On December 01, 2020, the second workshop in the Mobility, Economic Resilience, and Substance Use Disorder series focused on Southeastern Kentucky occurred. The workshop focused on rural transportation opportunities.

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Rural Transportation Opportunities
December 1, 1 – 3 p.m. EST
Welcome! While we wait to begin at 1 p.m., please introduce
yourself in the chat box: Your name, organization/company,
region where you were born, region or community where you
live or work now.

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Workshop Welcome
 Hilda Legg, State Rural Development Director, U.S.
Department of Agriculture
This workshop was supported through a cooperative agreement with the USDA Rural Development.

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About the project
• Project partners include:
– Cumberland Valley Area Development District
– Kentucky River Area Development District
– Big Sandy Area Development District
• Technical assistance provided by:
– National Association of Development Organizations Research Foundation
– Western Transportation Institute
– National Rural Transit Assistance Program

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Today’s agenda
• Welcome, Introductions, Resources
• Setting the Stage: Ingredients for Successful Recovery
• Federal Bonding Program
• Supporting Recovery Panel Discussion
• Group Discussions
• Report Out and Wrap Up

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Why Economic Resilience?
• Withstand, avoid, or bounce back from an economic
disruption
• Broader than economic development
• Emphasis on rooting economies locally and building off
existing assets
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Substance Use Disorder:
Demand vs. Supply Drivers
–Supply-side drivers
• Increasing availability of powerful drugs
–Demand-side drivers
• Increasing demand for deadly substances
Slide credit: Dr. Michael Betz, The Ohio State University (2019)
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SUD: Demand-side Factors
- Community economic disadvantage
- Mental health problems
- Relational problems
- Health conditions (chronic pain, sedentary lifestyles, etc.)
Slide credit: Dr. Michael Betz, The Ohio State University (2019)
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Risk Factors: Outsourcing, Automation
Pierce and Schott (2017)
• Counties more exposed to trade liberalization had higher
rates of suicide and related causes of death
• More exposed counties had larger manufacturing declines
Koffi, Hurst, and Schwartz (2018)
• Manufacturing decline lowered incomes for prime aged
workers
• State manufacturing decline increased OD rates (causal link)
Slide credit: Dr. Michael Betz, The Ohio State University (2019)
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Protective Effects: Economic Resilience
• Wage and employment growth in industries more likely to
employ low-skill workers are important protective factors
for preventing opioid overdoses in rural and metro
workers, women and men, and regardless of race.
– Michael Betz, Lauren Jones (2018)
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Slide credit: Dr. Michael Betz, The Ohio State University (2019)
Substance
Abuse
Labor Force
Participation

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Strategies: Develop Talent, Local Wealth
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Slide credit: Erik Pages, Entreworks (2019)

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Economic Opportunities
• Local Foods, Forestry, Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency
• Healthcare, Broadband
• Creative Economy, Tourism
• Job retention
• All of these sectors have local knowledge, talent, resources
Credit: Peter Hille, MACED (2019)
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Setting the Stage: Ingredients for Successful
Recovery
• Alex Elswick, Extension Specialist for Substance Use
Prevention and Recovery, University of Kentucky
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Federal Bonding Program and Resources for
Employers and Job Seekers
• Bill Sandell, Workforce Development Consultant, Office of
Employer & Apprenticeship Services, Kentucky Education
& Workforce Development Cabinet
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Supporting Recovery
• Facilitator: Jennifer Erwin, Director of Residential and
Outpatient Services, Hope in the Mountains
• Gene Detherage, Jr., Outreach and Engagement
Specialist, Fletcher Group
• Cody Gibson, Managing Partner, Above the Line
Consulting
• Rodney Kuhl, Business Coach, Kentucky Small Business
Development Center
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Group Discussions:
• How can we address substance use disorder in the
workforce?
• What coordination currently exists between services to
support individuals with SUD, and where can coordination
be expanded?
• How does mobility tie into SUD recovery needs?
• What are the biggest opportunities in the region?
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Additional Resources
Resources from today’s workshop will be posted to
www.ruraltransportation.org/ky-workshops.
Also, be sure to check out:
https://www.ruralcommunitytoolbox.org/
https://www.transit.dot.gov/coordinating-council-access-and-mobility
https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/

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Stay Connected
Visit us online:
http://www.cvadd.org
http://www.kradd.org
https://bigsandy.org
www.NADO.org | www.RuralTransportation.org
https://westerntransportationinstitute.org
https://www.nationalrtap.org/home
More workshops to come in 2021!
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Southeastern Kentucky’s Rural Transit Agencies