InTouch with Southern Kentucky April 2020 | Page 7

An Iconic Center
Piece
The Center for Rural Development’s key
mission is to help Kentuckians feel more
secure through public safety initiatives
T
BY RAY HUNTER
he large structure at 2292 South Highway
27 that overlooks Somerset with its wall of
windows is more than just a pretty build-
ing.
Home to a nonprofit organization that
is driven to provide leadership and sustainable
solutions for the citizens they serve, The Center for
Rural Development was created in 1996 through the
vision of U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers and
other leaders to be a state and national model for
economic development.
President and CEO of the Center, Lonnie Lawson
said, “It’s a consolidation of all the efforts to im-
prove the quality of life for our community members
and to help them overcome their challenges.”
Programs and services at the Center are focused
on four general areas: public safety, arts and culture,
leadership, and technology.
The Center’s mission is to help Kentuckians
feel more secure through public safety initiatives;
encourage them to tap into their creative spirit
through the arts; empower them through education
and entrepreneurial opportunities; and give them
access to the world through advanced technology.
Lawson said the Center is leading initiatives that
provide training to law enforcement, fire professionals,
and emergency responders across the nation through
the Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium.
“We have
accomplished so
much in twenty-four
years, but we still
have a lot of work to
do.”
Lonnie Lawson
M arch 2020
I n T ouch with S outhern K entucky • 7