UK Economic Development Collaborative to host 3rd annual State of the EDC
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 18, 2022) — The University of Kentucky Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) will host its 3rd annual State of the EDC 1-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, in The Cornerstone UKFCU Theater. The event will also be livestreamed.
The State of the EDC tells UK’s economic development story and engages all interested parties through a two-way communication channel to ensure the work of EDC addresses the needs of the stakeholders.
“The broadly collaborative model of the EDC uses strong two-way communication and partnership to amplify economic development and prosperity work at the university by building a shared base of knowledge, identifying opportunities for collaboration and focusing together on bold ideas,” said Melody Flowers, EDC co-chair.
The first half of the event will include a presentation by George Ward, EDC co-chair. The second half of the event includes an audience-led panel discussion with the following subcommittee chairs:
- Ray Clere, director of the Stuckert Career Center, Talent subcommittee chair;
- Ian McClure, associate vice president for Research, Innovation and Economic Impact, Innovation subcommittee chair;
- Alison Davis, executive director of Community and Economic Initiative of Kentucky, Place subcommittee chair;
- Kim Kluemper, director of Business Engagement, Partnership subcommittee chair; and
- Marilyn Clark, Supplier Diversity manager, Equitable Economic Development subcommittee chair.
“The first two State of the EDC addresses were done virtually to participants on the EDC Core Committee and all subcommittee members. This was to ensure that all active participants in the EDC were aware of what each subcommittee was working on,” Ward said. “Transitioning to a live event with a livestream option, we will be expanding our reach to the UK campus, interested external stakeholders and community members.”
The event is free and open to both the campus and the community. Register for the event here.
The University of Kentucky Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) is a network of campus and community stakeholders who oversee UK’s economic development and business engagement activities. The mission of the EDC is to proactively grow economic prosperity in the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the areas of talent, innovation, place, partnership and equitable economic development. UK contributes to the growth of economic development in several areas. This network was formed to coordinate and act as an advisory board to six economic development engagement areas: Business Engagement, Stuckert Career Center, Coldstream Research Campus, Community and Economic Development Initiative, UK Innovate and Von Allmen Center of Entrepreneurship. For more information, visit https://edc.uky.edu/.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.