Imagine Letcher County, KY

CASTING THE VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF LETCHER COUNTY, KY NOVEMBER 2022

PRODUCED FOR:

Letcher County

City of Whitesburg

City of Fleming-Neon City of Jenkins

EKY Heritage Foundation

PRODUCED BY:

URPOSE

Founded in March 2022, the Pine Mountain Partnership includes leaders from Letcher County, Jenkins, Fleming-Neon, Whitesburg, and EKY Heritage Foundation. Through the spirit of cooperation and teamwork, the Partnership is working together to ensure a vibrant future for both current and future residents. A unified vision is the key to our success.

Imagine Letcher serves as a roadmap for building critical infrastructure, diversifying our economy, revitalizing our downtowns, expanding outdoor recreation, and building a resilient and sustainable future. By working together locally and with state leaders, we can ensure that Letcher County continues to flourish as a vibrant part of Eastern Kentucky.

While the July 2022 flood was a devastating tragedy, it was also a strong reminder that we must continue – and with more haste – to work together and make critical strategic investments. While the flood did create new issues and problems, it also highlighted how important the developing vision of the Partnerships is to creating a successful future. This document highlights our unified vision for ensuring that Letcher County takes its rightful place as a compelling destination within Kentucky and Appalachia.

Imagine Letcher serves as a roadmap for building critical infrastructure, diversifying our economy, revitalizing our downtowns, expanding outdoor recreation, and building a resilient and sustainable future.

INSPIRE ACTION

• Success breeds success and there is no better place to invest than Letcher County, KY.

ELEVATE PARTNERS

• We want to support and mentor youth and entrepreneurs committed to making investments in our community.

CALL TO EXCELLENCE

• Good enough is not good enough. We believe in establishing a standard for excellence in our community.

BOLD VISION

• We take a big picture approach to solving problems and creating opportunities.

WATER / SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE

Letcher County has a series of critical needs that cover a variety of infrastructure types including water, sanitary sewer, and stormwater. These projects include installation of new infrastructure, rehabilitation / upgrades of existing infrastructure, and replacement of existing infrastructure.

Whitesburg, Jenkins, and Fleming-Neon all have different needs which are identified in the following project descriptions. Whitesburg, Fleming-Neon,

Letcher County has a series of critical needs that cover a variety of infrastructure types including water, sanitary sewer, and stormwater.

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INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS: WHITESBURG

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The City of Whitesburg has needs of $23,000,000 in funding for a series of water and sewer projects. Some of the projects revolve around capacity and treatment processes including an upgrade to the water treatment plant and the replacement of an existing water storage tank. Additionally, there are several projects that will upgrade existing water and sewer systems including water and sewer line replacements and an upgrade to the existing wastewater treatment plant. Several

Letcher County Infrastructure Needs

projects will provide service to new areas and allow for future development or pickup of customers that may be on well or septic systems currently. The Daniel Boone Hotel in Downtown Whitesburg is an excellent private investment opportunity which would add much need lodging for the community. Part of the sewer upgrades identified in these costs will greatly assist with the feasibility of this redevelopment project.

City of Whitesburg

Location

City of Whitesburg Water Treatment Plant Upgrade 5,500,000 $ $ 5,500,000 $

City of Whitesburg Bypass Waterline Replacement 1,300,000 $ 1,300,000 $ $

City of Whitesburg KY 931 Waterline Extensions 2,200,000 $ 2,200,000 $ $

City of Whitesburg Downtown Waterline Replacement Phase 3 2,500,000 $ $ 2,500,000 $

City of Whitesburg Waterline Replacement Phase 1 Upper Bottom 1,700,000 $ 1,700,000 $ $

City of Whitesburg Water Tank Replacement 1,100,000 $ 1,100,000 $ $

City of Whitesburg Waterline Replacement Phase 2 2,000,000 $ $ 2,000,000 $

City of Whitesburg Waterline Extension Town Hill for Housing 1,800,000 $ $ 1,800,000 $

City of Whitesburg Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade 2,000,000 $ $ 2,000,000 $

City of Whitesburg Whitesburg Sewer Upgrade Upper Bottom Phase 1 1,500,000 $ $ 1,500,000 $

City of Whitesburg Whitesburg Sewer Upgrade Downtown Phase 2 2,500,000 $ $ 2,500,000 $

City of Whitesburg Mayking Sewer Extension 3,000,000 $ $ 3,000,000 $

City of Whitesburg Marlowe Road Sewer Extension 1,000,000 $ $ 1,000,000 $

City of Whitesburg Town Hill Sewer Extension for Housing 1,200,000 $ $ 1,200,000 $

TOTAL 29,300,000 $ 6,300,000 $ 23,000,000 $

The City of Jenkins priority needs include $16,300,000 in investment to water, sewer, and stormwater projects. Two of the projects will focus on the lakes in the area including a rehabilitation project for Elkhorn Lake and a raw water project for Fishpond Lake. There are several water and sewer extension projects that will pick up unserved customers and are also critical to the success of new housing developments around Jenkins as well as the

Letcher County Infrastructure Needs

recreational tourism development, Raven Rock Resort. The identified project list also includes upgrades to the existing water treatment plant and replacement of existing water infrastructure in the community. Jenkins also needs upgrades to the stormwater system throughout the community which will help the city better handle the more intense and more frequent storm events that are being experienced.

City of Jenkins

Location

City of Jenkins Elkhorn Lake Rehab 3,000,000 $ $ 3,000,000 $

City of Jenkins Fishpond Lake Raw Water Project 2,000,000 $ $ 2,000,000 $

City of Jenkins US23 to Joes Branch Waterline for Housing 1,500,000 $ $ 1,500,000 $

City of Jenkins Raven Rock Waterline Extension 1,500,000 $ $ 1,500,000 $

City of Jenkins Waterline Replacement Phase 6 1,000,000 $ $ 1,000,000 $

City of Jenkins Sewer Study 400,000 $ 400,000 $ $

City of Jenkins Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements 2,000,000 $ $ 2,000,000 $

City of Jenkins Raven Rock Sewer Extension f 800,000 $ $ 800,000 $

City of Jenkins Various Sewer Extensions 1,500,000 $ $ 1,500,000 $

City of Jenkins Storm Drain Improvements 3,000,000 $ $ 3,000,000 $ $ $ $ $ $ $

The City of Fleming-Neon has several critical needs projects as well has upgrade and rehabilitation projects identified. The total amount of funding needed for these projects is $37,400,000. The largest project for the community is a new wastewater treatment plant which was needed prior to the 2022 flooding and that need is now even more critical because of damage caused by the flood. In addition to the plant there are several sewer replacement and rehabilitation projects needed to keep the system functional moving forward including a complete

Letcher County Infrastructure Needs

Location

City of Fleming-Neon

replacement for nearby Haymond which is served by the Fleming-Neon system. The water distribution system throughout the community needs improvement and replacement resulting in several different projects. Stormwater collection is a serious concern in Fleming-Neon with a significant lack of drainage controls to help handle storm events. This project would involve installation of new stormwater networks and ideally would happen in coordination with water and sewer projects that will require excavation in the same areas.

City of Fleming-Neon Waterline Improvement Phase 1 1,100,000 $ 1,100,000 $ $

City of Fleming-Neon Waterline Improvement Phase 2 Downtown 2,000,000 $ 2,000,000 $ $

City of Fleming-Neon Waterline Improvement Phase 3 1,600,000 $ $ 1,600,000 $

City of Fleming-Neon Waterline Improvement Phase 4 2,500,000 $ $ 2,500,000 $

City of Fleming-Neon Waterline Improvement Phase 5 2,500,000 $ $ 2,500,000 $

City of Fleming-Neon Waterline Improvement Phase 6 1,500,000 $ $ 1,500,000 $

City of Fleming-Neon McRoberts Waterline Replacement 2,800,000 $ $ 2,800,000 $

City of Fleming-Neon Wastewater Treatment Plane Replacement 15,000,000 $ $ 15,000,000 $

City of Fleming-Neon Haymond Sewer Replacement 5,000,000 $ $ 5,000,000 $

City of Fleming-Neon Sewer Collection System Rehab Phase 1 1,200,000 $ 1,200,000 $ $

City of Fleming-Neon Sewer Collection System Rehab Phase 2 1,500,000 $ $ 1,500,000 $

City of Fleming-Neon Storm Drain Improvements 5,000,000 $ $ 5,000,000 $

TOTAL 41,700,000 $ 4,300,000 $ 37,400,000

FLOOD PROOF HOUSING

QUICK FACTS

Location: Ownership: Acreage: Existing Use: Proposed Use:

Whitesburg & Jenkins Various Varies

The flood proof housing projects will seek to create housing developments near both Jenkins and Whitesburg which are the main population centers of Letcher County. These housing developments will be located on former resource extraction sites and well outside of flood prone areas.

New residential communities that place a high priority on quality of life and include parks, walkable neighborhoods, and community gathering spaces will help to retain Letcher County residents as well as attract new residents to the area.

Whitesburg: Jenkins: East Jenkins:

Former Resource Extraction Sites Residential Subdivisions / Multi-Family Housing Developments $6,500,000 $10,000,000 $15,000,000

The housing developments will consist of a variety of housing types including single family homes, duplexes, townhomes, and even apartment buildings. The building projects would ideally be taken on by a private developer for the actual construction of the housing units. In order to make these projects feasible the sites would need infrastructure extensions as well as road upgrades so that the private investment into these properties can be focused on the quality of the homes built and in turn sold at reasonable prices.

Flood

proof

housing

developments near Jenkins and Whitesburg will be located on former resource extraction sites and well outside of flood prone areas.

West Whitesburg

EKY Heritage Foundation, HOMES, Addiction Recovery Care, Mountain Comprehensive Health Corp., fahe and Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP)

EKY Heritage Foundation is collaborating with local and regional partners to provide work experience for people in drug and alcohol addiction recovery. Participants will receive job training focused on soft skills while learning how to build houses with less than 500 square feet. The ultimate goal is for participants to gain a work history, create a resume and obtain a full-time job with Tiny House Manufacturing or another reputable business.

This project includes construction of a building to house the manufacturing facility, purchasing tiny house blueprints and all shop equipment needed for Tiny House Manufacturing.

EKY Heritage Foundation is collaborating with local and regional partners to provide work experience for people in drug and alcohol addiction recovery.

QUICK

COUNTY BROADBAND

Broadband is a critical piece of infrastructure in the 21st century economy. Everyone from residents, to large commercial clients want reliable, fast broadband internet for quality of life and necessary business.

The KYWired project has brought the critical middle mile, but in order to expedite last mile deployment throughout Letcher County, we need to make it financially viable for-profit companies to invest. The project has already begun in the Line Fork area, but we would like to see a county-wide investment, so that the buildout is more financially feasible than a piece here and there. Reliable and fast connectivity is required for Letcher County to compete in today’s economy.

RAVEN ROCK RESORT

QUICK FACTS

The Raven Rock Resort development will introduce a key outdoor recreation and tourism destination to Jenkins with regional impacts to Eastern Kentucky. The property consists of 844 acres of the beautiful Pine Mountain Range just south of the City of Jenkins. Potential for the property is endless ranging from the creation of event spaces, outdoor recreation amenities, and education and heritage celebration opportunities.

A lodge will be constructed on the property that will include dining areas, event spaces, a full commercial kitchen and a large outdoor deck overlooking the Appalachian Mountains. The restaurant and event venue located in the lodge will be capable of operating as a daily restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as having space available to host events for more than 100 guests. An administrative office space will serve as

the operational center for the resort and a small apartment will be included for maintenance staff that stay overnight in case of on-site emergencies.

A parking lot with more than 100 parking spaces will be available for events and daily use of the lodge and will also serve as a trailhead for the approximately 50 miles of mountain biking and hiking trails that will be developed on the property. The property will also include the development of several overnight accommodations ranging from small two person cabins to larger cabins for big groups of people. Other lodging opportunities such as yurts or primitive campsites will also be explored in future phases of the development.

Raven Rock Resort will create jobs and help to diversify the local economy by bringing outside dollars into Jenkins and Letcher County and creating an iconic attraction in Eastern Kentucky.

RAVEN ROCK RESORT PRIMARY DEVELOPMENT AREA

RAVEN ROCK RESORT

Bike

GOOSE CREEK ATV RESORT

Fleming-Neon

Letcher County

Kentucky is well underway with its newly formed, long discussed ATV, OHV, and Motorcycle Trail System spanning across most of its southeastern mountains. Making its rounds through Kentucky’s House, Senate, and across Governor Beshear’s desk as the Kentucky Mountain Regional Recreation Authority (KMRRA), the now official First Frontier Appalachian Trails System is set to work across counties, towns, and communities throughout our mountains to survey, establish, and build a connecting trail system. Much like Virginia’s relatively young Spearhead Trails (officially the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority), and the well-established Hatfield-McCoy Trails system in West Virginia, Kentucky is formally recognizing its decades-old and very enthusiastic OHV community.

With off-road riding being popular in outdoor tourism, the ATV resort is essential in providing adventure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts a destination for fun and memorable riding experiences.

Lodging will include tiny houses, group cabins, RV park and primitive camping. An amphitheater will provide opportunities to host a variety of outdoor events including concerts and plays. Plans include picnic shelters and overlooks showcasing the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. A disc golf course, zipline and rock climbing adventure may be added in a later phase.

THUNDER MOUNTAIN RESORT

Thunder Mountain Sport Shooting Resort will offer outdoor ranges for riffle, pistols, archery, sporting clays and trap and skeet as well as treehouse rentals, amphitheater, open-air clubhouse, primitive camping and casting ponds.

Located in one of the most coal-distressed counties in Appalachia with high rates of poverty, obesity and drug abuse, Thunder Mountain will provide a platform for outdoor recreation, large sport shooting competitions and events stimulating economic growth, tourism development and job creation. The one-of-a-kind sport shooting resort park will draw visitors from other counties and states creating a need tor more lodging, restaurants, sporting good stores and specialty shops in Letcher and surrounding counties.

TANGLEWOOD TRAIL

QUICK FACTS

Location:

Ownership: Miles: Existing Use: Proposed Use: Budget: Secured: Funding Gap:

Downtown Whitesburg to Pine Mtn Scenic Trail Whitesburg & Letcher County 14 to 16 Undeveloped Non motorized trails from the Little Shepherd Trail parking lot on Pine Mountain and connect to existing trail in downtown Whitesburg. $3,000,000 $296,500 $2,704,000

Tanglewood Trail is a non motorized trail mostly following old railroad paths through Whitesburg. The downtown section, which is five miles long, runs parallel with the bank of the Kentucky River extending through a residential area until it enters downtown Whitesburg via East Main Street connecting to an existing walking and biking trail to West Whitesburg. The trail goes through an old CSX tunnel located below the entrance to the Appalachian Regional Hospital.

The mountain section of Tanglewood Trail includes clearing original wagon trails built on Pine Mountain in the 1920s and railroad paths as well as constructing new segments to establish 10 to 12 miles of non motorized trails beginning at the parking lot of Little Shepherd Trail extending into Whitesburg.

Whether hiking, biking or horse backing, this project will provide outdoor enthusiasts new access to trails and never-before-seen viewpoints of Pine Mountain. The project includes uncovering cut stone walls placed by Italian stone masons showcasing a piece of Letcher County history on a portion of the original roadbed. Once the mountain section is connected to the downtown section, Tanglewood Trail will cover an estimated 14 to 16 miles enabling Whitesburg residents to safely walk or bike from one end of town to the other to the bank, grocery store, courthouse, clinic, hospital and elementary school. Once completed, Tanglewood Trail will be comparable to Virginia’s Creeper Trail, which is a world-famous tourism destination for biking enthusiasts.

COUNTY

As Letcher County prepares to make significant investments in outdoor recreation, downtown revitalization, and other tourism assets, the Pine Mountain Partnership must develop and execute a clear brand strategy and message. The brand strategy must be supported by a compelling visual identity for not only the county as a whole, but also customized for each of the towns. This effort will promote tourism, support area visitors, and increase community pride and hope.

Brand Development Process

Task One: Discovery & Brand Strategy Development

Task Two: Visual Brand Identity Development

Task Three: Style Guide and Brand Application

Task Four: Content Creation/ Creative Asset Development

Task Five: Strategic Marketing Plan

Task Six: Destination Website Development

COUNTY

Vehicular Wayfinding Planning Process

Task One: Direction Setting

Task Two: Research and Analysis

Task Three: Draft Wayfinding Plan

Task Four: Public Engagement

Task Five: Final Plan Development and Construction Documents

Task Six: Encroachment Agreements and Construction Administration