June EDC Newsletter - First Estate Certified Whiskeys Announced | UK HealthCare Opens Frankfort Primary Care Clinic

UK EDC News | June 2025

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Talent Update

UK Gatton College, GSE extend partnership to empower future business leaders

The Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) and the Gatton College of Business and Economics at UK have announced a three-year extension of their partnership.

The GSE “Summer Startup” program will be held on campus through 2027.

Following a highly successful inaugural summer session in 2024, the collaboration marks a continued investment in Kentucky’s next generation of business leaders and innovators.

Innovation Update

UK’s Estate Whiskey Alliance® announces first wave of certified products

The University of Kentucky’s Estate Whiskey Alliance® (EWA) has announced its first wave of more than a dozen Estate Whiskey Certified™ products.

This first wave includes new spirits from Black Fox Farm and Distillery in Saskatchewan, Canada, Hillrock Estate Distillery in New York, and Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. in Illinois, with more on the way.

Economic Engagement Update

New UK HealthCare clinic now offers quality primary care

in Frankfort

A new, convenient location to receive quality primary care from UK HealthCare providers is open and ready to serve UK employees and neighbors living in Frankfort and the surrounding community.

UK HealthCare Primary Care — Frankfort recently opened at 279 King’s Daughters Drive, Suite 100. From physicals to chronic disease management, the clinic is a one-stop shop for adults in need of high-quality primary care close to home.

The UK HealthCare Primary Care — Frankfort clinic opened in March to make UK HealthCare providers available to UK employees and neighbors living in central Kentucky. Providers plan their care to best fit the needs of the patient, considering various aspects of their history and preferences when planning procedures and treatment options.

Place Update

UK students use design build to help flood-prone communities

As part of UK’s land-grant mission to advance the state, students and faculty from the UK College of Design are partnering with the UK Cooperative Extension Service to address housing challenges in Eastern Kentucky.

After witnessing yet another round of devastating floods in Eastern Kentucky earlier this year, Bruce Swetnam, the Kentuckiana Masonry Institute Endowed Professor in the UK School of Architecture, challenged his students to design and build a full-size, modular home prototype for emergency housing.

The 14 students in their third and fourth years of the program began the semester with a visit to Breathitt County to assess the topography, with the goal of designing and building affordable, practical housing solutions.

Partnership Update

From Numbers to Innovation: UK Alumna Finds Her Fit at OneUK Partner, Bullard

When Eva Peterson first arrived at the University of Kentucky, she declared a major in finance. But over time, she realized her interests stretched beyond spreadsheets and forecasts. She added a second major in management — a decision that reflected her growing curiosity about people.

That mindset led her to Bullard, a OneUK Partner and global personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturer based in Kentucky best known for inventing the original hard hat in 1919.

Eva discovered the company on LinkedIn and was immediately intrigued by the “product specialist” title. “I looked into the company because I wanted to join a team that had values and was doing something meaningful," Eva said.

Meet the Team

Part of a monthly series to introduce the Economic Development Collaborative Leaders

Dr. Robert Hayes is the Assistant Vice President for F.A.C.T. Advising in the Division of Student Excellence at the University of Kentucky, housed within the Office for Student Success. In this role, he leads a cross-functional team focused on supporting students through the integrated areas of Financial, Academic, Career, and Transition advising—a holistic model designed to promote equitable access and long-term student success.

A native of eastern Kentucky, Dr. Hayes began his journey in higher education as a student at Berea College, where he earned his BA in Education. He earned his Master of Arts in Higher Education from the University of Louisville and completed his Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation at the University of Kentucky.

Since 2007, Dr. Hayes has served the University of Kentucky in a variety of capacities serving our students. He is committed to the idea that meaningful experiences outside the classroom enrich academic learning and foster transformative educational pathways for all students.

KY Small Business Development Center Training:

Start Smart: Starting A Business

in Kentucky

July 2, 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.

EDC Communication

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.