August 20, 2008 - The University of Kentucky Growing Local Economies Partnership announced today they will host a local planning forum on Wednesday, October 29. The Growing Local Economies Forum is billed as a "day of learning, dialogue and exploration about the promise of localized economic development in our Appalachian communities and the region."

Leaders from five counties have been invited to attend, including local and regional elected officials, economic development leaders and specialists, business owners, bankers and investors, workforce trainers, Chambers of Commerce leaders, entrepreneurs, coaches, Cooperative Extension agents, and others interested in the economic future of their local community and the region.

Trainers will include Michael Shuman, Becky Anderson, and Anthony Flaccavento. Anderson, a community economic development consultant, was founding CEO of Handmade in America in Asheville, NC. Flaccavento is Executive Director of Appalachian Sustainable Development in Abingdon, VA.

The Growing Local Economies Partnership includes the University of Kentucky Appalachian Center and Cooperative Extension Rural Economic Development Program, the Kentucky Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute, Kentucky Small Business Development Center, and Training & Development Corporation.

For more information about the event, please contact the Appalachian Center.