October EDC Newsletter - Blueprint KY releases rural economic report

UK EDC News | October 2025

Blueprint Kentucky releases new report on KY's Rural Economy

Talent Update

Start-to-Finish Mentorship Program builds lifelong Wildcat connections

The University of Kentucky Center for Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS) is helping Wildcats strengthen their academic and professional networks through the Start-to-Finish (STF) Mentorship Program — now hosted on the Wildcat Network.

This unique initiative connects students, faculty, staff and alumni in meaningful one-on-one mentorships designed to inspire growth, confidence and success from college to career. By matching participants based on academic discipline and personal interests, the program fosters connections that are as authentic as they are impactful.

“At its core, Start-to-Finish puts graduate and professional students at the center,” said David Robinson, associate director of CGPS.

Innovation Update

UK innovators honored at Patent Palooza! 2025

UK Innovate celebrated the achievements of innovators across campus at Patent Palooza! 2025.

These researchers, entrepreneurs and industry partners all drive intellectual property creation, commercialization success and entrepreneurial growth at the University of Kentucky. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, UK saw the most patents issued, the most licenses executed and the second-most inventions disclosed in UK history.

In FY 2025, 29 teams completed Launch Blue’s UAccel program, and more than 100 UK innovators were issued 61 patents, had 40 licenses and options executed for their innovations, and received four Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) awards.

Economic Engagement Update

Rankin Heath Education Building gives opportunities for next generation of health providers, patients

As its great steel structure continues to rise toward the sky on the University of Kentucky campus, it is hard to miss the construction — and the excitement — of the Michael D. Rankin MD Health Education Building.

The ambitious project was authorized by the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly, which allocated $430 million for the construction of the facility and is providing $250 million in state bonds for the project. The construction phase was approved by the UK Board of Trustees in June 2023 and construction began in October 2023.

Place Update

From interns to employees, UK Extension creates a path

to success

This summer, five University of Kentucky students brought fresh energy and creative vision to Trimble County, working to revitalize the town of Bedford as the community’s vibrant center. The effort was part of the Blueprint Kentucky (formerly CEDIK) Summer Fellows program, a multidisciplinary initiative that places students in rural Kentucky communities to develop strategies for economic development, tourism and improved quality of life.

The program is a nine-week, multidisciplinary internship administered by the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment , uniting students from various majors across the university, such as landscape architecture, product design, geography and environmental science. The ultimate goal is to work together to create development plans for rural Kentucky communities.

Partnership Update

UK must be ‘partner-of-choice’ in using AI to

advance Kentucky

The University of Kentucky must be the “partner-of-choice” for developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies as part of its mission to advance the health of Kentucky.

That was the strong direction outlined in a resolution adopted by the UK Board of Trustees and given to President Eli Capilouto and the campus at the conclusion of its annual retreat over two days this past week in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

The resolution is an extension of the charge the board gave to Capilouto and the campus last year at its retreat — to create a network, now called the Advancing Kentucky Together Network (AKT Network) — that pushes UK to work with partners across the state to do more than any institution in the country to advance the overall health of the state it serves.

What We’re Reading, Watching & Listening To

A monthly peek into the media inspiring EDC members — and how it’s shaping their work.

"Building an AI University: An Administrator's Guide" &

"The Truth About the AI Bubble"

Type: Book and Podcast

Shared by: Ian McClure, Vice President for Innovation, UKHC, AVP for Innovation and Economic Impact, UK Research and Chair of the EDC Innovation Subcommittee

Summary/How they have shaped Ian's work:

The “Building an AI University” is a great look into how the University of Florida has developed a broadly matrixed, shared ownership structure to help create an AI mindset with broad buy in and engagement from across its institution, including for education, research, services, students and administration. We have used key points from this piece and benchmarked them to our university and its potential to become an AI University, helping to inform what we can do holistically and with our entire institution community. The key: it takes the whole village.

The “Truth About the AI Bubble” is a great piece using an unbiased approach to help inform UK Innovate’s strategy towards investments in resources and support services related to AI agents and tools. It is important that we take a large-picture view of our work and its potential in the context of a fast-shifting tech world. Whether people believe AI is a bubble or a boon, it is here and we are embracing its potential to change lives and help Kentuckians through innovation.

KY Job Club:

Transitioning Your Career Up

November 11, 2025 - 9:00 AM

Presented by Dr. Lakeisha Mathews, Owner, Right Resumes & Career Coaching, LLC

This session will focus on applying a growth mindset to career advancement. Focus will be given on navigating transitions while planning for the future. Participants will learn four steps for advancing their and attaining their career goals.

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 areas of Talent, Innovation, Place, Partnership, and Economic Engagement.