Community Development

St. Elizabeth Healthcare launches Northern Kentucky’s first ER Telepsychiatry Program

By Newsroom

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November 18, 2011

St. Elizabeth Healthcare will launch the first emergency department-based telepsychiatry program in Northern Kentucky this winter thanks to a $100,000 Social Innovation Fund grant announced by The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. The high-tech program will enable patients experiencing mental health emergencies to receive timely, "face-to-face" professional evaluations at all five St. Elizabeth emergency departments in four Northern Kentucky counties. NorthKey Community Care is partnering with St. Elizabeth to provide this service during nighttime hours. Read the full story here.

Latest in Community Development

NKU to move to Division 1 by Fall 2012

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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November 18, 2011

Northern Kentucky University is expected to be playing Division I sports by next fall. An invitation from a Division I conference should come by the end of 2011 and potentially in the next several weeks. "We've had multiple conferences approach us but we're only talking with one," President Jim Votruba said Wednesday. He would not identify the conference. But the heavy favorite is the Ohio Valley Conference, which also includes Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State University and Morehead State University. After receiving the invitation, NKU will petition the National Collegiate Athletic Association to make the move. Read the full story here.

Slideshow: A Night At the Races

By Scott Beseler

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Community Development

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May 26, 2011

The official Derby of Rats, a unique new installation by Higher Level, and Southgate House's three floors offer up art, music, collaborations and more on a Friday night in Northern Kentucky. Soapbox managing photographer Scott Beseler has a slideshow to prove it all happened. Say cheese.

Northern Kentucky Catalytic Development Fund key to urban growth

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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May 26, 2011

The shaky national economy has made it tougher to raise capital for the Northern Kentucky Catalytic Development Fund, but Executive Director Jeanne Schroer said that may have been a blessing in disguise. The fund, which has a $10-million kickoff goal, will offer gap funding for residential, small retail and multi-use projects in the urban centers of Northern Kentucky. Launched in September 2008, it's just over halfway to meeting that number, with $6.5 million. But with the economy showing signs of strengthening, Schroer believes it will reach $10 million by year's end, with better planning and processes in place than if they money had been raised sooner. "If we had raised the money earlier, it wouldn't have been a great time to begin new projects. This (lag) has given us the time we need as an organization to put our structures in place to do a good job identifying projects and defining lending criteria. In retrospect it has been a good thing," Schroer said. The fund will primarily go toward residential projects, but will also consider mixed-used and neighborhood retail, Schroer said. "We'll also look at something like converting a historic structure into an office building." Schroer said she's "fairly confident" in reaching the $10 million goal by the end of the year. If so, project financing will begin in early 2012. The fund got it latest and largest single contribution with a recent $2 million commitment from PNC Bank. Previous commitments came from Corporex ($1 million), Bank of Kentucky ($1 million), Duke Energy ($1 million), Central Bank ($1 million) and the Haile/US Bank Foundation ($500K). Those large commitments show that the corporate community believes in the strengthening the region's urban core including Covington, Newport, Dayton and Bellevue, Schroer said. "They are making the commitment to the fund for a number of different reasons. All of them recognize our region needs a vibrant core to be economically competitive. I also believe they have a lot of faith in Northern Kentucky's potential to be a big part of the urban renaissance of our downtowns," she said. The fund was an initiative of the Urban Renaissance Action Team of the Northern Kentucky's Vision 2015 regional planning effort. Plans are to leverage those dollars to raise more than $100 million for development. Writer: Feoshia Henderson for Soapbox

Local NKY Musician to Perform at Renfro Valley

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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April 29, 2011

Boone County, Kentucky is home to many unique bands and other cultural assets, Roy Knipp & Southern Harmony band being one of that stands out. The Northern Kentucky musical group has a sweet, heartfelt Christian Country sound that you can say is meant to be. Originally formed in 1985, Roy Knipp & Southern Harmony parted ways in 1997. Shortly after, one of the band members, Dewayne Jackson, was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. The band got back together for a benefit concert to help the family with financial struggles and the rest is history. Roy Knipp & Southern Harmony have been together ever since. Roy Knipp & Southern Harmony's unique sound and sincere spirit has been shared in Nashville, TN, the hills of Renfro Valley, KY, and throughout Columbus Ohio. As a matter of fact, the group received the best live group award in the Renfro Valley Gospel Talent Search. Roy Knipp & Southern Harmony plan to revisit Renfro Valley Entertainment Center in eastern Kentucky again on May 28 as they perform independently in the New Barn Theater. The band will provide entertainment to Christian County lovers and Renfro Valley visitors in the Valley for the Classic Country Car Cruise In. Roy Knipp & Southern Harmony consists of: Roy Knipp (Lead Vocals and Acoustic Guitar), Steve Brunner (Lead Guitar), John Croley (Bass Guitar and Backup Vocals), LC Taylor (Backup Vocals), Terry King (Steel Guitar), Jason Frost (Drums), and Bob Lese (Harmonica & Mandolin), all Northern Kentucky natives. They have released their third CD titled "We'll Tell Them About You", which was their first release that went to #20 and also "I Do It All For You" which went to #18. Their latest release "Lord I Want To Thank You" went to #22. For more information about Roy Knipp & Southern Harmony: www.royknippandsouthernharmony.com. For more information about Renfro Valley Entertainment Center: www.renfrovalley.com. About Renfro Valley Entertainment Center It all began in 1939 when John Lair stepped to the radio microphone and said "Howdy Folks! Welcome to Renfro Valley." Lair's 20-year dream of preserving pure, clean folk music that he had grown up with in Renfro Valley had come true. The show that started that night in 1939 in the newly built Big Barn was an instant success, with as many as 10,000 people sometimes showing up for Saturday night Barn Dance. The Barn Dance was joined four years later by the Sunday Morning Gatherin'. Both shows were carried over the CBS Radio Network and drew thousands of loyal listeners from throughout the United States, Canada and other countries. Visitors across North America would show up for the weekly performances. The Renfro Valley community grew to include world famous Lodge Restaurant, guest cabins, hotel, souvenir shop, music library (drawing historians and scholars as far away as England), newspaper, radio station, museum, shopping village, RV Park, New Barn Theater and has become one of Kentucky's most popular destinations as "Kentucky's Country Music Capital." Renfro Valley is now in its 72nd year of operation. 2011 marks the beginning of many changes in the valley – a new beginning to an old tradition. For information about Renfro Valley Entertainment Center call 800-765-SING or visit www.renfrovalley.com.

Census: Boone grew fastest in NKY

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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April 29, 2011

Population in Northern Kentucky grew about 12 percent in the past decade with much of the growth concentrated in Boone County. Boone County was Northern Kentucky's biggest winner in the 2010 U.S. Census with a 38 percent increase in population in the past 10 years, the third highest in the state.Read more here.

The Draw of Northern Kentucky: Strange, Interesting, Quirky … Amazing

By Dave Malaska

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Community Development

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October 12, 2010

Every area has its own identity, fueled by its history, local arts, attractions and favorite hangouts. But it's hard to imagine as diverse a tapestry of influences as Northern Kentucky boasts.

New name and bold new goals for NuZone

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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February 19, 2008

In an effort to expand the scope of its economic development work, the Lincoln Heights Community Improvement Corporation has formed a partnership with Business Management Services, LLC and changed its name to NuZone Community Improvement Corporation.