♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Renee: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL ON THE ROAD EDITION OF KENTUCKY TONIGHT WE ARE IN THE BLUEGRASS MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM.

THIS IS A ONE OF A KIND STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY THAT IS DEDICATED TO THE CULTURAL MUSIC THAT IS ICONIC TO KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS MUSIC.

WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS AREA FOR A FEW DAYS TELLING SOME GREAT STORIES ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND PLACES OWENSBORO AND SURROUNDING AREAS AND TONIGHT WE HAVE GOT A PANEL ASSEMBLED TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

WE HAVE GATHERED LOCAL LEADERS, INFLUENCERS AND POLICYMAKERS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OWENSBORO.

THE CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND WHERE THERE IS YET TO GO.

AND HOW THE COMMUNITY IS COMING TOGETHER REALLY TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE THEM.

WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE WITH US ON STAGE, OWENSBORO MAYOR TOM WATSON, SARA HEMINGWAY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MARILYN AND WILLIAM YOUNG CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, FOUNDING OF THE IMPACT 100 NEXT GENERATION PROGRAM.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE SUZANNE MILES, REPUBLICAN FROM OWENSBORO AND HOUSE MAJORITY CAUCUS CHAIR.

FATHER LARRY HOSTETTER, PRESIDENT OF PRUSHA UNIVERSITY.

MARK MARSH, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF OWENSBORO HEALTH.

CANS DANCE CASTLEN BRAKE, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

AT GREATER OWENSBORO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR BEING WITH US HERE THIS EVENING.

MAYOR WATSON, BECAUSE YOU ARE ON THE END, I'LL START WITH YOU.

POSITIONING IS EVERYTHING.

WE HAVE LEARN A LOT ABOUT BOURBON, BLUEGRASS MUSIC AND BARBECUE IN THE TIME WE HAVE SPENT IN OWENSBORO.

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO THIS CITY, COUNTY AND REGION.

YOU HAVE BEEN MAYOR BEFORE AND WANTED TO COME BACK AND DO IT AGAIN.

>> I LOVE IT.

>> Renee: YOU WERE MAYOR AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY WAS FACING A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL DEFICIT.

TALK TO US ABOUT NOW WHERE OWENSBORO STANDS WHEN IT COMES TO FISCAL STANDING AND WHAT YOU CREDIT TO THAT REBOUND IN FINANCIAL HEALTH.

>> THANKS FOR THAT QUESTION.

AND OBVIOUSLY, KET, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I CAME IN, WE HAD A DEFICIT OF ABOUT $17.4 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND SO I HAD BEEN ON A TRANSITION TEAM WITH DANIEL CAMERON WHEN HE BECAME ATTORNEY GENERAL.

I DIDN'T KNOW ANY OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS VERY WELL SO I SAID WE'LL HAVE A TRANSITION TEAM.

WE MET, WE GOT SWORN IN AND BEGAN TO START THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO TO GET WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE.

IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF A CONSORTIUM OF IDEAS AND FINALLY WE KNEW THAT, AS A CONSERVATIVE GUY, I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO INCREASE REVENUE SOME WAY.

WE CHOSE THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE AND RAISED OUR REVENUE ON ONE OF OUR OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE FEES AND WE WERE ABLE TO SLOWLY CLIMB OUT OF SOME SPENDING THAT CREATED A LOT OF THINGS, BUT ALSO THEY LEFT, FOR THE NEXT GROUP TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT,000 PAY FOR, WHICH I DIDN'T MIND.

WE JUST HAD AN AUDIT TWO WEEKS AGO FROM OUR AUDITOR AND I'M PROUD THAT HE SAID THIS IS THE BEST FINANCIAL SHAPE OWENSBORO HAS EVER BEEN IN IN ITS HISTORY.

SO I CLAIM CREDIT AS A TEAM, OUR COMMISSIONERS, OUR STAFF, YOU KNOW, DURING THIS PROCESS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE ALL THESE WANTS AND NEEDS AND WE JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, WE ARE KIND OF SHORT ON FUNDS, SO DON'T COME WITH WANTING ALL THIS STUFF.

AND THEY WERE GREAT.

THEY SAID OKAY.

AND TOGETHER WE JUST GOT IT GOING.

WE ONLY HAD $2 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND AND THAT'S NOT VERY GOOD FOR WHAT OUR NORMAL BALANCE IS.

AND NOW I'M PROUD TO SAY WE HAVE $27 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND.

WE ARE OFF AND RUNNING AND HOPEFULLY WE CONTINUE TO DO GREAT THINGS FOR OUR CITIZENS.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE.

I WAS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

I HAD A BUSINESS FOR 50 YEARS.

THIS IS MY HOME AND MY GRAND GRANDKIDS LIVE HERE AND I WOULDN'T BE ANY PLACE IN THE WORLD.

>> Renee: YOU ARE IN THE CITY THAT HAS THE BEST VIEW OF THE OHIO RIVER.

>> THAT'S NOT BAD EITHER.

I KNOW WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY SINCE McCONNELL WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO GET SOME TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS AND ALLOWED US $50 MILLION TO WORK ON OUR WATER FRONT.

I THINK THE MONEY WAS WELL SPENT.

AND MOST OF IT IS PAID FOR NOW, BY THE WAY.

>> Renee: IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

AND IT'S AN EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT, CERTAINLY IT IS SOMETHING TO SEE.

I WANT TO GO TO YOU MISS CANDANCE CASTLEN,.

>> WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

IS HERE TONIGHT, CLAUDE BACON AND HE WORK IN THE RECRUITING PART OF IT.

THE CHAMBER DOES THE BUILDING AND CONNECTING PEOPLE AND NURTURING THE EXISTING MEMBERSHIP AND WE HAVE CLOSE THIS A THOUSAND MEMBERS.

>> Renee: TALK TO YOU US WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION.

THE RIVERFRONT IS ONE THING BUT THERE IS SO MUCH BUSTLING IN DOWNTOWN AND IT'S ESTHETICALLY APPEALING AS WELL.

A LOT OF RETAILERS THAT ARE DOING WELL.

TALK ABOUT THAT TRANSFORMATION.

>> THE RIVER FRONT IS OUR STORY.

THE STORY OF WORKING TOGETHER.

AND OUR COMMUNITY, WE WILL FIGURE IT OUT IF YOU TELL US THAT IT CAN'T BE DONE, I MEAN WE CAN BE A LITTLE ORNERY.

WE'LL TALL IT TENACIOUS.

>> Renee: TENACITY IS THE WORD.

>> OUR COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER.

WE HAVE A TRIP TO GEORGIA IN THE LATE 90s, WE WENT TO COLUMBUS.

WE SAW WHAT THEY WERE DOING WITH THE CHAT HOOCHEE RIVER AND THE COMMUNITY TRANSFORM WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

THE CITY MANAGER WAS A RETIRED COLONEL FROM THE MARINES.

I'M A MARINES DAUGHTER.

IT WAS A COOL CONNECTION AS WELL.

WE CAME BACK AND HAD A BIG MEETING AT CITY HALL.

WE WERE LIKE WHAT CAN WE TAKE FROM COLUMBUS, GEORGIA.

AND HOW CAN WE MAKE IT HAPPEN.

AND WHAT CAME TO THE TOP WAS RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT.

SO THE CITY MANAGER AND THE MAYOR AT THAT TIME WAS A RETIRED SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND A WONDERFUL MAN.

THEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT.

AND AS WE TRANSITIONED OVER, WE STARTED-- WE HAD A PLAN, A SMALL PLAN, BUT WE WERE LIKE, THIS ISN'T EVER HAPPEN.

AND YOU KNOW, OUR MAYOR WATSON HAD SUCH AN AMAZING RELATIONSHIP WITH SENATOR McCONNELL AND SENATOR McCONNELL HAS A CONNECTION HERE.

I MEAN IT'S JUST-- HE IS THE GUY THAT GETS THINGS DONE FOR US.

AND WE KIND OF CLAIM HIM AS OUR OWN, OKAY?

BUT SO THE MAYOR GETS THE PHONE CALL FROM LEADER McCONNELL ONE DAY THAT THEY HAD THE 40 TO 50 MILLION-DOLLAR ALLOCATION AND WE HAD A PLAN, IT WAS A SKETCH, RIGHT?

BUT WE HAD A PLAN.

WE TOOK OFF THERE AND THAT REALLY IMPETUS REALLY STARTED US MOVING FORWARD AND WE MOVED FORWARD TOGETHER.

THE CITY AND COUNTY MOVED FORWARD TOGETHER.

THE CHAMBER AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP MOVED FORWARD TOGETHER.

OUR CHAMBER OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, IT WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY HIVE SHIEF IT WAS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS.

IT IS THE STORY OF SUCCESS.

I MEAN WHEN YOU HAVE STATE, FEDERAL, LOCAL AND EVERYBODY COMING TOGETHER.

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND OUR CITIZENS.

THE SYNERGY IS PHENOMENAL HERE.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT SEPARATELY ABOUT HOW THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, THERE WAS NOT NECESSARILY-- SARA AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS, TOO.

THERE IS NO PRIDE IN AUTHORSHIP AND OWNERSHIP.

EVERYBODY IS WORKING TOWARD THE SAME GOAL.

REPRESENTATIVE SUZANNE MILES, GOOD TO SEE YOU OUTSIDE OF FRANKFORT.

NICE TO SEE YOU ON YOUR HOME TUR.

YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR 10 YEARS AND YOU HAVE HELPED WITH POLICY MAKING THAT HELPS THE WHOLE STATE BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW OWENSBORO AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES HAVE BENEFITED FROM POLICIES THAT HAVE YOU HELPED TO IMPLEMENT, WHAT COMES TO MIND FOR YOU.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE THINGS, BUT MOST OF EVERYONE THAT KNOWS ME KNOWS INFRASTRUCTURE IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

OBVIOUSLY THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

WE JUST TALKED WITH Dr. WILLIAMS AND THE INCREASE FROM HEALTH FORCE KENTUCKY STARTING IN 24 AREA IN THE LAST TWO BUDGET CYCLES, 17% INCREASE IN HOME CARE WORKERS GOING INTO EDUCATION.

SO THAT'S-- IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF THAT.

SO THAT'S PROBABLY THE MORE IMMEDIATE, GOING WAY BACK, I SERVED ON THE RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT.

AND THAT WAS AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN AT THAT TIME WITH THE MANAGER BOB WHITTMER AND WORKED WITH THEM.

SO WE SEE THE FRUITION OF OUR WORKS, BUT AS A LEGISLATOR AND AS COMMUNITY LEADERS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ENJOYING THE REWARDS AT THIS MOMENT, BUT OUR MIND SET IS WHAT'S NEXT?

AND SO OBVIOUSLY THAT 69 BRIDGE, THE OTTOMAN PARKWAY.

IS 65 ALREADY EXISTS.

AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE, WATER PROJECTS, RIVER PORT, AIRPORTS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE THE THINGS THAT I'M FOCUSED IN ON.

AND JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT, AS GOVERNMENT GOES, WE HAVE EVERYTHING IN PLACE: EDUCATION SYSTEMS, THE SAFETY, WHICH IS ANOTHER THING THAT WE ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PAY ATTENTION TO.

SO JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING IN PLACE TO ENABLE ALL THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT HAVE COME IN AND WANT TO COME IN TO OWENSBORO.

WANT TO COME INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE LAST SESSION WAS REALLY A MANIFESTATION OF JUST WHAT YOU SAID, WHEN IT COMES TO INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER THAT'S AVIATION, ROADS, BRIDGES, ALL OF THAT, SEEM TO BE A PRETTY GOOD SESSION FOR THAT.

>> IT WAS.

AND WE HAVE BEEN REALLY FORTUNATE.

WE HAVE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL IN A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE TO CREATE THE RAINY DAY FUNDS, HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE.

WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE DISASTERS THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND WE HAVE BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THAT.

AND SO HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

AND WE ALSO HAVE FUNDING THAT WE CAN REINVEST.

THE WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS, THOSE ARE NOT ALWAYS THE SEXIEST THINGS BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THEY'RE CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND SO AS LONG AS WE GET ALL THE THINGS IN PLACE, INFRASTRUCTURE WISE, GOVERNMENT WISE, THEN EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS OUT.

ECONOMICALLY THINGS ARE GOING WELL, THEN PEOPLE'S HOMES ARE BETTER, OUR COMMUNITIES ARE BETTER, WE ARE SAFER, EDUCATION PLAYS A ROLE IN IT.

FATHER WHO HAVE AT THE TIMER-- HOSTETTER BEING WITH US TONIGHT, EVERYBODY BENEFITS FROM THAT.

>> Renee: WE COULD HAVE A WHOLE SEPARATE CONVERSATION, AND WE WILL, ABOUT HOUSING AND I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW MUCH THE HOUSING ISSUE... >> EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WITH THE PRICHARD FOUNDATION.

WE HAVE MULTIPLE THINGS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

>> Renee: AND BRIDGET COMMENTED ON ONE OF MY SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS WHEN I POSTED THAT I WAS IN OWENSBORO ABOUT HOW YOU ARE IN A GREAT COMMUNITY, THE PRICHARD COMMUNITY HAD BEEN HERE A FEW WEEKS PRIOR AND SHE WAS BRAGGING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION AND PARTICULARLY MARK MARSH AROUND THE EDUCATION OPPONENT AND THE GREAT THINGS THAT OWENSBORO HEALTH HAS DONE TO HELP BUILD UP THIS COMMUNITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

REPRESENTATIVE MILES DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT AND FATHER LARRY AND CANDANCE, WE TALK ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS HERE.

BEING BACK HERE THREE YEARS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

I THINK IT'S MOST APPEALING TO ME IS PEOPLE, AS CANDANCE SAID, WEAR DUAL HATS ON THE BOARD OF THE HAD THE HOSPITAL.

YOU GIVE THIS COMMUNITY A CHALLENGE AND WE FIND A WAY TO GET IT DONE.

THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF BRINGING NINE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES TOGETHER ALONG WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS, REPRESENTATIVE MILES.

WE WERE GOING THROUGH A TRYING TIME.

HOME CARE WORKERS WERE HARD, NURSES WERE LEAVING BY THE DOZENS, BURNOUT, WE HAD TO SOLVE THIS.

WE CAME UP AND PUT THE NINE PRESIDENTS TOGETHER AND SAID WE ARE GOING TO SOLVE THIS.

WE HAVE TOO MUCH GOING ON.

THESE 17 COUNTIES THAT WE SERVE, 650,000 LIVES, WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.

WE THREW THAT CONCEPT, THAT INNOVATION, WE CAME TOGETHER AND FORMED HEALTH FORCE KENTUCKY.

WE SOLD THE CONCEPT TO REPRESENTATIVE MILES AND WE WENT TO THE STATE WHICH WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO SELL THE CONCEPT WENT AWAY THAT DAY WITH A VOTE SAYING HERE IS THE MONEY, MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> THAT'S WHEN YOU KNOW YOU HAVE GOOD LEADERS.

>> SHE CARRIED IT ACROSS THE GOAL LINE.

MUCH LIKE THE 17% SHE REFERRED TO WITH PRESIDENT WILLIAMS, WE HAD BEEN IN FRONT OF 7500 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE LAST YEAR P 500 STUDENTS-- 7500 STUDENTS THROUGH OUR MOBILE LABS.

THAT'S CONTRIBUTING TO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING.

NOW WE ARE SEEING 8th, 9th, SOth GRADE STUDENTS SEEING A CAREER PATH AND IT'S EXCITING TO SEE WHAT IS GOING TO COME OF THIS.

>> Renee: WHAT IS THEIR REACTION WHEN YOU COME IN WITH THE MOBILE VANS AND THEY'RE IN THE K-12 PIPELINE.

IS THERE A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS FOR THE CAREER PATHWAYS TO BE EXPLORED OUTSIDE OR INSIDE THE SCHOOL?

>> 3 IS CLINICAL PATHWAYS AND NEW ONES DESIGNED.

I DON'T WANT TO TALK AWAY FROM FATHER LARRY AND THE NEW PROGRAM.

YOU ARE SEEING NINE UNIVERSITIES WORKING TOGETHER.

NOW SOME OF THESE RURAL SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE PEOPLE TO TEACH THE MATH AND SCIENCES.

WE CAN TEACH THESE, MATH AND SCIENCE, WE ARE CREATING A PATHWAY.

9 EXCITEMENT AND ENTHUSIASM AND REWARDING ACAREERS, IT IS REJUVENATING TO THESE KIDS.

>> Renee: FATHER LARRY, CAN YOU MATCH HIS ENTHUSIASM?

>> PROBABLY NOT.

IT IS CONTAGIOUS.

>> Renee: ABSOLUTELY.

SO TALK TO BUS THIS UNIVERSITY AND HOW YOU ARE WORKING IN THIS SPACE TO HELP IN THIS AREA OF HEALTH.

>> COLLABORATORS WITH THE HOSPITAL BUT I WOULD BE REMISS TO NOT INCLUDE THE OTHER COLLABORATORS, OWENSBORO TECHNICAL COLLEGE, KENTUCKY WESLEYAN, WE HAVE ALL BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MAXIMIZE THIS POTENTIAL AND BRING IT TO REALITY OF WHAT HEALTH FORCE KENTUCKY HAS DONE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF REPRESENTATIVE MILES BECAUSE THERE HAS REALLY BEEN SOME GREAT THINGS AND FOR US AIS A UNIVERSITY WE ARE GUIDED BY OUR FOUNDERS, THE ERSALN IN SISTERS.

THEY FOUNDED WOMEN'S COLLEGE IN 1925 AND BRESCIA IN THE 50s.

THEY'RE GUIDED BY THEIR FOUNDER WHICH IS READ THE SIGN OF THE TIMES AND ADAPT.

THAT'S CRITICAL FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

ONE REASON WE ARE DOWNTOWN.

I HAVE BEEN HERE ARE IN 25 YEARS.

17 AS PRESIDENT.

SO I HAVE SEEN THE EVOLUTION OF DOWNTOWN BECAUSE WE ARE A DOWNTOWN INSTITUTION.

THE REASON WHY WE ARE THERE, THAT'S WHERE THE STREET CAR ORIGINALLY WAS AND THE SISTERS WERE ADD TO BRING THEIR EDUCATION TO DOWNTOWN OWENSBORO BECAUSE WE HAD ALL THESE G.I.S RETURNING FROM WORLD WAR II, WHO NEEDED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MONEY THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE.

SO THAT'S HOW BRESCIA COLLEGE WAS FOUNDED.

WE READ THE SIGNS AND ADAPT AND HEALTHCARE RIGHT NOW IS JUST PART OF THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY AS A UNIVERSITY IF WE WANT TO REMAIN RELEVANT AND MEANINGFUL TO THIS LOCAL COMMUNITY.

WE DECIDED TO BUILD ON WHAT WE WERE DOING.

WE HAD CREATED A MASTERS IN SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY, MASTERS IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AND WORKING ON A MASTERS IN MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING.

TO USE THE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO DEVELOP A MASTERS PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES.

SO WE JUST HIRED OUR DIRECTOR FOR THAT AND WE ARE NOW HAVING THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT ACCREDITATION PROCESS TO MAKE THIS A REALITY AND HOPE TO HAVE THE FIRST STUDENTS IN PLACE IN '26.

>> Renee: CONGRATULATIONS.

>> WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> Renee: THAT'S WORTHY OF APPLAUSE.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE ENROLLMENT LEVELS AT BRESCIA.

HOW LARGE OR SMALL IS THE STUDENT POPULATION AND RATIO FROM STUDENTS TO FACULTY.

>> WE ARE RIGHT UNDER A THOUSAND IN THE SCHOOL AND I WOULD SAY 14-1 OR SO STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO, WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR, I THINK, TO WHAT THE OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE IN TOWN.

WE ARE ALL VERY SIMILAR IN TERMS OF OUR MISSIONS AND THE DIRECTION THAT WE TAKE TOWARDS EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE GOT HIT BY COVID.

HIGHER EDUCATION IS GOING THROUGH AN INCREDIBLY TUMULTUOUS TIME RIGHT NOW, VERY DANGEROUS TIME, ACTUALLY, AWE ARE PLOWING OUR WAY THROUGH THAT, NAVIGATING THOSE DIFFICULT WATERS.

AND ONE OF THE WAYS WE ARE DOING IT IS EXACTLY WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES IN HEALTHCARE.

SO WE ARE SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF A BUMP THIS YEAR FOR THE FALL IN OUR ENROLLMENT AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AND LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING IN STUDENTS TO BECOME THE NEXT PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS.

WE ARE NOT FINISHED YET.

I HAVE PROPOSALS WAITING TO BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD.

>> Renee: CAN YOU SPILL THE TEA ON THOSE?

IS IT PREMATURE.

>> MAYBE NOT YET.

STILL BEING PLANNED.

I WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO SAY WE ARE DOING THIS AND THEN FIND OUT WE AREN'T ABLE TO DO THAT AFTER ALL.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THUNKS WE ARE HOPING TO PRESENT AND WILL BE GLAD TO TALK ABOUT IT WHEN IT'S A REALITY.

>> Renee: WE'LL FOLLOW UP THEN WHEN IT'S FULLY COOKED AS WE SAY.

I WANT TO ASK YOU, FATHER.

YOU MADE A STATEMENT A MOMENT AGO ABOUT THIS IS A DANGEROUS TIME IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> ON AVERAGE RIGHT NOW, TWO COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES ARE CLOSING A MONTH IN THE UNITED STATES.

OFTEN THEY'RE THE SMALLEST SCHOOLS, RURAL THE SCHOOLS, VERY OFTEN.

AND THOSE SCHOOLS, I THINK, ARE CRITICAL IN THE EDUCATION LANDSCAPE OF THE UNITED STATES.

NOT EVERYBODY CAN GO TO U.K. NOT EVERYBODY CAN EVEN GO TO WESTERN.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE PLACES WHERE STUDENTS CAN GET INTIMATE ONE ON ONE EDUCATION AND ALL THE PROFESSORS KNOW THEIR NAMES.

THEY'RE NEVER IN A CLASSROOM THAT'S BIGGER THAN MAYBE 30 PEOPLE.

AND THAT IS A LARGE CLASSROOM.

SO WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO NAVIGATE THOSE DIFFICULT WATERS AND WE ARE SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATING THE WATERS.

IT WILL SETTLE DOWNEY VENTLY BUT IT IS A TROUBLING TIME FOR HIGHER EDUCATION RIGHT NOW.

>> Renee: DO YOU FEEL ANY THREATS?

>> I DON'T FEEL THREATS BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, I HAVE BEEN AT BRESHIA 25 YEARS.

I KNOW WHO OUR SUPPORTERS AND OUR ALUMNI ARE.

I KNOW OUR COMMUNITY.

WE WILL BE ABLE TO MANAGE WHATEVER THREAT COMES OUR WAY.

>> Renee: YOU CAN WEATHER THE STORM.

SARA HEMMING HEMINGWAY, I'M GOING TO BRING YOU IN.

YOU HAD ONE OF THE LONGEST INTROS IN THE SHOW BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF COMMUNITY GROUNDWORK.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS ABOUT.

WE TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE DOING WITH YOUNGER POPULATION WITH WOMEN TO GROW AND NURTURE LEADERS FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT AND HOW YOU ARE FILLING IN TO THE CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE HAVING ABOUT HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IN MY DAY JOB, I FILL IN IN MANY OF THESE ARENAS BECAUSE WE FUND SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND SO WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE IS EXTRA MONEY NEEDED AND WHERE CAN WE FIND THE STRATEGIES THAT ALIGN WITH OUR MISSION BUT IN MY OTHER LIFE, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED SINCE THE BEGINNING WITH IMPACT 100 OWENSBORO.

I BELIEVE KET HAS COVERED THAT BEFORE.

SO IT IS A WOMEN'S GIVING GROUP IN OWENSBORO AND THAT CAN-DO ATTITUDE THAT WE MENTIONED BEFORE, WE IS HAVE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE TELL US WE ARE NOT SURE YOU CAN FIND 100 WOMEN TO GIVE US $100 APIECE BUT WE EXCEEDED THAT.

AS SEVERAL OF THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED ME DO THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE, AND HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN GROWING THAT EVER SINCE IT BEGAN, BUT A FEW YEARS INTO THE GRANT CYCLES THAT WE WERE DOING, MARDZA CLARK AND MARY ANN HAD A VERY GOOD IDEA WE HAD SEEN IN AUSTIN ABOUT YOUNG WOMEN, HIGH SCHOOL AGE AND IF WE COULD INCORPORATE THEM INTO OUR GROUP.

AND SO I HAD A VESTED INTEREST BECAUSE HAVE I TWO DAUGHTERS AND ONE OF THEM WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AT THE TIME.

AND SO WE CREATED AN ADJACENT GROUP TO IMPACT 100 CALLED NEXT-GEN. AND IT HAS BEEN ONE OF MY LIFE'S WORKS AND IT WAS REALLY A LEAP OF FAITH AND WE STARTED IT BECAUSE AGAIN, IT WAS VERY SIMILAR TO WHEN WE BEGAN THE OLDER GROUP.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN; BUT WE HAD A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AND PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION AND HOW THEY'RE DISENGAGED.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I'VE SEEN.

I LEFT THE FIRST YEAR THINKING MY GOODNESS, IF THESE ARE THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW, I CAN RETIRE.

IT FELT GOOD.

>> Renee: TELL BUS WHO THEY ARE AND THEIR PROFILES AND BACKGROUNDS?

>> SURE.

WE ALLOW ANY YOUNG WOMAN WHO IS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL AGE TO JOIN OUR GROUP.

AND THEIR COMMITMENT IS $100 PER YEAR.

AND NOW THAT CAN BE IN THE FORM 6-- THEY CAN ASK FOR A SCHOLARSHIP.

WE IMMEDIATELY HAD THE WOMEN FROM THE FIRST GROUP SAY WE WANT TO HELP SPONSOR ANY CHILD THAT CAN'T ATTEND OR IT CAN BE A DONATION DIRECTLY FROM THE CHILD.

OR IN MY FAMILY, MY HUSBAND AND I PAY 50% AND MY CHILDREN PAY 50% OF IT.

WE TAKE THE DONATIONS OF THE YOUNG LADIES AND ONCE THAT IS DECIDED WE INVITE GRANT PROPOSALS VERY MUCH LIKE THE OLDER GROUP DOES.

AND THESE YOUNG WOMEN CAME TO OUR STRATEGY SESSIONS AND THEY ASKED THE MOST INTRIGUING QUESTIONS.

I READ GRANTS DAILY.

I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED.

IT WAS SO NICE TO SEE THEM GO INTO OUR WOMEN'S SHELTER, TO GO INTO OUR WHO IS-- GO INTO OUR HOSPICE, PLACES THEY HAD NEVER BEEN INTO BEFORE AND SEE THE WONDERFUL ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP OUR COMMUNITY.

THEIR EYES WERE WIDE OPEN.

AND SO OVER THE YEARS, THEY HAVE GIVEN ANYWHERE FROM 3,000 TO $12,000 PER YEAR.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN GRANT PROCESS.

AND THEY ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP.

WE HAVE A GROUP THAT HELPS TO MENTOR THEM, BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE LEADERS AMONGST THEMSELVES.

AND IT'S-- >> Renee: THEY'RE AWARDING GRANTS.

>> YES, EACTSLY.

THEY AWARD THEIR OWN GRANTS.

WE DO IT AT THE SAME TIME THE OLDER GROUPS AWARD THE $ONE 00,000 GRANTS AND IT'S ELECTRIFYING TO BE IN THE ROOM.

WE'VE HAD IT HERE WHERE THEY'RE UP ON STAGE AND THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT GIVING THEIR MONEY.

I HAD A WONDERFUL GROUP THAT WORKED WITH ME TO START IT.

AND THEN I HANDED IT OVER TO ANOTHER MOTHER WHO GREW THE PROGRAM AND SHE ADDED MORE THINGS.

AND SO IT TAKES A LIFE OF ITS OWN.

IT REALLY IS.

>> Renee: HOW DO YOU THINK IT HELPS INFORM OR CREATE THEIR OWN CAREER PATH AND VOCATIONS?

>> WELL, THERE IS SOME DEFINITE CONNECTIONS BECAUSE I'VE WRITTEN MANY LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THESE YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE GOING INTO MASTERS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.

I'VE HAD ONE THAT IS NOW IN DENTAL SCHOOL.

I HAVE ONE THAT WENT INTO ENGINEERING.

I WAS SO PROUD OF HER.

IT WAS A REALLY NEAT STORY.

SO I THINK THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST TIED TO BEING WHAT THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY WANTED TO DO IN COLLEGE.

I THINK THE EXPOSURE THAT THEY HAD TO OUR LOCAL NEEDS AND OUR NON-PROFITS AND ALSO SEEING WHAT PHILANTHROPY CAN DO, I THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE ENTER THOSE FIELDS.

I HOPE SO BECAUSE WE NEED QUALITY PEOPLE.

WE HAVE SO MANY QUALITY PEOPLE IN OWENSBORO THAT RUN OUR NON-PROFITS.

I WOULD PUT THEM UP AGAINST ANYBODY ACROSS THIS NATION.

I REALLY WOULD.

BUT THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED.

AND IT'S HARD WORK.

IT'S HARD WORK RUNNING A NON-PROFIT.

>> Renee: SOMETIMES IT'S UNDER ESTIMATED.

RUNNING A NON-PROFIT, RIGHT, WE THINK THE MORE FOR-PROFIT IS MORE INVOLVED BUT OFTEN YOU ARE WORKING WITH MUCH THINNER MARGINS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY, A LOT OF STRESS.

I THINK IF WE CAN INTEREST OUR YOUTH IN THAT CAREER STAGE AT AN EARLY AGE, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL GET THE BUG.

>> Renee: THEN WE CAN TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THESE AREAS WHERE THERE IS A DIRTH OF QUALIFIED FOLKS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS HOW YOU SEE THOSE COMMUNITY GROUPS WORKING TO HELP YOU FILL THOSE CRITICAL HEALTH WORKFORCE NEEDS?

>> 100%.

I LOOK AT BOTH SARA AND LEADERSHIP IN OWENSBORO AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE.

THIS YOUNGER GENERATION, WE'VE GOT 10 INDIVIDUALS RIGHT NOW WHO ARE IN MEDICAL SCHOOL.

WE ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT.

WHEN WE KNOW THEY'RE FROM HERE, THEY'RE MORE INCLINED TO STAY HERE.

WE HAVE 10 FINISHING THEIR FELLOWSHIP RESIDENCY THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO AND THEY'RE COMING BACK.

ACCESS IS IMPORTANT.

BUT I BELIEVE ONE OF THE THANKS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO EXTEND THAT ACCESS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE COME BACK AND STRAIN.

>> Renee: BRAIN DRAIN, REPRESENTATIVE MILES, RIGHT?

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WHEN EDUCATION REFORM WAS A BIG TOP NICK 19 THE P AND HERE WE ARE 25 PLUS YEARS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF HIGHER ED REFORM BUT ONE OF THE THUNKS WAS SOLVING THE BRAIN DRAIN TO KEEP THE HOMEGROWN TALENT HERE AND BLOOM AND PROSPER RIGHT WHERE THEY'RE PLANTED.

>> IRONICALLY THE FIRST TIME I MET MAGGIE, SHE ALSO WAS A MEMBER OF NEXT-GEN AND TO SEE HER BLOSSOM AND, YOU KNOW, THROUGH COLLEGE NOW AND IT'S SO MUCH FUN AS FAR AS THE ADULTS, YOU KNOW, WE RELISH IN THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE MAYOR EVEN SAID EARLIER, YOU KNOW, THE MORE COLLABORATION THAT WE HAVE, THE MORE THINGS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.

AND WE TAKE A LOT OF OWNERSHIP IN BEING PROUD OF THOSE.

WE SEE THOSE YOUNG LADIES THAT HAVE BLOSSOMED INTO SOME AMAZING TALENTED PEOPLE.

AND THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND, KELSEY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN IT WHEN SHE WAS HERE.

WE ARE HOPING WE'LL GET HER BACK IN OWENSBORO ONE OF THESE DAYS.

>> Renee: WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT.

[LAUGHTER] >> WE'LL WELCOME YOU, TOO, BY THE WAY.

WE ARE WHO ARE THAN HAPPY FOR YOU TO BRING THE WHOLE GANG.

>> Renee: YES, MAYOR.

>> I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT BRAIN DRAIN THING YOU KNOW, I'VE REALIZED THAT SOMETIMES THE KIDS GO TO BLOOMINGTON AND LEXINGTON AND GET WOWED UP.

WE SEEM TO DRAW FROM OUR SURROUNDING REGION INTO OWENSBORO.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN IT WAS IN A SMALLER COMMUNITY IN A SMALLER COUNTY.

AND THEY LOVE IT BECAUSE IT'S A STEP UP FOR THEM.

SO I SAY WE KIND OF REPLACE THAT BRAIN DRAIN WITH SOME MORE BRAINS.

IT'S JUST COMING FROM A DIFFERENT AREA.

EVERY TIME IT MAKES MY WIFE CRAZY.

I SAY WHERE ARE YOU FROM.

I'M FROM McCLEAN COUNTY.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

SO I BELIEVE WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER THERE BRING THEM TO US.

AND AS TIME GOES ON, THEY HAVE A TENDENCY TO COME BACK HOME.

AND I SEE THAT NOW.

SOMEBODY WILL SEND ME AN EMAIL.

I HAVE BEEN OUT OF OWENSBORO FORFEITER 30 YEARS AND MY WIFE AND I ARE WANTING TO COME BACK AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE RECOMMENDATION OF WHERE TO GO AND EVERYTHING AND I JUST INVITE THEM UP TO CITY HALL AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY'RE UP TO AND TRY AND PUSH THEM OR GUIDE THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

[LAUGHTER] >> WHAT THE MAYOR JUST SAID IS VERY POIGNANT AND THAT'S THE FACT THAT HE OPENS HIS DOOR.

SOMETHING WE CAN OFFER TO YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND PEOPLE WHO MOVE HERE AND STAY HERE IS THAT WE HAVE THE ACCESSIBILITY.

AND THEY'RE SEEN.

AND YOU KNOW, WE DO WANT TO RECRUIT TEAM FROM ALL OVER OUR REGION.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME BACK AND WE WANT TO KEEP THEM BACK.

THAT PEACE, THAT RETENTION PIECE WHAT IS WE ARE FOCUSING ON WITH THE TALENT DEVELOPMENT.

THEY CAN PICK UP THE PHONE AND GET A MEETING WITH THE MAYOR OR THE COUNTY JUDGE AND SHARE AN IDEA AND SAY I HAVE THIS BURNING INSIDE OF ME.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT IN MOST COMMUNITIES.

>> Renee: WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT, HAVEN'T WE?

IF YOU ARE IN A LARGER CITY LIKE LEXINGTON OR LOUISVILLE, IT MAY BE HARDER TO GET INTO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

>> WE HAVE AND HIVE TOLD THIS STORY TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS STAGE.

I HAD A COLLEAGUE 10 OR 15 YEARS AGO FROM LOUISVILLE.

I WAS DRIVING HER AROND-- I WAS DRIVING HER AROUND OUR BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY AND SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID YOU CAN EFFECT CHANGE IN OWENSBORO MORE THAN I CAN IN LOUISVILLE.

I SAID OH MY GOODNESS.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT.

YOUR FOUNDATION IS MULTIMILLION DOLLARS MORE THAN ME AND YOU HAVE A LARGER COMMUNITY.

SHE SAID YOU ALL ARE CONNECTED AND YOU ALL ARE ACCESSIBLE TO YOUR LEADERS.

WE CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER MUCH QUICKER THAN YOU CAN IN A LARGE CITY.

AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT.

AND SHE IS RIGHT.

>> AND I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALK IN GROUPS, I'LL SAY, YOU KNOW,I THINK WE ARE TOO BIG TO BE LITTLE AND TOO LITTLE TO BE BIG AND THAT MAKES US JUST RIGHT.

WE CAN GET BY WITH THINGS, I'VE GOT FRIENDS IN LARGER TOWNS AND THEY'RE LIKE HOW THE HELL DO YOU HAVE A FRIDAY AFTER 5 EVERY WEEK AND HAVE BUSES AND FEED PEOPLE AND HAVE FOOD AND EVERYTHING.

WE CAN JUST DO IT AND WE ARE GOOD AT IT.

>> I THINK THIS NARRATIVE REALLY HELPS INSPIRE OTHER CITIES SMALLER OR SAME SIZE TO SAY ITER CAN BE DONE.

WE WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN A MOMENT BUT FIRST KET'S TOBY GIBSON IS GOING TO SHARE SOME FACTS AND HISTORY ABOUT OWENSBORO.

WE'LL TALK MORE.

STAY WITH US.

>> PRESENT DAY DAVIS AND HERNANDEZ COUNTY WERE ONCE HOME TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

BELIEVE THEIR HISTORY IN DAVIS COUNTY STRETCHES BACK 12,000 YEARS.

THE LAST SHAWNEE TRIBES WERE FORCED TO LEAVE DAVIS COUNTY AT THE END OF 18th CENTURY.

HERNANDEZ COUNTY WAS HOME TO UCI AND CHEROKEE TRIBES.

EUROPEAN SETTLER LED BY A NAME WILLIAM SPLEETHERS UNDERSTAND SMUTHERS AND CALLED THE AREA YELLOW BANKS AFTER THE COLOR OF SOME OF THE LAND NEAR THE OHIO RIVER.

THE TOWN OF OWENSBORO FOUNDED IN 18 SUBPOENA NAMED FOR COLONEL ABRAHAM OWEN, THE LENDSIER SPELLING OF OWENSBORO LASTED UNTIL 1893 WHEN IT WAS SHORTENED.

MAJOR DAVIS WAS THE NAME SAKE FOR DAVIS COUNTY.

HERNANDEZ COUNTY AND THE TOWN THE HERNANDEZ.

PIONEER AND SPECULATOR HERNANDEZ FORMED THE TOWN IN THE 1770S.

THE FIRST POST OFFICE WENT UP IN 1808.

IT WOULDN'T BECOME AN OFFICIAL CITY UNTIL 1840.

BOTH COUNTIES BECAME KNOWN FOR TOBACCO AND WHISKEY.

HERNANDEZ COUNTY IS ONE OF KENTUCKY'S TOP THREE COUNTIES FOR CORN, SOY BEANS AND COAL.

THE COUNTIES HAVE THEIR SHARE OF CELEBRITIES.

OWENSBORO WAS HOME TO GOVERNOR AND LONG TIME U.S.

SENATOR WENDELL FORD, ALTHOUGH HE IS KNOWN FOR LIVING IN VERSAILLES.

GOVERNOR A.P.

HAPPY CHANDLER WAS BORN IN HRND COUNTY, NATURALIST AUDUBON LIVED IN HERNANDEZ FROM 18 SO TO 1819 AND TEACHER MAR I TOLLS, PROMOTOR OF MOTHER'S DAY WAS BORN IN HERNANDEZ IN 1860.

FOR KENTUCKY TONIGHT, I'M TOBY GIBBS.

>> Renee: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE ARE CONTINUING OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES FACING OWENSBORO AND SURROUNDING AREAS AND WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE JOINING OUR PANEL DISCUSSION, JAKE BOSWELL WHO IS HEAD OF THE GREATER OWENSBORO CHAMBER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS.

AND WE KIND OF LEFT OFF THE FIRST PART OF OUR CONVERSATION TALKING ABOUT YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND WAYS TO KEEP THEM IN THIS AREA AND TO BRING OTHER BRAINS WHO MIGHT BE NOT NECESSARILY SO ATTACHED TO GET THEM TO COME HERE.

JAKE, I'M CURIOUS.

YOU HEARD THAT PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

WHAT WOULD YOU ADD AND WHAT IS YOUR GROUP DOING TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GOOD BRAINS ARE STILL HERE?

>> I THINK A HUGE PART OF IT IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING FOR US AND OUR GROUP THIS EVENING, GIVING US A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST STRENGTHS THAT OWENSBORO HAS IS THE CHAMBER OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHICH THIS ITERATION HAS BEEN AROUND FOR CLOSE TO A DECADE, BUT THERE IS MORE HISTORY WITH THE GROUP.

I THINK ANY TIME LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE LAST SEGMENT IN THE MAYOR WITH HIS DOOR OPEN.

HIS DOOR IS OPEN AND MANY OTHERS ARE AS WELL F. WE HAVE AN OPINION, AN IDEA, IF WE HAVE A VOICE WE FEEL LIKE THAT NEEDS TO BE HEARD, REACH CAN RIGHT PEOPLE -- RIGHT PEOPLE WHO ARE THE DECISION MAKERS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS SUPER SIMPLE AND SUPER EASY AND WE CAN USUALLY SEND THEM A TEXT MESSAGE.

MANY OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE IN OWENSBORO IS A HUGE RECRUITING TOOL AND RETENTION TOOL AND I LIVED AWAY FOR CLOSE TO A DECADE.

AND WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO MOVED BACK HERE WHEN I DECIDED TO HAVE CHILDREN.

I THOUGHT BABYSITTING IS A BIG PLUS, RIGHT?

I DIDN'T HAVE THAT WHERE WAYS LIVING AND IT HAS PROVEN TO BE PRETTY AWESOME.

ALSO I THINK THAT THE AFFORDABILITY HERE COMPARED TO CITIES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO OUR SIZE IS CERTAINLY NOTICEABLE.

PARTICULARLY WITH HOUSING.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHEN YOU DO HAVE KIDS, YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO BE A HOMEOWNER AND RAISE YOUR KIDS INSIDE YOUR OWN HOME.

I THINK THE HOUSEING MARKET HERE IS VERY AFFORDABLE TO START.

AND I THINK THAT'S A HUGE THING YOU TALK TO 40 AND UNDER FOLKS ABOUT NOW AROUND THE COUNTRY, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET IN.

I THINK DOWNING THAT HERE.

I THINK ON TOP OF THAT, OUR K-12 EDUCATION IS AWESOME.

IT HAS BEEN.

IT STILL IS.

I THINK IT WILL BE AND THEN I THINK ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAVE A LOT OF SAFETY HERE.

I THINK WHEN YOU WANT TO RAISE YOUR KIDS OR SAY YOU ARE A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL AND YOU WANT TO GO OUT, A LOT OF US FEEL SAFE NOT ONLY IN THE PHYSICAL SENSE BUT ALSO IN THE SENSE OF BEING WHO WE ARE, WE CAN DO THAT AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE SUPPORT THAT AROUND HERE TOO.

>> Renee: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT HAVE COME TO THE FORE THAT THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GROUPS SAY THIS IS WHAT WE THEY'D THE COMOO UBT TO DO TO KEEP US HERE?

>> I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF NEAT THINGS.

ONE THAT COMES TO MIND IN PARTICULAR AND DAVE KIRK REPRESENTING VISIT OWENSBORO WAS IN LEADERSHIP OR THE CHAIR OF CHAMBER OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AT THAT TIME, BUT RIDE SHARE APPS WERE A BIG THING, RIGHT?

OWENSBORO DIDN'T HAVE ONE.

BOWLING GREEN HAD THEM, LEXINGTON, LOUISVILLE RVETLE BUT OWENSBORO DIDN'T HAVE THEM.

THE CHAMBER OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WORKED WITH OTHER GROUPS AND HERE IN TOWN AND WE HAVE WHAT IS CALLED THE ROOSTER BOOSTER THE CHAMBER PUTS ON EVERY MONTH.

A COOL UNIQUE GATHERING WHERE THE WHOLE TOWN GETS TOGETHER AND THE CHAMBER OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GOT UP ON STAGE AND SAID LETS ALL TWEET OR GO ON ANY SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM AND REACH OUT TO LYFT, UBER DIRECTLY.

IMMEDIATELY ALL AT ONCE.

EVERYBODY GOT THEIR PHONE OUT AND I BELIEVE IT WAS WITHIN A FEW HOURS LYFT REACHED OUT AND SAID HEY, YOU'VE GOT OUR ATTENTION.

>> BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A NUMBER TO YOU WILL CA.

-- I THERE IS NO NUMBER TO CALL.

SO I THINK THAT WAS ONE REALLY COOL THING AND SOMETHING HAPPENING DOWNTOWN RIGHT NOW LIKE WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT LOOKING AT OTHER TOWNS.

WE CAN GET GOOD IDEAS FROM OTHER PLACES AND BRING THEM HERE.

WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED AMPED UP ARTISTRY WHAT WE COINED IT BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF TRAFFIC BOXES DOWNTOWN THAT ARE VERY LARGE METAL SHINY.

THOSE #-R POSSIBLY A PLACE FOR ART, RIGHT?

WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A CALL FOR ARTISTS.

WE HAD PLENTY OF THEM COME OUT STICKING WITH THE THEMES OF DOWNTOWN, THE THEMES OF THIS CITY, BLUEGRASS BOURBON AND BARBECUE, WE HAD MANY SUBMISSIONS AND YOU WILL SEE THEM SOON UP AND PANELED TOGETHER AND MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION THAT IN THEIR DAY JOBS, THEY WERE FRIENDS OUTSIDE OF WORK, BUT THEIR DAY JOBS TURNED OUT TO WORK TOGETHER PERFECTLY AND WITH THE CITY AND OMU, ALL THESE GROUPS.

IT TOOK A WHILE BUT NOT BECAUSE IT WAS HARD BASED ON THE PEOPLE WE WERE WORKING WITH.

IT WAS JUST IT'S A BIG PROJECT.

IT WAS SUPER SEAMLESS AND EASY AND WHENEVER WE GET THOSE UP VERY SOON, I THINK WE WILL ALL BE FEELING LIKE OUR CITY HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A BIGGER CITY FEEL DOWNTOWN.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WANT.

THEY WANT ENERGY IN THEIR DOWNTOWN.

>> Renee: DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE A SEAT ON THE BOARD FOR THE CHAIR EVERY YEAR, TOO.

THEY BREATHE SO MUCH ENERGY, THEY CHALLENGE US, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OLDER THAN THEY, THE CHAMBER OF OLD PROFESSIONALS.

THE COPS, BUT THEY CHALLENGE US.

AND THEY QUITE FRANKLY SUSTAIN ME.

BECAUSE THE ENERGY THAT THE GROUP HAS, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING POSITIVE, SOMETHING THEY DO TOGETHER.

THEY ALL GET TOGETHER.

THEY DON'T CARE WHO GETS CREDIT.

AND ON THOSE DAYS WHEN YOU KIND OF GET A LITTLE BIT, THEY'LL COME IN FOR A MEETING AND I'M LIKE, OKAY, I CAN KEEP DOING THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST MAKING GREAT THINGS HAPPEN.

>> Renee: FULL OF ENERGY.

>> AND IDEAS AND LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> Renee: AND SOMETIMES THERE CAN BE A LITTLE BIT OF A RUB BETWEEN THE ELDERS AND THE YOUNGER GROUPS, RIGHT?

BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALWAYS DONE THINGS A CERTAIN WAY AND IT'S HOW IT'S BEEN GROUNDED SO WHEN OTHERS COME IN, IT'S REFRESHING TO HEAR THAT THOSE ARE WELCOME.

>> IT REALLY IS.

>> Renee: I WANT TO GO BACK TO A POINT YOU MADE ABOUT HOUSING.

WE HIT ON THIS A LITTLE BIT A FEW MINUTES AGO IN THE FIRST SEGMENT.

I WANT TO EXPLORE THAT MORE.

THE AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING.

WOULD YOU SAY IT'S ENOUGH AND THE AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING?

THEN I'LL ASK THIS SIDE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.

BUT FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, THOSE OVER 40 AND UNDER, THEY THINK IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO COME.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S EASY FOR ANYBODY.

WITH THE ENVIRONMENT WE ARE IN FINANCIALLY RIGHT NOW AROUND THE COUNTRY, I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO SIT THERE AND SAY, I WANT TO OWN A HOME.

I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY CAN DO IT ALL OF A SUDDEN BUT I CERTAINLY THINK IN THIS TOWN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE, THERE IS AFFORDABILITY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST STARTING OUT.

SAY A YOUNGER MARRIED COUPLE OR A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL LIVING ON THEIR OWN, YOU CAN LIVE SOMEWHERE THAT IS A MONTHLY RENT FOR A LITTLE WHILE BUT IF YOU LOOK FAIRWAY A HOME, IT'S CERTAINLY AVAILABLE HERE AND THE COOL PART IS YOU ARE LIVING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH OTHER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND OTHER YOUNG FAMILIES SO A LOT OF TIMES THAT NEIGHBOR FEEL YOU GET IS SOMETHING YOU START AT A YOUNG AGE.

AND IN OTHER TOWNS IT MAY BE SOMETHING WE MAY BE A DECADE AHEAD OF WHEN IT COMES TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE.

>> Renee: YOU ALL AGREE WITH THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I WOULD SAY IT'S AFFORDABLE AND WOULD I AGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK WE HAVE ROOM FOR MORE AND NEED FOR MORE.

MOST RECENTLY MET WITH A GROUP AND THEY'VE GOT SOME GREAT IDEAS ON, YOU KNOW, PLANNING AND ZONING IF WE NEED TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS SO WE HAVE MORE AFFORDABLE RELIABLE HOUSING AND ACCESSIBLE.

THAT'S THE MAIN THING.

SO I THINK IT WAS WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, A REPORT CAME OUT OF MORE PEOPLE MOVING TO KENTUCKY.

AND THAT OBVIOUSLY BRINGS MORE REVENUES TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND THIMTION LIKE THAT.

SO-- THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IF WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE COMING, WE NEED MORE HOUSING.

THAT'S PART OF IT, TOO.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE DEALS.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WE DO AND HOW GREAT THINGS MIGHT BE AT THIS MOMENT, I FEEL LIKE IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND OUR ROLES ESPECIALLY, WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT THING.

I HEARD HIM TALKING ABOUT THE RIDE SHARE AND I GOT THINKING ABOUT OF THAT, IT WAS HAVING WIFI.

WIFI IN THE PARKS WAS SOMETHING THAT THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND THE CHAMBER WAS VERY ACTIVE IN GETTING THAT GOING.

AND NOW AS FAR AS OUR INTERNET SERVICE IN OUR COMMUNITY,IS PHENOMENAL AND STILL EXPANDING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT'S LIKE OKAY, WE'VE GOT THAT BUT WE NEED THE NEXT THING.

WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE NEXT LEVEL.

EVERYTHING CAN ALWAYS BE BETTER.

IT'S GOOD BUT IT DOESN'T STAY GOOD VERY LONG.

>> Renee: UNTIL THE NEXT SHINY THINGS COMES ALONG.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT BUT TO GET BACK TO HOUSING, AN ISSUE TALKED ABOUT A LOT IN THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND UNRESOLVED SOLUTION AND CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.

FROM A STATE LEVEL, IS THERE SOME PLACE WHERE STATE LAWMAKERS CAN COME IN TO HELP THAT HOUSING CRISIS ACROSS THE STATE THAT WOULD BENEFIT PLACES LIKE OWENSBORO?

>> I THINK SO.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

I HAVE TO SAY THE TASK FORCE FOR THE STATE HAVE REAPED THE REWARDS OF BENEFITS OF COMING BACK INTO SESSION, HAVING SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE WORKED ON FOR A LONG TIME.

EVERYONE HAS BEEN AT THE TABLE AND HAD THE CONVERSATIONS.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THE RESULTS OF THAT ARE.

I DO KNOW LEXINGTON IS DOING A GOOD JOB.

I'LL EVEN PLUG THEM.

THAT I THINK THEY'VE GOT SOMETHING HAPPENING AND WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION WITH SENATOR BLEDSO, SHE IS AMAZE AMAZING.

SHE HAS SHARED WITH ME.

WE HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER AREAS.

ANY TIME SOMEONE IS DOING SOMETHING WELL, WE ARE NOT BASHFUL ABOUT SHARING INFORMATION AND SAYING LET'S, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DOING THIS WELL.

AND IT MAY NOT WORK WELL EVERYWHERE, YOU KNOW.

WHAT WE ARE SIT INNING TONIGHT IS NOT GOING TO BE THE GREAT THING FOR EVERYBODY, BUT YET IT'S THE GREAT THING FOR US SO WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT THAT.

>> Renee: MAYOR WATSON.

>> ONE OF THE MOTTOS I TRY TO LIVE BY.

YOU DON'T STAY THE SAIP.

YOU GET BETTER OR YOU GET WORSE.

THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN YOUR MIND AND EVERY SUNDAY, I'M AN OLD GUY.

I LIKE TO READ THE NEWSPAPER.

IT'S IN MY HAND.

MY WIFE DOES IT ON THE iPAD THING.

BUT ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I LOOK AT IS THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS.

I WANT TO SEE THE COMERS AND GOERS, WHO IS ACCUMULATING AND WE CAN THANK THE BROTHERS FOR THE HOUSING THEY HAVE PUT OUT AROUND AND THEY TRY AND KIND OF-- I'LL TALK ABOUT ANNEXATION.

MAKE IT CONTIGUOUS TO THE CITY.

THEY GET POLICE AND FIRE AND ALL THE THINGS THAT CITY RESIDENTS GET.

SO IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE IN THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT, WELL THAT'S A STARTER HOME.

I PLANT THAT AND THEN A LITTLE BIT LATER ON, YOU MIGHT SEE THEIR PARENTS OR SOMEBODY ELSE, THEY'RE MOVING ON AND SOMEBODY ELSE IS TAKING THAT SPOT.

SO JUST TURNING OVER THAT REAL ESTATE LIKE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, A SIGN OF GROWTH, I THINK.

>> Renee: YOU MENTION A WORD ANNEXATION.

AND I KNOW REPRESENTATIVE MILES... BECAUSE THERE IS WORK ON THAT, RIGHT?

THAT'S A BIG TOPIC IN FRANKFORT.

>> DID YOU SEE ME CRINGE.

>> Renee: I DID.

I COULD FEEL IT ACTUALLY.

ANNEXATION AND CITY CLASSIFICATION WE HEARD THAT.

THAT IS IMPORTANT.

FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT AND WHY IS IT MEANINGFUL?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?

>> THERE ARE TWO SIGNS TO THE COIN.

THE MAYOR HAS A SIDE AND THE JUDGE HAS A SIDE OF THAT COIN AND THAT KIND OF PUTS US IN THE CROSS HAIRS SOMETIMES AS FAR AS SOUR STATE OFFICIALS.

I DO THINK WE DID A GOOD JOB THIS TIME.

WE HAD AN ANNEXATION BILL.

AND HOPEFULLY IT KIND OF BALANCED THE TEETER TOTTER AND MADE IT FAIR FOR BOTH SIDES TO KIND OF WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THE ANNEXATION WAS INTERESTED TO BRING CERTAIN COMMUNITIES IN, OBVIOUSLY HE MENTIONED THE JAYGOS.

THEY BUILT A COMMUNITY AND DEPENDING ON WHAT SERVICES THEY WANTED, AND PROVIDED FOR, WHETHER THEY'RE IN THE CITY OR THE COUNTY, BASED ON THAT, SO YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT BOTH SIDES OF IT.

I MEAN THERE IS NOT A RIGHT ANSWER AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE ALWAYS WANTS YOU TO COME UP WITH THE RIGHT ANSWER FOR THAT.

HE KNOWS I'M KIND OF A FARM GIRL AND FARM FARMLAND IS VERY PRECIOUS AND I LOVE IT A LOT.

I KNOW WE HAVE SOME FARMERS IN OUR AUDIENCE HERE TODAY FROM HERNANDEZ.

I KNOW ANNEXATION IS PROBABLY NOT THEIR FAVORITE WORD EITHER.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO BALANCE IT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY AND THE COUNTRY FOLKS GET TOGETHER WELL AND I THINK WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF THAT TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS HERE.

I REALLY THINK WE DO.

I LIVE RIGHT ON THE EDGE,YOU KNOW, IN THE COUNTY.

IT WAS FURTHER TO THE CITY, WHENEVER I STARTED IN THAT HOUSE BUT NOW IT'S GETTING CLOSER TO ME.

IT REALLY IS.

>> Renee: DO YOU CARE TO COMMENT.

>> AS BEING THE LARGEST NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION WITHIN THE REGION, EACH YEAR WE LOOK THROUGH OUR FOUNDATION.

WE WANT TO GIVE BACK AND BE A GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

THE TWO AREAS WE FOCUSED ON WAS HOUSING AND MENTAL HEALTH.

A LOT OF NOT-FOR-PROFITS REPRESENTED HERE TONIGHT, WE WERE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK.

WE DID 24 GRANTS THIS PAST YEAR, A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, A LOT AROUND HOUSING.

A LOT OF WAYS WE THINK ABOUT THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, THE GOVERNOR FLEW IN.

IT WAS A GREAT PROJECT, THAT BRINGS OUR TEAM MEMBERS TOGETHER.

PART WHAT HAVE WE HAVE TO DO AND PART OF OUR MISSION IS GIVING BACK AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THOSE WE SERVE.

HOUSING IS IMPORTANT AS WELL.

>> Renee: MENTAL HEALTH IS IMPORTANT AS WELL.

FATHER LARRY MENTIONED THAT.

I WANT TO GO THERE WITH THE CONVERSATION.

HOW IS THAT BEING ADDRESSED IN THIS COMMUNITY.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THE COLLABORATION.

WE ARE VERY BLESSED WITH RIVER VALLEY HERE AND THE THINGS THAT SHE IS DOING, THE OUTREACH AND WE KNOW MENTAL HEALTH IS AFFECTING EVERY COMMUNITY THERE IS IN THE COUNTRY SO THAT'S A BIG PIECE FOR US.

AND SO EVEN WITH OUR TEAM MEMBERS AND SO REALLY PARTNERING WITH THEM IN A MEANINGFUL WAY IS HOW WE CAN HELP AND AK ACCESS AND HELP THE FOLKS BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM I THINK SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS.

THERE IS A LOT THAT WE ARE DOING IN THAT ASPECT AND BLESSED TO HAVE A RIVER VALLEY HERE CLOSE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH BECAUSE THEY'RE THE EXPERTS AT IT.

>> Renee: I WANT TO ASK YOU, FATHER, ABOUT THE STUDENT POPULATION IN MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW BRECIA IS ADDRESSING THAT.

NOT JUST IN TERMS OF MAYBE GROOMING MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, BUT EVEN THE STUDENT POPULATION THAT IS IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, WHEN COVID HIT, THE AWARENESS OF THE NEEDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH KIND OF SKYROCKETED AND WE HAD ALWAYS PAID ATTENTION TO MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.

WE BEGAN TO REALIZE, WAIT A MINUTE, IT'S ALSO FACULTY AND STAFF.

IT'S THE ADMINISTRATION, IT'S YOURSELF, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU TO PAY ATTENTION TO ALL OF THAT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE COUNSELING SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS SO THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND WORKING WITH RIVER VALLEY, IN FACT, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR SERVICES IF NEEDED.

BUT IT IS PROBABLY-- THEY DID A COUPLE YEARS AGO, A SURVEY AMONG COLLEGE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS OF WHAT THE TOP CONCERNS THEY HAD IN MENTAL HEALTH OF THEIR STUDENTS WAS AT THE TOP.

AND I'M JUST REALLY PLEASED-- I WAS TALKING TO THE C.E.O.

OF A LOCAL COMPANY ASKING ABOUT IF THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SOME KIND OF MANAGING THROUGH TRAUMA OR MANAGING WITH A PERSPECTIVE THAT THE PEOPLE YOU ARE MANAGING HAVE HAD TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS IMMEDIATE YES, ABSOLUTELY.

AND IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, I THINK THE THINGS THAT JAKE WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS MAKE THIS SAY MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE NOT JUST INTERESTED IN YOU COMING HERE AND PAYING YOUR TAXES.

WE ARE HERE WANTING YOU TO FLOURISH.

I WAS THINKING KENTUCKY WESLEYAN AND BRECIA UNIVERSITY ARE THE TWO INSTITUTIONS THAT BRING IN PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY.

OFTEN THROUGH OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.

THEY STAY IF THEY CAN, THEY STAY.

E.D.C., ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, DID A STUD OWE THAT, AND JUST TO DETERMINE THAT A LOT OF THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ESPECIALLY STICK AROUND, ESPECIALLY IF THEY FALL IN LOVE WITH SOMEBODY AND BUILD A FAMILY AND THEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET A HOUSE AND GET THEIR FAMILIES STARTED.

IT'S A LITTLE TOUGHER, I HAVE TO SAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE SINGLE, BECAUSE WE ARE SO FAMILY ORIENTED IN THIS COMMUNITY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE MENTAL HEALTH PIECE, I THINK IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE STICK AROUND.

>> Renee: JAKE, DID YOU WANT TO CHIME IN HERE?

>> I WANT TO BOUNCE OFF WHAT LARRY-- FATHER LARRY SAID ABOUT SINGLE PEOPLE.

ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS WE HAVE ABOUT THIS CITY AND ARE VERY PROUD OF, IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY.

THAT'S WHY PEOPLE STICK AROUND.

FOR SINGLE PEOPLE, WHAT I'M SEEING IN THE LAST FOUR TO FIVE YEARS, THE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOUNG PROFESSIONALS HERE AT THE YOUNG AGE THEY'VE GOT, EITHER WHERE THEY'RE BEING PROMOTED OR HOW THEY'RE SEEN AT THEIR WORKPLACES IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK A LOT OF OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE EITHER.

AND I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLE, TOO, BECAUSE SOME FOLKS HERE HAVE A WORK FROM HOME OPPORTUNITY.

AND WE LIVE IN A TOWN WHERE YOU CAN GET ANYWHERE IN 10 MINUTES.

SO IT'S NOT DUE TO COMUTTING.

IT'S DUE NOT FACT THAT EMPLOYERS ARE LISTENING TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO BEING OUTSIDE OR SOCIALIZING WITH FOLKS AROUND HERE THAT MAYBE IF THEY HAVEN'T FALLEN IN LOVE YET, MAYBE THEY WILL AND WILL STICK AROUND.

BUT ANYWAY-- >> Renee: CANDANCE HAS A MATCH MAKING SERVICE.

>> WE LOVE TO SEE FOLKS FROM THE UNIVERSITIES STICK AROUND AND IT'S SO COOL TO WELCOME PEOPLE.

I'M A NATIVE FROM OWENSBORO.

I'M FROM HERE BUT IT'S REALLY NEAT TO FIND OUT THAT SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT FROM HERE COULD LIVE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES,AND THEY CHOOSE HERE.

I THINK IT ALLOWS TO YOU REMEMBER HOW SPECIAL WHERE WE LIVE TRULY IS.

>> Renee: SO IN THE FIVE MINUTES OR SEE THAT WE HAVE REMAINING, I WANT TO RETURN TO A CONVERSATION THAT REPRESENTATIVE MILES MENTIONED.

SHE SAID IT A COUPLE OF TIMES ABOUT THE NEXT THING.

AND YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF I-69 AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, AUDUBON, BUT WHAT IS THE NEXT THING BEYOND TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE LOGISTICS?

>> WELL, GOSH, YOU PUT ME ON THE SPOT OF COMING UP WITH SOMETHING.

I DO THINK CHILD CARE BECOMES A HUGE ROLE.

I THINK OUR EMPLOYERS, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT QUITE A BIT ON HOW THAT LOOKS.

OUR JAIL SYSTEM, I THINK THAT WE NEED MONTH TORQUE-- WE NEED TO WORK MORE THAT.

OUR JAILS HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB AND IT GOES BACK TO THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE AND OUR MAYOR HAS BEEN WORKING WITH RIVER VALLEY AND OTHERS TO FIND A TRANSITION SO WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR JAILS UNNECESSARILY.

I THINK THE RECIDIVISM, WE ARE ORKING ON THAT HARD THROUGH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THROUGH THE PARTNERS OF THE COUNTY, THE CITY, ALL OF THEM HAVE WORKED SO HARD ON TRANSITIONING PEOPLE, SECOND CHANCES.

I THINK WE ARE DEFINITELY A COMMUNITY OF SECOND CHANCES.

IT'S ALWAYS MY GOAL EVERY BASEBALL TEAM, EVERY SPORTING GROUP THAT COMES INTO TOWN AND THEIR KIDS ARE ALL ACROSS THE RIVERFRONT THAT THEY JUST WANT TO PICK UP AND MOVE HERE, SO THAT PLAYS A ROLE INTO THE HOUSING, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE HOUSING AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

ONE THING THAT WE HAVE NOT TALKED ON, WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS REFUGEE POPULATION AND HAVE DONE EXTREMELY GOOD JOB OF INTEGRATING REFUGEES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THEY HAVE JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN A TAPESTRY AND IT'S A TAPESTRY THAT WILL NEVER BE COMPLETED.

WE CONTINUE TO ADD TO IT AND EVERY PIECE WE ADD TO IT MAKES SUCH A BEAUTIFUL TAPESTRY.

IT GOES BACK TO THE ARTWORK AND WE'VE GOT AARON KAISER, I SAW HIM WALK PAST.

AND WHAT TALENT THAT WE SEE IN OUR COMMUNITIES IN SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

WHATEVER THE NEXT BIG THING IS.

I CAN'T DICK DICTATE THAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M SURPRISED AND EXCITED TO SEE WHEN SOMEBODY COMES TO ME AND SAYS WE HAVE EIGHT OR NINE UNIVERSITIES THAT WANT TO WORK TOGETHER AND DO SOMETHING.

AND IT'S LIKE, ARE YOU SURE?

SERIOUSLY?

BECAUSE THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING.

TRYING TO GET EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE ROWING THE SAME DIRECTION.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS.

AND I THINK WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF THAT.

I THINK OUR COMMUNITY WORKS WELL FOR THAT.

SO AS FAR AS THE NEXT BIG THING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT BIG THING IS, BUT I KNOW RIGHTS GOING TO BE GREAT.

>> Renee: AND YOU ARE READY FOR IT, RIGHT?

>> WE ARE READY FOR IT.

ABSOLUTELY READY FOR IT.

>> Renee: MAYOR, I'LL GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD, SIR.

>> GOOD NOTICE IS THIS.

>> GOOD NIGHT?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR UNIVERSITIES AND MAJOR EMPLOYERS COME TOGETHER AND START TALKING ABOUT A.I.

I THINK THAT'S A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE THAT IS EXCITING TO ME TO BE ABLE TO DRAW FROM THAT TYPE OF ENERGY, TO CREATE SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND I BROUGHT THAT UP AT A MEETING WITH O.H.

AND MARK AND I ASKED ONE OF THE PEOPLE ON THE BOARD, I SAID, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT A.I.

AND IT WAS LIKE...

I MEAN IT'S COMING.

>> IT'S HERE.

>> I DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE BACK END OF A.I.

AND BE ZI.

I WANT TO BE A.I.

I THINK THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOME SYNERGY THAT WE CAN COUPLE TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND START WORKING TOWARDS THAT.

>> Renee: YOU HAVE A COMMENT.

>> WE DIDN'T GET INTO THE INFORMATION CENTER ITSELF.

YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THAT ON-- THE FORMATION OF THE BIGGER PROJECT NOT ONLY THE MOBILE BUT THE A.I.

IS REAL SO A LOT OF IT IS BEING INTEGRATED WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

IT'S HERE.

WE HAVE OUR CHANCELLOR BACK HERE, DARYL BART WAS FORMER PRESIDENT OF KENTUCKY WEST AND SPEAR FORCING HEALTH FORCE KENTUCKY.

WE ARE IN THE EARLY INFANCY OF A.I.

FOR SURE.

>> Renee: A.I.

AND THE HIGHER EDUCATION SPACE.

>> WE JUST STARTED.

WE ARE BRINGING OUR FIRST STUDENTS INTO IT NEXT YEAR, MASTER DEGREE IN COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND ONE OF THE EMPHASIS IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ALONG WITH DATA ANALYSIS AND CYBER SECURITY.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR THAT KIND OF THING WHILE WE ARE BRINGING EVERYBODY ALL THE DINOSAURS LIKE MYSELF UP TO SPEED ON THAT.

>> Renee: WELL, I THINK A LOT OF US ARE FEARFUL BUT WE HAVE TO GO WITH IT, RIGHT?

BECAUSE IT IS HERE.

WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY ROBUST CONVERSATION.

AND I HOPE THAT FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE HAVE LEARNED OR ARE BEING REMINDED ABOUT A LOT OF THE GREAT WORK THAT IS GOING ON HERE AND FOR OUR STATEWIDE AUDIENCE, WE HOPE YOU SEE THE JEWEL THAT OWENSBORO AND DAVIS COUNTY IS AND THE SURROUNDING AREA IS AS WELL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IF THE AUDIENCE WOULD JOIN ME IN GIVING YOU ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[ APPLAUSE ] I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FROM THE BLUEGRASS MUSIC HALL OF FAME MUSEUM.

TAKE GOOD CARE AND I WILL SEE YOU REAL SOON.

GOOD NIGHT.