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Eastern Kentucky: 1993 and Beyond Bill Weinberg The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends upon the unreasonable man. —George Bernard Shaw A pundit once wrote that Appalachia is "rediscovered" every twenty years. It has now been more than thirty years since Robert Kennedy's dramatic visit to Knott County, Kentucky, and the corresponding interest in the Appalachian region which took place during the Kennedy and Johnson presidencies. Early signs are that we are facing a reawakening of interest in the Appalachian region in general and in Eastern Kentucky in particular. The New York Times Magazine finally printed an article written over a year ago in its November 22, 1992, issue, "In the Fields of King Coal." National Geographic had a recent feature on the Appalachian region, the first in some time. Kentucky's daily newspapers have shown increased interest in making their opinions known about issues and activities in the region. One senses a renewed optimism and an increased flurry of activities aimed at change. Although there is disagreement as to means, methods, and strategy for the creation of jobs, there is agreement as to the options facing Eastern Kentucky over the next ten to fifteen years. Eastern Kentucky will either make steady progress toward diversification or it will, within a generation , become depopulated—just as have many other rural areas throughout America. Some journalists, pointing to examples from the Deep South, have lamented the state and region's alleged efforts at "smokestack chasing " and have decried incentives which are bringing some industries in. Bill Weinberg, former mayor of Hindman, Kentucky, is an attorney and writer who has extensive knowledge of the Appalachian region and its people. 19 (In passing, it should be noted that editorial writing is the only activity known to man where a person is encouraged to offer "expert" opinions with no basis of training or experience.) The naysayers' argument is twofold and essentially a negative one. First, they say that incentives rob the public coffers and outweigh the benefits obtained from companies which come to the region; and secondly , they say that incentives bring companies which are refugees from other areas and which handicap the future development of the region through the creation of low-paying jobs. The first argument was one made by the critics of the new Toyota plant in Scott County; now the most cynical concede that it was not a valid argument with regard to Toyota. Studies aided by the passage of time indicate that the benefits ofthe Toyota plant far outweigh the costs of the incentive packages which the state provided to secure the plant. Although the critics have reluctantly abandoned the argument for the most part with regard to Toyota, they do not hesitate to revive it in connection with new plants which cannot yet be subjected to costbenefit analysis. The second argument demonstrates a misunderstanding of the strategy being pursued by the region's economic development leaders. That strategy has as its focus an industry sector approach. A determination is first made as to those industry sectors which have the greatest potential for real development in Eastern Kentucky. The first such sector identified was the wood industry. The goal then is to attract high-tech avant-garde-type representatives of that sector. By utilizing the most modern of today's technologies pertaining to the sector, Eastern Kentucky can leapfrog competitors in surrounding states and move to the cutting edge of a particular industry sector. Those sectors being considered for the second area of focus include energy, food processing, telecommunications, and indigenous entrepreneurship. Most importantly , it must be recognized that the economic development of Eastern Kentucky is not an either-or proposition, but rather requires a combination of approaches, both varied and complex. The development of industry sectors in no way minimizes the need for community development and entrepreneurial activities. The emphasis then is on attracting industries that are succeeding elsewhere rather than failing, and that wish to expand to Eastern Kentucky because of our unique location, labor supply, or natural resources. If the prospects ofjob creation in Eastern Kentucky can be compared...
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