The University of Kentucky’s Cooperative Extension Service, supported by the UK Economic Development Collaborative (EDC), is launching Connect 120, a new initiative designed to connect the university’s resources and expertise to all 120 county extension offices in Kentucky.

The initiative, introduced yesterday during UK’s annual State of the EDC event, is a strategic effort to enhance economic development across the state by connecting Kentuckians with the wealth of programs, services and knowledge available at the University of Kentucky.

Connect 120 aims to reach every corner of the Commonwealth, ensuring that the university’s resources are accessible to all residents and communities, regardless of location. This effort comes as the University of Kentucky has been charged by its Board of Trustees to “Advance Kentucky Together”.

At its retreat in October, the board’s resolution directed UK to work with partners across the state to formally launch and expand the Advancing Kentucky Together Network.

The goal is to work with partners in communities and counties across the Commonwealth to do more than any institution in the country to advance the overall health of the state.

This university-wide effort expands UK’s longstanding commitment to make it easier for patients to access specialty care and extends it into areas such as workforce training and education. Examples of network and partnering activities that tie into Connect 120 efforts include:

• Support the education, retention and recruitment of Kentucky’s workforce.
• Extend UK resources and expertise where there is an expressed need to continuously improve health outcomes and increase workforce opportunities.
• Collaborate with partners and communities in ways that improve an organization’s ability to track health outcomes and grow clinical services for both UK HealthCare and the community health partner.

“The land-grant mission of extending the knowledge and resources of the university is a key component of Connect 120,” said Laura Stephenson, incoming vice president for land-grant engagement and dean of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment beginning in January 2025.  “We seek to drive innovation, workforce readiness and community resilience. By translating research into real-world solutions, we equip individuals and industries with the tools they need to thrive.”

Connect 120 has launched its first project, which consists of two sets of four-week workshops focused on small business development called “Growing Our Own.” The first workshop series was completed in Fall 2024. The workshops are a collaborative effort involving UK Procurement Services, the Kentucky APEX Accelerator, the Small Business Administration and other key partners. The program supports local entrepreneurs and business owners with the tools they need to grow and thrive.

A second round of workshops under the “Growing Our Own” program will be held in Spring 2025, continuing the momentum of the initial success. In addition, Connect 120 will feature other projects designed to further strengthen Kentucky’s economy, including the development of an economic opportunity map that will provide a useful tool for identifying and fostering growth opportunities across the state.

The Connect 120 initiative highlights UK's dedication to supporting Kentuckians from all walks of life. By leveraging its existing infrastructure and partnerships, UK is working to enhance local economies, create new jobs, and build sustainable business growth across the state.

“It has been a goal of the EDC to expand UK’s reach in multiple disciplines to every county in Kentucky,” said George Ward, EDC chair. “Connect 120 is designed to provide programming to better prepare Kentuckians to benefit from the economic opportunities in our changing world.”

Connect 120 builds on the existing work of the Cooperative Extension Service and the EDC. As part of its land-grant mission, the University of Kentucky is committed to meeting the people of Kentucky where they are, helping them solve problems, and ensuring all areas of the state have equal access to the university’s expertise and resources.

To be updated on upcoming Connect 120 programming, visit https://connect120.ca.uky.edu/.

About the University of Kentucky and UK Cooperative Extension Service

The University of Kentucky is a land-grant institution and the flagship public university in Kentucky. Through teaching, research and outreach, the university works to improve the quality of life for all Kentuckians and advance the Commonwealth’s economic, social and cultural growth. The UK Cooperative Extension Service provides practical, research-based information to communities across Kentucky. Through its network of county offices, the Cooperative Extension Service offers educational programs and resources focused on improving health, strengthening communities and enhancing economic opportunities.

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Writer: Ashley Castorena, ashleycastorena@uky.edu

The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origen, national origen, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.