SKED Built Better Business in 2025
Celebrating a Landmark Year of Loan Growth and Better Community Resilience
Thank you for taking the time to read SKED’s 2025 Annual Report, where we celebrate how SKED built better business in 2025. The organization set new high benchmarks this past year, as our loan portfolio reached its highest level.
Over the past year, SKED made 60 loans totaling $7.4 million to businesses in Southern and Eastern Kentucky. These loans led to an additional $18.3 million investment in the region. These business loans created an additional 144 jobs and retained 308.
2025 Board Appointments and Staff Updates
Staff changed a bit in 2025. Two team members moved on from SKED. Karen Minton retired from our lending department, and Victoria Taylor moved on to another opportunity. SKED welcomes Haylee Flynn to a part-time position in lending. She comes to us from Southwestern High School here in Pulaski County. She is working with us while completing her business degree.
SKED’s Board of Directors also saw some changes in 2025. Retired director of the Lake Cumberland Area Development District, Darryl McGaha, is now serving as president of our board of directors.
Three new directors joined our board in 2025. They include Keith Gabbard, CEO of the People Rural Telephone Cooperative; Brittany Cox, formerly the associate economic development manager for East Kentucky Power Cooperative and now the new Director for the Department for Business & Community Development in the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development; and Colby Kirk, president & CEO of One East Kentucky.
2025 SEED Symposium and Childcare Initiative Success
SKED’s Supplier Education and Economic Development (SEED) program wrapped up its ninth year by hosting our contracting symposium in October at The Corbin Center in Corbin, Kentucky. This event brought together 21 Eastern Kentucky companies to meet with federal contractors from Boeing, Raytheon, Hendrickson, General Dynamics and many others.
In 2025, we completed the second year of the Kentucky Childcare Initiative, in partnership with the Kentucky Small Business Development Center. Primary funding for this program comes from the Truist Foundation. This partnership has enabled SKED to have an impact on childcare centers throughout the state. Our Small Business Training Director, Amanda Kelly, who is leading this initiative for SKED, has gathered additional funding from Appalachia Community Capital to focus on centers in our Southern and Eastern Kentucky service territory. With this support, we’ve been able to assist in developing seven new day care centers, creating 119 new slots for the region’s children and 125 new jobs, while helping retain 1,196 jobs.
Brett Traver
Executive Director
Building Better Business in Southern and Eastern Kentucky Since 1986
299 Jobs Created as a Result of SKED Programs in 2025
30
FROM SEED
144
FROM LOANS
125
CHILDCARE INITIATIVE
Now in its second year with expanded funding, the Kentucky SBDC Childcare Initiative continues to build access to quality childcare for low-to-moderate-income families
SKED and the Kentucky Small Business Development Center (SBDC) received a second $300,000 grant from the Truist Community Catalyst Initiative in 2025 to fund the program. Additionally, a $50,000 grant from Appalachian Community Capital helped deliver the curriculum support childcare providers needed to achieve key certifications and compliance benchmarks.
As a result of the project’s second year, the partners served 125 childcare businesses provided 1,099 hours of technical assistance, trained 161 owners and staff and helped create seven new businesses.
Additionally, this important work resulted in the creation of 125 new jobs, $3.5 million in new capital investment, the addition of 119 new childcare slots and supported the retention of 1,196 jobs.
“The success of our Childcare Initiative is a testament to the power of intentional partnerships. We are deeply grateful to Truist and the Kentucky SBDC for their unwavering support and shared vision. It is a privilege to provide the tools and capital that empower these entrepreneurs to offer safe, high-quality education to our children, and we remain committed to this essential work.”
Amanda Kelly
Small Business Training Director, SKED
SEED Symposium Links Local Manufacturing Talent to More Global and Federal Contracts
More Eastern Kentucky manufacturers are getting work from the federal government, thanks to the Supplier Education & Economic Development (SEED) program and its annual contracting symposium. The Eastern Kentucky SEED Contracting Symposium was held Oct. 2, at The Corbin Center in Corbin, Ky. The annual event is a collaborative effort between the office of Fifth District Congressman Hal Rogers and SKED.
Since its inception, companies participating in the SEED program have invested over $80.6 million in the region. As a result, approximately 684 jobs have been created. SKED’s partners have trained more than 800 workers.
Better Business: SEED’s Impact in Eastern Kentucky
68
jobs created by SEED
98
jobs retained by SEED
“If we could pair up more federal contractors with the best workforce in the country right here in southern and eastern Kentucky, the possibilities would be endless. SKED is a great resource for our businesses in Kentucky’s Fifth Congressional District. They can take companies from concept to concrete, supplying competitive loans, employee training, and networking opportunities to expand job creation here at home.”
Congressman Hall Rogers
Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District and Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives
2025 Business Success Stories
SKED Built Better Business in 2025. We recognize the dedication of these entrepreneurs, partners and business owners as we celebrate their growth.
Somerset Man Now Leads Lincoln Manufacturing USA – Stanford, Ky.
With Jordan Dick at the helm, the manufacturing company is poised for more growth aided by SKED’s continued support.
Military Supplier Expands in SKED’s Enterprise Center – Somerset, Ky.
Aerial Systems Leader Teledyne FLIR Defense opens new 13,000 sq. ft. facility for drone servicing, testing and training.
Dollhouse Daycare Expands – Columbia, Ky.
Audreanna and Austin Bradshaw purchase a successful daycare in the heart of their hometown in hopes to expand.
313maple Opens on the Square – Columbia, Ky.
As the owner of 313maple Florist & Events, Alexis Jennings brings welcome flair in downtown Columbia, Kentucky.
READ MORE
FOCUS Initiative Leads Economic Surge Across Five-County Region
Leadership in the FOCUS region of Lee, Owsley, Clay, Leslie and Jackson counties experienced meaningful change and growth in 2025, thanks to the efforts of FOCUS Executive Director Tal Jones and the FOCUS Board of Directors.
Three FOCUS/SKED staff assisted in the opening of three businesses in Jackson and Owsley counties in 2025.
Jones and FOCUS’s economic development efforts stem from his extensive business and industry counseling work, which helped Jackson County native and Strip Tech Solutions owner Brandon Harrison open a facility in McKee’s Clover Bottom Industrial Park. As a result, the eco-conscious coating-removal technology startup began operations in late 2025 and created five new jobs.
The Kentucky Small Business Development Center Childcare Initiative assisted in the startup of two childcare providers in Owsley and Lee counties.
Jones worked closely with the Jackson County McKee Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to advance park development initiatives. For example, this included supporting manufacturer DTS Industries and advancing two Appalachian Regional Commission Department of Local Government grant applications to improve its wastewater plant and expand its infrastructure.
FOCUS funding supported engineering estimates for a proposed 100,000-square-foot speculative building on an existing build-ready concrete slab in the Annville Regional Industrial Park.
Clay County’s Elk Mountain Industrial Park continues to build and expand its infrastructure and services
Building on earlier progress, the park received $2 million in Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPDI) funding. The grant, written by Jones, will support further infrastructure development and supplement engineering costs to advance project readiness.
Additionally, a tourist welcome center and RV campground with 24 RV spaces was established within the park. The park received $1,050,000 in federal funding for the construction of a livestock sale arena and marketplace, with construction scheduled to begin in 2026.
Downtown Revitalization and Disaster Resilience
Among the milestones, the park implemented water infrastructure improvements to increase water capacity and developed a parcel of land to accommodate a data center. In addition, grant funding was secured for electric vehicle charging stations at the Manchester exit of the Hal Rogers Parkway.
Complementing these regional efforts, Jones also assisted the City of Manchester’s downtown revitalization, including business planning, financial guidance, marketing and digital support, sales tax and tax credit support, and more.
In response to spring flooding, Jones assisted four FOCUS region businesses in applying for and receiving SKED Disaster Assistance Loans in 2025, further supporting local resilience.
Developing stronger communities through infrastructure improvements is incredibly rewarding work. At FOCUS, we are committed to advancing positive economic development that creates lasting opportunity and growth for the people we serve. These efforts would not be possible without the essential support from the SKED and Jackson Energy teams.”
SKED Built Better Business in 2025 with Support from the Following Funding Partners:
Appalachian Community Capital
Appalachian Regional Commission
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Rural Development
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Community Development Financial Institution Program
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Cabinet for Economic Development
Economic Development Administration
Truist Charitable Trust
U.S. Small Business Administration
Microloan Program