KAED & CEDIK Announce Community Assessment Program
KAED, in partnership with the Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky at the University of Kentucky (CEDIK), proudly announces the Community Assessment Program. The Program is designed to assess opportunities for business retention and expansion, and new investment potential by analyzing local goals, assets, and preparedness. The Program features the following components. 
COMMUNITY READINESS
Each community's goals and plans are different. The program team will conduct a 1-day visit in your community to better understand the community's economic development goals and assets. The program team will interview 2-3 key individuals to gauge the type of industry that leaders are trying to attract as well as more localized economic development strategies (business retention, business expansion, entrepreneurship). The team will also assess existing resources dedicated to these strategies. Specifically, the program team will assess or identify:
  • A community's future economic development goals
  • Existing economic development strategies
  • Assets dedicated to economic development
  • Attitudes toward economic development
DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSIS
Every good plan starts with understanding the environment. Access to reliable and time-sensitive data are critical for economic development success. These data should guide all policies and decisions. The program team will provide the following comprehensive set of indicators that can be used to attract investment and economic activity (or opportunities for improvement).
  • Current community on-line presence & community “reputation”
  • Economic indicators and trends relative to industry, workforce & commuting patterns
  • Cluster analysis and import substitution opportunities
  • Community quality of life indicators: housing, education, environment, recreation/shopping, healthcare, utilities (availability/stability/condition of system/long term sustainability)
BUSINESS LEADER FIRST IMPRESSIONS PROGRAM
Envisioning the community from an outsider's perspective is a vital part to creating strong plans. The program team will coordinate a "secret shopper" to visit the community to assess both economic opportunities and quality of life conditions. Specifically, the visitors will assess:
                Availability and access to aspects that contribute to Business:
  • Availability and access to roads and other modes of transportation
  • Availability and quality of cell phone service
  • Availability and quality of communication

                Availability and access to aspects that contribute to Employee Quality of Life:
  • Quality and availability of types of housing
  • Access to health care services
  • Access to quality education
  • Access to and condition of recreation facilities
  • Availability of recreation programs
  • Evidence of opportunities for civic life (civic groups/activities/programs)
TIMELINE & FINAL REPORT
Timeline
  • Week 2 | CEDIK conducts 1-day visit within 2 weeks of signed agreement.
  • Week 3 | Data collected prior to secret shopper.
  • Week 4 | Secret shopper visits.
  • Week 6 | Report prepared and presented.

Final Report
The program team will provide an executive summary and final report highlighting the findings from assessments above as well as a series of recommendations for elected officials, economic development professionals and other key leaders in the community. CEDIK will also provide one presentation to key stakeholders highlighting the findings from the report and facilitate a conversation on “next steps,” if desired.
INVESTMENT
Counties with up to 10,000 population | $5,000
Counties with 10,001 to 20,000 population | $6,000
Counties with 20,001 to 50,000 population | $7,500
Counties with greater than 50,000 population | $10,000