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From the Executive Director's Desk | March 2026
For more than 50 years, Kentucky’s Area Development Districts (ADDs) have served as an extension of local government, administering thousands of projects that might have otherwise gone unfunded and unrecognized. That was the vision of John D. Whisman, the father of regionalism, in the late 1950s. What began as a movement in Eastern Kentucky remains just as vital today as it was then.
Elected officials across the Commonwealth have continued to champion the work Kentucky’s 15 ADDs perform, and their dedication through this General Assembly session deserves recognition. The full board of the Kentucky Council of Area Development Districts, all 30 members strong, along with countless other elected officials from every corner of Kentucky, have been tireless in their advocacy on behalf of our districts. We are grateful for each of them.
Legislators and local officials have lent their voices to this effort, and their willingness to engage on behalf of the communities they serve has made all the difference. Equally important has been the work of the Kentucky Association of District Directors, whose members have been a steady presence throughout this session. Their collective advocacy, carried out with a commitment to the people the ADD network serves, has helped ensure that the case for continued investment in our districts has been heard at every level of the legislative process.
As we move toward the final days of the session, there is still work to be done. Ensuring the Joint Funding Administration and Delta Regional Authority match remain as line items in the Executive Branch budget, along with level meal funding for our state’s most vulnerable older adults, are our top priorities. We are grateful for the open and productive conversations we have had with legislators to ensure Kentucky’s local governments continue to receive the resources and support necessary for our communities to move forward.
On St. Patrick’s Day, we shared a message on social media that read, in part, “Lucky doesn’t even begin to cover it … grateful every day to serve the people and communities that make this Commonwealth home.” In the days since, I’ve found myself returning to those words again and again. I know that I speak for everyone within the ADD network when I say that serving Kentucky’s communities is not just a mission. It’s a privilege we do not take lightly.
Sincerely,
Casey Ellis
Executive Director
Kentucky Council of Area Development Districts
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