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UKıs impact reaches across Kentucky into Wayne County The University of Kentucky continually touches lives in Wayne County, providing education to 48 young people in the 2004-2005 academic year, assisting business people, advising homemakers and agricultural enterprises and offering guidance on health care. And this impact promises to continue far into the future, as UK launches more research programs and economic development initiatives designed to improve prosperity and the quality of life in every county and community in the commonwealth. ³We are serious about our mission to affect the lives of every Kentuckian, regardless of whether he or she has attended UK,² said UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. ³We know UK has the potential to energize a spirit of advancement across the Bluegrass State, and we are committed to serving as the commonwealthıs primary catalyst for change and prosperity.² Todd made his remarks while laying plans for ³The Dream Tour,² a bus trip into each of Kentuckyıs six congressional districts aiming to build partnerships with government, school and business leaders and private citizens to ensure an effective use of UKıs educational, research and economic development resources. Wayne County boasts 555 alumni of UK, the stateıs flagship university. But UKıs impact stretches beyond those who have studied in its classrooms by assisting regional and local economic development efforts. UK already impacts Kentucky as its ninth largest economic enterprise with some 10,000 employees representing every Kentucky county. The university also is directly linked to nearly 80,000 manufacturing, construction, technology and science jobs. Meanwhile, nearly a quarter million patients relied on the UK Chandler Medical Center UK Childrenıs Hospital residents. ³UK continues to be a powerful force in Kentucky in a variety of ways. The universityıs professors provide advice to state officials on many diverse subjects of vital importance, ranging from building roads at lower costs to helping revenue officials evaluate tax policies,² said Merl Hackbart, a UK finance and public administration professor and adviser to governors. ³UKıs impact is so pervasive that people have come to take it for granted. They often donıt realize how far UK reaches into their communities own homes,² he added. In Wayne County, for example, local residents consulted with UKıs Cooperative Extension agents on a broad range of issues on 96,522 occasions, seeking information on medical issues, healthy recipes, household budgeting, and weather precautions important to both farmers and homeowners. Across Kentucky, families using this service Extension service farmers saw their revenues rise by $25 million. Business people in Wayne County made 22 inquiries for information about better methods of calculating future profits and improving competitiveness. The advice offered by consultants of UKıs Kentucky Small Business Development Centers (KSBDC) resulted in an average annual increase of sales by its clients of nearly $546,329. Statewide, KSBDCıs services helped generate more than $92.6 million in sales and helped create 806 jobs and save 295 others. Wayne Countyıs men and women who work in manufacturing plants may have benefited from increased job opportunities created by improved efficiency and productivity, if their employer used the consulting services of UKıs Industrial Extension Service. This program, and UKıs Lean Manufacturing Institute, advises nearly 320 companies a year on ways to heighten profitable operations, and most of these companies are in Kentucky. UKıs future economic impact also will extend into Wayne County, as coming generations seek their degrees both on the campus in Lexington and on the Internet via Kentuckyıs Commonwealth Virtual University. Better earnings, a more educated work force and a higher tax base evidence of real prosperity Add a comment |
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