This week was interesting. We are one step closer to hiring our Membership Director with a candidate presentation to Executive Board this past Wednesday.  I also had the opportunity to sit with one of our larger members and discuss their operations and plans for the future. We have said that people in this region look for careers and not just jobs. The average length of service in [...]

TIME FOR CHANGE I sit at my desk watching it snow….waiting on the ice.. and then the rain. I thought it was a good metaphor for the season of spring and the change in our region. This has been the week of getting out there, trying to communicate and listen to as many of you as possible. Monday started off with a visit to the Ashland Rotary. I was the guest speaker and tried to deliver the word of the day and updates on the progress of projects in the region. I had two central messages for the audience. 1. It takes partnership and collaboration to move the community ahead. I had two guests with me for my presentation; TJ Morrison, Boyd County Economic Development and Don Perry, Chairman of the Tri-State Angel Investment Group. 2. There is work to be done on the job front in the region. We have a large number of job postings going [...]

NEWS AND NOTES For 101 years the Ashland Alliance and our former organizations have served the business community of Boyd and Greenup Counties. This organization has been lead by the names of Ashland Oil, Marathon, King's Daughters, Armco Steel and all the businesses that have built this community over the decades. It is our honor to continue this work and to lay the foundation for tomorrow. Many times, the work it takes to build a new economy goes unnoticed. If it doesn’t make the headline of the paper or local TV, it doesn’t make the cut for our busy lives. Today was the start of the 40th year the Ashland Alliance has run the Community Leadership Development Program(CLD). Over 2,000 graduates have learned more about the community and themselves. They have built strong networks since 1979. One of the most amazing features of the program is the number of people who want to help run it and pass along [...]

FRIDAY CHECK-UP Hello from the desk of the Ashland Alliance. Thank you for following what your organization is doing and updates from our region. I started off thinking about discussing the number of people that are sick with colds and flu. In our Executive Board Meeting this week, both Our Lady of Bellefonte and Kings Daughters Hospitals spoke of how many people have been coming in and the services they provide to break the cycle of cold and flu. If I am guessing, most of you look to us for positive news on the economy, and I think help with that as well. Let’s start with Portable Solutions Group located in Worthington. This Greenup County company is taking Kentucky to the world. It exports to countries around the globe with specialty products that meet the needs of industries in ways that have never been produced before. Most of you have heard me speak of building a new [...]

AK STEEL AND MOVING FORWARD I am writing my Friday piece to you, our members and friends on Wednesday because I will be out of the office on Friday. We are preparing for meetings with companies looking for opportunity and expansion in their future. We are going to share what this region has to offer. But, I have the headlines in my head of the AK Steel announcement and how 230 families are now thinking about their future. AK Steel, Armco, The American Rolling Mill all are the names that for the last 97 years have been an essential part of the economic fabric of Ashland and Northeast Kentucky. The announcement of the closing of the plant wasn’t a surprise but, was a sad day for all of us. Nearly five years ago, on my first visit to the Ashland Works facility, I could see what many of us knew. The facility was dated and [...]

FULL BLOOD MOON Happy Friday from the desk of the Ashland Alliance! What a crazy week it has been! We have seen snow, red moons and felt the sun for what seems like the first time in ages. I guess it's time to get to the week in the life of the Alliance and move on from all the ways this week has just seemed strange to my staff and me. It is always exciting when the Lt. Governor comes to town. This week is no exception. Lt. Governor Hampton was in Ashland to celebrate Ashland Middle School winning the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition. For the second year in a row, the AMS team has won the state competition. Last year's team was the national champion and this year's team is still in the running for the top spot.  This event and the tour of their STEM Program highlighted the work that is focusing on the preparation of [...]

TIME TO GET GOING! Happy Friday from the desk of the Ashland Alliance. Now that the holidays have passed, it's time to get going again and raise the bar for the community and your organization. That is the theme of today’s message.  How are we are going to better serve you and the community in 2019? We are your organization. An organization based on membership and partnership; all working towards a better-connected, more organized economy for Northeast Kentucky. The Alliance is working to strengthen this connection with you and your business with the hiring of a new Membership Coordinator. We are adding to the staff to better service you. Each week we ask for the opportunity to visit, understand, and find ways to help your business. This involves getting out on the street and building trust and understanding of where you are today and how we can help you grow. You are going to see more of us in the coming [...]

NEW YEAR AND A NEW DAY Hello from the Ashland Alliance!  I wanted to take a few minutes and say thank you to our members, and community that make this home. As we wrap up this year, I think it’s important to express our thanks and give you our commitment that 2019 is something to look forward to. Other than having snow I can think of no better way to end 2018 and embrace 2019. Our community is growing, your Alliance is working for you, and great things are happening in our area. Ours has always been a strong community. For generations, people have come here to stake their claim and build a new future. This is happening again, and you are a big part of the reason why. As we watch the games of the new year and spend time with our families, I want you to know that your organization is ready to go [...]

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN The Christmas countdown is on! It always seems the end of the year flies by. The Ashland Alliance appreciates you as our members and the support each of you gives this community. On Tuesday, we welcomed the Kentucky Chamber for breakfast at the Bellefonte Country Club. The Kentucky Chamber laid out their legislative priorities for 2019 as well as other important information about the Kentucky Chamber. Did you know, if you have fewer than 10 employees and are an active member of the Ashland Alliance, you can become an Associate Member of the Kentucky Chamber at no cost? Belonging to the largest business advocacy organization the state puts quite a lot of people in your corner, should you need it. Contact our office to learn more, or click here to apply. Another great service from the Kentucky Chamber is their news service--The Bottom Line. The Bottom Line is a news [...]

Time to Roll! Hello from the desk of the Ashland Alliance. With the Holiday season on us, we aren’t spending too much time at our desks. This week we held the Kick off for the Winter Wonderland of Lights at Central Park. We were joined with about 300-400 people on a chilly night for the lighting of the 758,000 LED lights! It is hard to express how proud of a feeling it is to see cars backed up slowly driving around Central Park looking at the work and dedication of so many for the benefit of all. It is like the scene from the movie Field of Dreams where, in the end, they show all the cars coming to see the baseball field, "Build it, and they will come."  Last night was the DESCO Federal Credit Union Business After Hours at the Paramount Art Center's Festival of Trees and Trains. This event is a highlight of the holiday [...]

Moment to Say Thanks! I realize that it has been a few weeks since my last report. With our Annual Meeting last week, it has been a busy time at Ashland Alliance. I think it is appropriate to say thank you to each one of you. I believe most of you were in the room with nearly 1,000 of your closest friends, feeling the hope and direction that is coming from this community. It was a special night in Northeast Kentucky. I must thank all our sponsors including Braidy Industries, Kiewit Construction, and Veloxint. Events like this just don’t take place without a lot of work! Studimo Staging and Lights were on top of their game in transforming a warehouse that is going to change the world into a great venue for the Alliance. Cab's Catering was spot on serving nearly 1,000 people great food in under 35 minutes. 3J's Catering handled the receptions with ease.  There are [...]

Happy Friday! Happy Friday from the road! Today finds me working from Frankfort at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives Conference. The conference provides interesting conversations among Chamber Executives from across Kentucky. After hearing the best and brightest ideas and offerings, I believe there are lessons to be learned for the Ashland Alliance about how we can offer value for our members. This gathering showed me more than just what we could do better. It taught me our community is actually aligned pretty well. Many communities don't work together for a common cause. While every community can do better, from what I heard, Ashland, Boyd and Greenup County actually work very well together. Our progress is proof and why the results will have far-reaching effects for you and your family.

Mark Your Calendars! Wow! September and October are full of exciting events for the Ashland Alliance, our members and partners! We are also seeking sponsors for our 20th Annual Meeting. We've provided information about sponsorship below. If you want to sponsor this spectacular event, please let us know by October 11 in order for your sponsorship to be included in signage and printed materials at the event. ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION AND SPONSOR FORM Also coming up is our Fall Ball Chase AND, we are hosting a lunch with Congressman Hal Rogers on October 17th. —Tim Gibbs, Ashland Alliance President and CEO

Save the Date!! October 25th is the Ashland Alliance Annual Meeting. It will be the 20th time we have gathered to celebrate the year and glance to the future of our region. Last year 608 people came together to hear about our future. We celebrated business accomplishments and announcements and were honored to have Governor Bevin and Braidy Industries CEO, Craig Bouchard as featured speakers. This year we plan to raise the bar even higher. We will be announcing the speaker line up in the next week or two. We have already secured a fabulous program to highlight what is happening in the region and where tomorrow will take us. It's time for you mark your calendar. Call the Alliance and be a part of history! Last year, if I had placed one more table for the event, I believe I would have been cited for exceeding the limit of the room! This year, I promise it will be [...]

A Great Time to Call This Home Fall is always my favorite season. In this last week, the cool mornings and cooler days have brightened my steps and made me realize how lucky we are to live in this area. My thoughts today are to share this same type of enthusiasm with you. I want you to feel what I have experienced this week. Here goes! This week I had the opportunity to work with the newly selected contractor for the Braidy Atlas facility in EastPark. I got to see the animated build out of the 13th largest building under one roof in the United States. We were planning where to park 1,500 cars and trucks and how to stage the building of such a massive project. It was truly exciting to be a part of.

Our Business Network It has been one of those weeks. We all have them where what can go wrong, does. But, that is not the message of today or the week. My thought is of the half-full side. Every challenge I have had this week there has been someone or a local company that could help. In this economy of the world wide web sometimes you just need someone that knows how to fix things. The community has always been this type of place where you can get things done. I was standing next to the road today with a cut tire (on the car less than four days), and five different people stopped and offered to help me. I didn’t know one of them. That, my friends, is who we are.  Today we delivered doughnuts to our anniversary members. Companies and people that have built this community and have a vested interest in it becoming what we all [...]

Backpack! Backpack This week was a great reminder of what a wonderful place our region is. I just want to take a moment to tell each of you how much I appreciate you. You make this a great community and the Ashland Alliance is grateful. Your generosity never fails to touch me. For the last couple of weeks, we have been the "drop off point" for the Young Professionals' Annual Backpack Program. It's been a little difficult navigating through the office, but each of the 706 backpacks that have been dropped off here represents a child in our community who will start school with the supplies they need, new clothes and shoes to start the school year. It truly warms my heart. I've added a few photos so that you may see what its is like getting these in here and getting them out! Thank you to everyone who filled [...]

There's No Place Like Home Great week here in Northeast Kentucky! For me, it is interesting since last week I was lucky enough to participate with our Governor selling Kentucky to other parts of the world. Last week was the Farnborough Airshow which is the largest gathering of Aerospace companies, many of which focus on metal and metal fabrication in the world. The Ashland Alliance along with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and Governor Bevin met with seventeen companies looking for expansion opportunities in the United States. So, while we are hosting athletes and families from around the world with the Braidy Industries $60,000 Women’s Tennis Classic this week, our area was also taking our story to the world. I hope you have had the chance to see what world-class tennis looks like here in Ashland. I have had the opportunity to welcome players and their families to our part of the world and [...]

242 Years and Going Strong! Happy July 4th week from the Ashland Alliance. I hope many of you had the opportunity to spend the holiday with your family and celebrate our great nation’s birthday. Monday of this week was a special day for the Alliance and our area. Not only was it the actual 242nd anniversary of the vote of the thirteen colonies to form this Nation, but the Alliance also hosted the United States Senate Majority Leader and Senior Senator of Kentucky Mitch McConnell. 120 members of the Ashland Alliance family joined Leader McConnell for a Washington Update at the Old Post Office in downtown Ashland. Senator McConnell took note of the changes happening in this region and spoke of the hope that he has seen here for the first time in a long time. The conversation focused on what is going on in Washington and how many times it may be better then what [...]

SelectUSA Investment Summit Hello from Gate 21 of Reagan National Airport. This report will be a short one. Amanda and I are on our way home after a few days at the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, D.C. The SelectUSA Investment Summit is the highest-profile event dedicated to promoting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States. The signature event provides an opportunity to bring together companies from all over the world, economic development organizations from every corner of the nation, and other parties working to facilitate business investment in the United States. If you haven’t yet, please RSVP if you plan on attending the Washington Update Luncheon with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. This noon luncheon will be held at The Old Post Office (1645 Winchester Avenue). This event is a special Ashland Alliance Member invite. There is limited seating. Please RSVP by calling the Alliance Office at (606) 324-5111.  —Tim Gibbs, [...]