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Colby Kirk elected to SKED board
SOMERSET — Colby Kirk, president and CEO of One East Kentucky, has been appointed to the Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation’s (SKED) General Membership board. The Martin County native was nominated and elected by the SKED board of directors during its May 2024 meeting. “I’m honored to have this opportunity to serve alongside other Eastern…
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One East Kentucky CEO discusses job growth, investment in Eastern Kentucky
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Colby Kirk, president and CEO at One East Kentucky (OEK), addressed Martin County Kiwanis Club members at their Thursday luncheon at Shufflin’ Café. The discussion focused on OEK’s role in stimulating economic development in the region and its strategies for future growth. OEK, a privately funded, nonprofit economic…
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Downtown Revitalization Grant is paying a consultant to research strategies in Inez, five other towns
“This is the first stage of a revitalization project for these areas and is a step in the right direction to identify each city’s unique needs.” –Colby Kirk, One East Kentucky CEO BY PHILL BARNETTMOUNTAIN CITIZEN PAINTSVILLE — One East Kentucky is using a $270,000 grant announced in October from Kentucky Power to assist in…
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State finds violations in fiscal court audit
BY PHILL BARNETTMOUNTAIN CITIZEN FRANKFORT — The state’s annual audit of Martin County’s Fiscal Court found numerous weaknesses and violations in the court’s financial statement for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021. The Fiscal Court failed to properly advertise for bids on three separate purchases totaling $164,928 over the course of the fiscal year…
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One East Kentucky awarded grant for downtown revitalization in six eastern Kentucky communities
ASHLAND — Kentucky Power recently awarded One East Kentucky a $270,000 economic development grant for downtown revitalization in Martin County, Hazard, Jenkins, Prestonsburg, Pikeville and Whitesburg. The grant is funded through the Kentucky Power Economic Growth Grant program. OEK will use the grant to hire a national consulting firm to assist local officials and community development…
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Voters will elect next judge/executive by write-in vote in historic Martin County election
Kirk to take helm of ‘robust pipeline of economic development projects’ BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Voters will elect the next Martin County Judge/Executive in a historic write-in election Nov. 8. The ballot became empty Oct. 14 when Judge/Executive Colby Kirk officially withdrew from the election and announced he was leaving his position.…
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One East Kentucky selects Martin County’s judge/executive as next president/CEO
PAINTSVILLE — Shortly after Martin County Judge/Executive Colby Kirk announced his resignation from his position Friday, One East Kentucky announced its selection of Kirk as its new president/CEO effective Oct. 31. Kirk will succeed Chuck Sexton, who served as One East Kentucky president/CEO since 2015. “After an extensive search, we found a local leader who…
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Martin County Judge/Executive Colby Kirk announces resignation
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT INEZ — Martin County Judge/Executive Colby Kirk announced his resignation from his position and withdrawal from the General Election Friday. “I have been proud to serve the people of Martin County and am grateful beyond words to all who have supported me in this role,” Kirk said in his letter of resignation.…
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StoryWalk opens in Warfield
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT WARFIELD — The Martin County StoryWalk at the Warfield Walking Trail officially opened Oct. 5 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony near the boat dock. The Storywalk, which spans from Warfield Park to the boat dock in town, features display cases with pages of a book spread along the trail. Each page continues a…
