Ashland and Boyd County will host the Appalachian Regional Commission's annual conference in September.

The RC is an economic development agency involving the federal government and 13 state governments.

Governor Andy Beshear was there for today's announcement, along with a man who knows the area well.

His senior adviser and former state representative Rocky Atkins.

You know, I'm proud to have been raised and still live in an RC community.

If you are raised on the left hand for the middle fork in the county, I'll say that again.

The left hand for the middle fork in L.A. County.

You understand what it means to live in rural Kentucky and you understand the heritage of our RC states and counties.

You understand how people have guided it out, people they've given it all to make our communities the best they can possibly be.

And when the governor and Ms.. Manchin mentioned about a region throughout our communities, when the governor and Gayle Manchin mentioned that those are the communities that help build America.

There's no question about that.

And when you especially look at the two states that are well represented here today and folks who have come from all over our region, Governor, to be here today, they're from all over.

This is a regional conference.

Yes.

Rural Showcase, Ashland, Boyd County.

We're going to showcase this entire tri state area.

We're going to do that.

But this is about the NRC.

The conference is September 11th and 12th at the Delta Hotel in Ashland.

The theme is Appalachia Rises, Resilience, Strength and Transformation.

People attending the conference will discuss workforce development, outdoor recreation, leadership and other topics.