Knox County Champion Community

Lead Entity: Kentucky Communities Economic Opportunity Council, Inc. (KCEOC)

Demographics

State:  Kentucky

Counties (Census Tracts):  Knox (9901, 9902, 9903, 9904, 9905, 9906, 9907, 9908)
Community Population:  29,676
Poverty Rate:   38%

Net Land Area:  387.72
 

Background: 

• Unemployment rate:  9.00%

• Median Household Income:  $12,697  (Based on 1989 income reported in the April 1990 Decennial Census)               

• Per Capita Income:  $7,776  (Based on 1990 US Census Data)

• Education:  In Knox County education is a tremendous problem with the average education attainment level of the population being 8.2 years of schooling.  Knox County has one of the highest high school dropout rates in the state at 46.4%.  The Kentucky Department of Education lists the county's functional illiteracy rate at 35.2% while the Economic Development Cabinet lists the illiteracy rate as high as 50%. 

Community Overview:

Knox County Champion Community is located in the mountainous terrain of Southeastern Kentucky, which is situated in the Appalachian Mountain region.  The topography of the area consists of large wooded areas and abandoned strip-mining surfaces.  With limited access to roads for transportation and with no public transportation, the integration of services and economic development are difficult to accomplish.  

The population of Knox County is 29,676 and covers an area of 387.72 miles.  The number of persons living in poverty is 11,289 which gives the county a 38% poverty rate, and a population of 2,368 households receiving public assistance.

Strategic Plan Highlights:  

 With the implementation of its strategic plan, the Knox County Champion Community seeks to achieve a balance in economic and community development.

• Business Development/Job Training--Employment Opportunities will be increased. (1)  Establish an Economic Development Team; (2) Develop recreational ventures; (3)  Develop an entrepreneur training program.
• Health Care--(1)  Construct a health and wellness center; (2)  Increase enrollment of eligible children in Kentucky Children's Health Insurance.
• Housing--Lack of affordable housing--Obtain 100 affordable housing units.
• Capacity Building--Implement a one-stop social services network.
• Tourism and Culture--Locate land to build a welcome center and update crafts structure.

Partnerships

Knox County Champion Community has partnered with Kentucky Department of Highways, Health and Human Services, Small Business Development Center, Cumberland Valley Regional Housing Authority, Kentucky Housing Authority, Housing & Urban Development (HUD), USDA Rural Development, Economic Development Administration (EDA), Federal, State and Local Agencies.

Leveraging

Funding from USDA Rural Development, Health & Human Services, Kentucky Housing Authority, Economic Development Administration are some of the funding sources and resources being used by the Knox County Champion Community to help implement the strategic plan.

Community Involvement:

The level of community participation in the strategic planning process has been disappointing in Knox County.  Only two public meetings were held in 2001 and attendance at both was far from expectations.  Only 21 people attended the first meeting and 17 the second.  The meeting times and places were announced in the local paper a week prior to each meeting.  Two hundred notices were sent to low-income parents of Head Start children.  While attendance at the public meetings has been disappointing, the two sub-groups working on the wellness center and on housing issues have been very productive.

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