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The University of Kentucky Physician Assistant Studies (PA) department announced its continued partnership with UK St. Claire in a groundbreaking initiative to address Kentucky’s rural health care workforce shortage.
The collaboration has been strengthened by the recent awarding of the Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund (HWIF) Partnership Proposal from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE).
Thanks to a $160,000 award from the CPE, with a matching $160,000 from UK St. Claire, five PA students will receive full tuition coverage for two years in exchange for a commitment to work at UK St. Claire for two years upon graduation.
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The University of Kentucky-led GAME Change initiative has been named a semifinalist in the highly competitive NSF Regional Innovation Engines program.
Out of more than 400 concept proposals submitted nationwide, 71 proposals were invited to submit full proposals and the initiative is now among the 29 semifinalists selected by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
This recognition is a powerful endorsement of the vision, energy and collaboration driving GAME Change forward. What began with the Type-1 Development Award has evolved into a bold initiative with the potential to transform Kentucky, Tennessee and beyond.
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Economic Engagement Update
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The University of Kentucky, in partnership with Walsh Construction and Goodwill Kentucky, is launching a new Pre-Apprenticeship Program on Aug. 1. The initiative, tied to the construction of the UK Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Building, is designed to introduce participants to careers in the skilled trades through an eight-week, hands-on learning experience.
The Pre-Apprenticeship Program aims to provide job-readiness training, technical skills, and exposure to the construction industry. The program serves as a pathway to Registered Apprenticeship opportunities and offers participants a chance to explore construction trades before committing to a full apprenticeship.
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Each summer, thousands of Kentuckians attend a Kentucky 4-H camp, but to many, it’s “more than just camp.”
Administered by the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and Cooperative Extension Service, the Kentucky 4-H Camping Program has seen steady growth in summer enrollment since 2017, with a record 14,107 youth, teen and adult attendees in 2024.
There are four 4-H camps positioned regionally throughout Kentucky: J.M. Feltner in London, Lake Cumberland in Nancy, North Central in Carlisle and West Kentucky in Dawson Springs.
Throughout the 10-week season, campers attend for four-to-five days and find activities that range from environmental and cooking classes to kayaking, archery and high rope courses.
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At the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, an initiative dedicated to protecting the health and welfare of the state’s people, animals and environment is now open and welcoming new members.
The mission of the One Health Center Initiative is to increase awareness of One Health by conducting multidisciplinary research — recognizing the health of people, animals and the environment are intricately linked and interdependent. Through these vital connections, the initiative focuses on solving complex health challenges.
The One Health Initiative, one of The Bill Gatton Foundation Grand Challenges, enables faculty, staff and students from various UK colleges and departments, along with state agencies, to identify and provide solutions through education, research and
extension.
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Meet the Team
Part of a monthly series to introduce the Economic Development Collaborative Leaders
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Jessica Koenigsknecht-Talboo, PhD is the Director of Foundation and Corporate Philanthropy at the University of Kentucky (UK). Jessica drives foundation and corporate philanthropy strategies in this role and builds productive partnerships to maximize support for UK's academic, research, and community outreach programs. She also serves as a point of contact in UK Philanthropy for the UK Office of Research and UK's Economic Development Collaborative. She is a member of the OneUK Core Team, helping to advance university-wide collaboration. Initially, she joined UK Philanthropy as the Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for Health Affairs. In that position, Jessica led the development of a robust corporate and foundation fundraising program focused on attracting major funding priorities in health education, health promotion, health research, and health delivery models.
Before coming to UK in 2014, Jessica served as Senior Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations on the Medical Alumni and Development team at Washington University in St. Louis. Before her philanthropy career, Jessica was a postdoctoral research scholar at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in a premier Alzheimer's disease laboratory. As a scientist, she has more than 10 peer-reviewed research publications in top-tier journals. Jessica earned a PhD in neuroscience from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and a BS in biology from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. Outside of work, Jessica enjoys spending time mountain biking, cycling, hiking, paddleboarding, and walking her dogs. However, most of her "free" time is spent attending her sons' sports events and activities.
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KY Small Business Development Center Training:
Start Smart: Starting A Business
in Kentucky
August 4, 2025 - 7:00 PM
In this workshop with Kentucky SBDC Training Coordinator JC Phelps, you will have the opportunity to explore the ins and outs of entrepreneurship. Start Smart is designed to teach you how to start a business, conduct a feasibility analysis, choose the correct legal structure, analyze financial considerations, and more. Training is provided free of charge and will be held on Zoom.
| | The news featured here does not exclusively represent the work of the EDC, but rather highlights the contributions of various collaborators. We are honored to showcase the remarkable achievements taking place across the University of Kentucky. | | | |
The EDC Mission:
To proactively grow economic
prosperity in the Commonwealth by focusing on the area of Talent, Innovation, Place, Partnership, and Economic Engagement.
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