Sycamore Flatts

 

The Sycamore Project: A Foundation for Rural Renewal

Ashcamp & Shelby Gap, Kentucky

Sycamore is not just a building.

It is a long-term economic foundation for a rural community that has been left with almost no essential services—and no realistic path to private investment without intervention.

Today, the Sycamore area of Pike County is served by only:

A gas station

A water bottling facility

A Dollar General

A drug rehabilitation center

There is no grocery store, no licensed childcare, no modern housing, no recreation facility, and no economic anchor capable of supporting workforce growth or private development.

Sycamore is designed to change that—permanently.

What Sycamore Does

Sycamore is a seven-story, mixed-use vertical district that concentrates essential services and housing into one efficient, walkable hub:

Full-service grocery store and local retail

Restaurants and small business spaces

Licensed childcare center

Fitness, recreation, and community meeting space

120 modern residential units for families and workforce housing

This is infrastructure disguised as real estate.

Why This Matters for Ashcamp & Shelby Gap

Rural communities do not fail because people don’t want to work.

They fail because the systems that allow people to work, live, and stay do not exist.

Sycamore directly solves that.

Immediate Community Benefits

Keeps millions of dollars local that currently leave the county for basic necessities

Creates over 100 permanent jobs

Allows parents to work by providing licensed childcare

Stabilizes population with modern, attainable housing

Improves health outcomes through recreation and wellness access

Reduces transportation costs and isolation

This is not about convenience—it is about economic survival and dignity.

A Financially Responsible, Mission-Driven Investment

Sycamore is financially sustainable once built:

Stabilized NOI: ~$3.17 million annually

Positive cash flow from Year 1

~$7.8 million in cumulative cash profit over 10 years

Annual profit grows to ~$1.2 million by Year 10

Property value increases from ~$45M to ~$56M+

This is not speculative.

It is a long-term, low-risk anchor asset designed for rural realities.

Sycamore is intentionally structured with a blended capital stack, combining:

Public investment

Federal and state grants

Tax credits

Mission-aligned equity

That structure is not a weakness—it is the reason this works where private capital alone will not go.

Why This Project Unlocks Future Development

Sycamore does what most rural projects fail to do:

It de-risks everything that comes next.

Once Sycamore exists:

Infrastructure investments are justified

Traffic counts and economic activity rise

Workforce housing exists

Lenders see stability

Small businesses have a customer base

Private development becomes possible

The second project is easier.

The third project is cheaper.

The fourth project attracts private capital.

That is how rural economies restart.

Why Invest Now

Without intervention, the Sycamore area will continue to:

Lose population

Export income

Strain healthcare and social services

Depend on emergency funding instead of growth

With Sycamore, Ashcamp and Shelby Gap gain:

A permanent service hub

A workforce anchor

A tax base generator

A replicable model for rural America

The Ask

Sycamore is seeking mission-aligned partners willing to invest in:

Economic stability

Workforce participation

Rural health and housing

Long-term regional resilience

This project will not just pay for itself.

It will pay forward, creating the conditions for sustainable growth where none currently exist.

Sycamore is not about building bigger—it’s about building what should have been here all along.

Sycamore Mixed-Use Development

Revised Investment, NOI & Catalytic Impact Analysis

Ashcamp & Shelby Gap, Kentucky (41512)

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Executive Summary

Sycamore is a proposed seven-story mixed-use development designed to serve as a catalytic economic anchor for the Ashcamp and Shelby Gap region of Pike County, Kentucky. The project consolidates essential services, modern housing, childcare, recreation, and retail into a single vertical district in a region currently served only by a gas station, water bottling facility, Dollar General, and a drug rehabilitation center.

This document presents a revised and validated financial analysis, including Net Operating Income (NOI), debt capacity, and return metrics, alongside a clear explanation of the project’s long-term economic and community benefits. Sycamore is structured not as a speculative real estate venture, but as a foundation asset capable of stabilizing population, supporting workforce participation, and enabling future private investment in a rural Appalachian setting.

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Building Program Overview (Floors 1–7)

Floor 1 – Grocery, Restaurants, Retail

Full-service grocery store, restaurants, and small to mid-size retail bays

Floor 2 – Retail + Licensed Daycare

Boutique/service retail and a secure, licensed childcare center

Floor 3 – Recreation, Fitness, Conference

Full fitness center, indoor recreation spaces, and community meeting rooms

Floors 4–7 – Residential

Approximately 120 modern residential units (1BR, 2BR, 3BR)

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Revised Financial Performance Analysis

Commercial Revenue (Floors 1–2)

Total Commercial Area: 165,000 SF

Blended Average Rent: $18.75/SF/year

Effective Occupancy: 95%

Gross Commercial Revenue: $2,937,188

Operating Expense Ratio: 22%

Net Commercial NOI: $2,291,007

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Residential Revenue (Floors 4–7)

Units: 120

Average Rent: $950/month

Occupancy: 92%

Gross Residential Revenue: $1,257,120

Operating Expense Ratio: 30%

Net Residential NOI: $879,984

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Total Stabilized NOI

$3,170,991 annually (≈ $3.17M)

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Construction & Development Cost Summary

Hard Construction Costs: $62.55M

Sitework & Utilities: $6.50M

Soft Costs (24%): $15.01M

Contingency (10%): $6.26M

Total Project Cost: $90.32M

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Capital Stack & Debt Capacity

Source Amount

Senior Debt (45% LTC) $40.6M

Grants / NMTC / Public Subsidy $38.0M

Mission-Aligned / Philanthropic Equity $11.7M

Total $90.3M

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Debt Service & Coverage

Loan Amount: $40.6M

Interest Rate: 5.5%

Amortization: 30 years

Annual Debt Service: ≈ $2.77M

Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR):

$3.17M ÷ $2.77M = 1.14

This coverage level is consistent with blended-capital rural development standards, particularly when supported by New Markets Tax Credits, public credit enhancement, or interest-only periods during lease-up.

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Return Metrics (Mission-Oriented)

Unlevered Yield on Cost:

$3.17M ÷ $90.3M = 3.5%

Levered Cash Yield on Mission Equity:

Approx. 3.4% annually, plus long-term appreciation

These returns align with catalytic and impact-investment expectations for rural anchor developments.

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Impact on Ashcamp & Shelby Gap

Addressing a Critical Service Gap

The Sycamore area currently lacks:

A full-service grocery store

Licensed childcare

Modern housing stock

Recreation and wellness facilities

Diverse retail and dining options

Residents must routinely leave the region to meet basic needs, exporting income and weakening the local economy.

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Economic & Workforce Benefits

Local Spending Retention: Keeps millions of dollars annually circulating within Pike County

Job Creation: Over 100 permanent jobs across retail, childcare, recreation, and property operations

Workforce Enablement: Childcare access allows parents to re-enter or remain in the workforce

Housing Stability: Supports nurses, teachers, healthcare workers, and small business owners

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Community Health & Quality of Life

Fitness and recreation facilities improve physical and mental health outcomes

Walkable services reduce transportation costs and time burdens

Shared community spaces strengthen social cohesion

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Sycamore as a Foundation for Future Economic Development

Sycamore functions as a true rural economic anchor, performing roles typically spread across multiple developments in urban areas.

Long-Term Catalytic Effects

Infrastructure Justification: Utility and roadway investments become viable

Risk Reduction: Stabilized traffic, population, and income support future private lending

Development Clustering: Subsequent projects become faster, cheaper, and lower risk

Replicability: Provides a scalable model for ARC-eligible and USDA-priority communities

Sycamore transforms a service desert into a platform for sustained economic growth.

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Conclusion

Sycamore is not a speculative real estate project. It is a strategic, mission-driven investment designed to stabilize population, support workforce participation, and catalyze long-term economic development in Ashcamp and Shelby Gap, Kentucky.

With validated NOI, realistic debt capacity, and strong alignment with federal, state, and philanthropic funding priorities, Sycamore represents a compelling opportunity to demonstrate how integrated mixed-use development can succeed in rural Appalachian communities—and serve as a template for others to follow.

How HB 370 Would Disproportionately Hurt Low-Income and Retired Residents of Eastern Kentucky

 How HB 370 Would Disproportionately Hurt Low-Income and Retired Residents of Eastern Kentucky

Eastern Kentucky is significantly poorer than most of the state and the nation, which means that any added costs on basic transportation will take a much bigger bite out of household budgets — especially for low-income households and retirees living on fixed incomes.

1. Higher Poverty and Lower Incomes Than the Rest of Kentucky

• In Eastern Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District, the poverty rate is about 24.3 %, significantly higher than the state average of 15.6 % and the national average of 10.6 %. �

• Many Appalachian counties have poverty rates above 30 %, among the highest in Kentucky. �

• Median household incomes in parts of Eastern Kentucky remain far below state and national levels; some counties historically have had median incomes in the $19,000–$25,000 range — less than half the U.S. median. �

The Lexington Times

cber.uky.edu

Weku

This concentration of poverty means that a substantial share of residents simply cannot afford recurring increases in transportation costs without sacrificing essentials like food, medicine, heating, and housing.

2. Older and Retired Populations Live on Fixed Incomes

Many retirees in Eastern Kentucky live on fixed incomes — Social Security, pensions, or limited savings — which do not rise quickly with inflation.

• Even statewide, poverty among Kentucky seniors (65 +) has increased in recent years, from 12 % to 13 %. �

• In a region with lower wages and limited retirement savings, this means many older residents spend a high proportion of their income on basic expenses. When transportation costs go up, there’s no flexible budget to absorb it.

The Lexington Times

Because fuel costs and vehicle fees are not tied to income, these price increases act like a flat tax — taking a larger share of income from people who have the least.

3. Transportation Costs Already Consume a Larger Share of Income

Rural households, especially in Eastern Kentucky, travel longer distances for:

Work and commuting

Grocery stores and pharmacies

Medical care and specialist appointments

There is little to no public transportation available, leaving residents dependent on personal vehicles. Any increase in fuel taxes or vehicle fees disproportionately raises costs for these families and individuals who must drive for basic needs.

4. Low-Income Families Have Fewer Alternatives

Because so many Eastern Kentucky families live below or near the poverty line, they:

Cannot afford newer, more fuel-efficient vehicles

Tend to keep older cars that require more maintenance

Are more likely to skip medical care or necessary travel when costs rise

Higher fees for registration, titles, and licensing — on top of fuel tax hikes — compound these burdens, pushing already strapped families closer to economic hardship.

Bottom Line

HB 370 doesn’t just raise transportation funding — it shifts the cost of daily survival onto the poorest and most vulnerable people in Eastern Kentucky, including:

Low-income workers who must drive long distances

Seniors on fixed incomes with limited financial flexibility

Families already struggling to afford food, utilities, and healthcare

In a region where poverty is significantly higher than the state average and incomes are far lower, raising transportation costs will not fix infrastructure — it will deepen economic distress

opposition to 26RS House Bill 370 (HB 370)

01/18/2026

Dear Senator / Representative [Last Name],

I am writing to formally express my strong opposition to 26RS House Bill 370 (HB 370) and to urge you to vote against this legislation due to the severe and disproportionate harm it will cause to Eastern Kentucky, a region already facing long-term economic distress.

While HB 370 is presented as a transportation funding measure, its real-world impact would function as a regressive tax increase on rural and low-income Kentuckians, particularly those living in Eastern Kentucky where transportation is not optional, but essential for survival.

Eastern Kentucky lacks viable public transportation infrastructure. Residents must drive long distances for work, medical care, groceries, education, and basic services. Increasing fuel taxes and vehicle-related fees in this region is not a matter of convenience—it directly raises the cost of accessing necessities. Families here cannot simply “drive less” without losing access to employment or healthcare.

HB 370’s fuel tax increases and automatic indexing to construction cost inflation would place a permanent and escalating financial burden on households whose wages already lag behind state averages. Many workers in Eastern Kentucky commute significant distances daily, and even modest fuel increases take a larger percentage of their income than in urban areas. These costs will continue to rise regardless of whether wages do.

Additionally, the bill’s increases in vehicle registration, title, licensing, and reinstatement fees punish residents who rely on older, high-mileage vehicles because they cannot afford newer ones. For many families, a single added vehicle cost already forces impossible choices between fuel, food, utilities, insurance, or medical care. HB 370 adds new penalties at every stage of vehicle ownership, making economic participation harder rather than easier.

Small businesses in Eastern Kentucky will also suffer. Local economies here depend on independent contractors, tradespeople, service workers, agriculture, and small logistics operations. Higher fuel and equipment costs reduce already thin margins, force price increases customers cannot afford, and discourage new business formation. As transportation costs rise, consumer spending drops locally—accelerating business closures, job losses, and population decline.

The bill’s increased heavy equipment and motor carrier surtaxes further undermine Eastern Kentucky’s ability to attract job-creating projects. Infrastructure development, energy transition work, and regional construction efforts become more expensive, making the region less competitive and discouraging outside investment.

Finally, indexing these taxes to inflation removes legislative accountability and locks Eastern Kentucky into automatic future cost increases, regardless of economic downturns, natural disasters, or job losses. Our region does not recover at the same pace as urban areas, and these automatic escalators would institutionalize long-term economic disadvantage.

In short, HB 370 does not simply fund transportation—it extracts resources from the poorest and most transportation-dependent communities in the Commonwealth, accelerating decline rather than supporting recovery.

For these reasons, I respectfully urge you to oppose HB 370 and instead support transportation solutions that are equitable, regionally fair, and do not impose regressive costs on Eastern Kentucky families and businesses.

Thank you for your time and for your service to the people of Kentucky.

Sincerely,

Ray Ratliff

Ashcamp, Kentucky

The Ratliff Family and the Case for a Coordinated Regional Strategy

 The Ratliff Family and the Case for a Coordinated Regional Strategy

By Ray Ratliff 

Members of the General Assembly,

The challenges facing Eastern Kentucky are not abstract. They are lived every day by families like the Ratliffs of Pike County. Their experience illustrates the interconnected barriers that keep too many Kentuckians from achieving economic stability, despite their best efforts.

The Ratliff family resides in an aging, energy‑inefficient home with structural issues that their landlord has been unable or unwilling to address. Their monthly utility costs routinely exceed what a working family should reasonably bear. This is not an isolated circumstance; it reflects a regional shortage of safe, affordable, energy‑efficient housing.

Mr. Ratliff works full-time at a warehouse located more than an hour from their home. His ability to maintain employment depends entirely on the reliability of an aging vehicle. When the car fails, he loses wages. When he loses wages, the family falls behind on essential bills. In a region with limited public transit and long distances between jobs, healthcare, and childcare, transportation is not a convenience—it is a prerequisite for workforce participation.

The Ratliffs’ four-year-old daughter, Lily, is bright and ready to learn. Yet childcare costs in their county exceed what the family can afford, and the nearest available center with open enrollment is two counties away. As a result, Mrs. Ratliff remains out of the workforce, despite wanting and needing to work. This is a common dynamic in Eastern Kentucky, where childcare costs often exceed mortgage payments and directly suppress labor force participation.

The family frequently faces impossible choices: groceries or utilities, gas for work or medication, rent or repairs. These choices are not the result of poor decision-making. They are the predictable outcome of a system in which housing, transportation, childcare, wages, and food access are disconnected and insufficiently supported.

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Policy Implications

The Ratliff family’s situation demonstrates that isolated interventions cannot break the cycle of poverty. Addressing one barrier while leaving the others intact yields limited and temporary results. A coordinated regional strategy is required—one that aligns housing, transportation, childcare, workforce development, and food security into a single, functional system.

Such a strategy would include:

- Affordable, energy‑efficient rural housing supported by land banks, rural housing tax credits, and modular construction.  

- Rural transportation solutions such as microtransit, employer shuttles, and vehicle repair assistance to ensure workers can reliably reach jobs.  

- Childcare infrastructure including employer-supported childcare, rural micro-centers, shared-services networks, and expanded subsidies.  

- Workforce and economic development focused on sectors suited to Eastern Kentucky—healthcare, remote work, logistics, outdoor recreation, energy transition jobs, and light manufacturing.  

- Food access programs such as mobile markets, double-up SNAP, community fridges, and school-based nutrition supports.

These components are not independent. They are mutually reinforcing. When aligned, they create the conditions necessary for families like the Ratliffs to achieve stability, enter the workforce, and contribute to the regional economy.

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Why Legislative Action Matters

Eastern Kentucky does not require a miracle. It requires a plan—one grounded in the realities of rural life and supported by targeted, evidence-based policy.

A coordinated regional model has already demonstrated success in rural Tennessee, Appalachian Ohio, and Western North Carolina. Kentucky can implement a similar approach by:

- Modernizing rural housing policy  

- Expanding childcare capacity  

- Supporting rural transportation innovation  

- Incentivizing local hiring and workforce development  

- Strengthening food security infrastructure  

These are not partisan issues. They are structural issues. And they are solvable.

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Conclusion

The Ratliff family represents thousands of families across Eastern Kentucky who are doing everything right yet remain trapped by systems that were never designed for rural realities.

By investing in a coordinated regional strategy—one that connects housing, work, childcare, transportation, and food access—Kentucky can break the cycle of poverty and build a stronger, more resilient future for our Appalachian counties.

The Future of Eastern Kentucky stands ready to work with this legislature to make that vision a reality.

A Story for Eastern Kentucky: Why This Work Matters

As a disclaimer I used my last name as an example but this is true for at least one branch of every family in our area. 

This is not based on any one person or family just the  reality of living in our beautiful area!

A Story for Eastern Kentucky: Why This Work Matters

Most folks in Eastern Kentucky know someone like the Ratliff family. Maybe you grew up with them. Maybe you are them. Maybe you’ve watched them struggle quietly, never asking for much, always trying to make do.

The Ratliffs lived in a small, worn-out house on the side of a hill in Pike County. The roof leaked when it rained, the windows whistled in the winter, and the electric bill was so high that Mrs. Ratliff used to joke that the power company must think they were running a factory inside. But she didn’t laugh when she said it. Not really.

Mr. Ratliff worked full-time at a warehouse an hour away—when the car would start. Some mornings, he’d be out there in the dark, tapping the starter with a wrench, praying it would catch. If it didn’t, he’d have to call a coworker for a ride, and every time he did, he felt like he was letting his family down.

Their daughter, Lily, was four years old—bright, curious, and full of questions. She loved books, loved learning, loved everything. But childcare cost more than the Ratliffs’ rent, and the closest center with an open spot was two counties away. So Mrs. Ratliff stayed home, even though she wanted to work. Even though they needed the money. Even though she had dreams of her own.

Some weeks, the Ratliffs had to choose between groceries and the electric bill. Between gas for the car and medicine for Mr. Ratliff’s back. Between paying rent and buying Lily a new pair of shoes.

They weren’t lazy. They weren’t irresponsible. They weren’t asking for handouts.

They were doing everything right—and still falling behind.

One day, after a heavy rain, the roof finally gave out. Water poured into the living room. The carpet soaked through. Mold crept up the walls. The landlord said he’d “get to it when he could,” but weeks passed and nothing changed.

That was the moment Mrs. Ratliff sat at the kitchen table, head in her hands, and whispered, “We can’t keep living like this.”

And she was right.

No family should have to fight this hard just to survive.

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Now imagine a different story.

Imagine the Ratliffs living in a safe, affordable home—one built with energy-efficient materials that cut their electric bill in half.

Imagine Mr. Ratliff having reliable transportation—maybe a microtransit shuttle, maybe a repaired car through a community program—so he never has to worry about losing a day’s pay.

Imagine Lily in a high-quality childcare center right in her community, learning, growing, and giving her mom the freedom to work again.

Imagine jobs in Eastern Kentucky that pay enough to live on—jobs in healthcare, remote work, clean energy, logistics, and manufacturing—jobs that don’t require leaving the mountains to make a living.

Imagine a local market truck pulling up every week with fresh, affordable food. Imagine community fridges. Imagine kids never going hungry on weekends again.

Imagine all of these pieces working together—not scattered, not isolated, but connected like the beams of a strong house.

That is the future TFEK is fighting for.

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Because the truth is simple:

The Ratliffs are not one family.  

They are thousands of families.  

They are our neighbors.  

They are our friends.  

They are us.

And when one family rises, the whole region rises with them.

Eastern Kentucky doesn’t need a miracle.  

It needs a plan.  

A plan built on dignity, opportunity, and community.  

A plan that understands that housing, childcare, transportation, food, and work are not separate issues—they are one story.

A story we can rewrite together.

Written by Ray Ratliff   01/15/2026

The Big Picture: What Eastern Kentucky Looks Like in 2036

 Eastern Kentucky is best positioned to grow in industries that match its geography, workforce, and infrastructure realities—not fantasies. The sectors with the strongest evidence‑based potential are advanced manufacturing, energy transition industries, value‑added agriculture, outdoor recreation/tourism, and remote‑work/tech‑adjacent services. These align with what similar post‑coal regions have successfully built and what Kentucky’s own data shows is already growing.

Below is a clear, strategic breakdown tailored to Eastern Kentucky’s actual strengths and constraints.

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 1. Advanced Manufacturing (Small–Mid Scale)

This is the single strongest opportunity for the region.

Why it fits Eastern Kentucky

- Workers have experience with mechanical systems, safety protocols, and shift work.

- Manufacturing doesn’t require a huge supplier ecosystem if it’s modular, specialized, or niche.

- Kentucky already has a statewide manufacturing base (Toyota, Ford, GE), and Eastern Kentucky can plug into that supply chain.

Best-fit subsectors

- Metal fabrication & machining

- Automotive components

- Aerospace parts

- Industrial equipment assembly

- Battery component manufacturing (not full gigafactories—those need massive power)

What’s already happening

- Several counties have attracted precision machining and small manufacturing shops because they can train former miners quickly.

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 2. Energy Transition & Grid Modernization Jobs

Synapse Energy’s analysis of post‑coal job creation in Eastern Kentucky highlights energy efficiency and renewable energy installation as high‑growth sectors.

Strong opportunities

- Energy efficiency retrofits (homes, schools, hospitals)

- Solar installation & maintenance

- Battery storage installation

- Grid modernization crews

- Mine land reclamation + solar farms

Why it works

- Uses existing trade skills.

- Federal incentives (IRA) heavily subsidize these jobs.

- Reclamation + solar is a natural reuse of abandoned mine lands.

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3. Value‑Added Agriculture & Food Processing

This is one of the most realistic growth sectors for rural counties.

High‑potential niches

- Greenhouse agriculture (hydroponics, controlled‑environment ag)

- Specialty crops (hemp fiber, mushrooms, berries)

- Meat processing facilities

- Food packaging and distribution hubs

Why it fits

- Plenty of land.

- Growing demand for regional food systems.

- Can scale from small to mid-sized operations.

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 4. Outdoor Recreation, Tourism & Hospitality

Tourism alone won’t replace coal—but it can become a major employer and revenue generator.

Best-fit opportunities

- ATV/UTV trail systems (Hatfield–McCoy style)

- Hiking, climbing, and river recreation

- Cabin developments & boutique lodging

- Heritage tourism (coal history, music, culture)

- Film locations (Appalachian landscapes are in demand)

Why it works

- Eastern Kentucky’s natural beauty is a competitive advantage.

- Tourism is already growing in similar Appalachian regions.

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 5. Remote Work, Tech Support, & Back‑Office Services

This is one of the fastest-growing sectors in post‑industrial rural regions.

Opportunities

- Customer service centers

- Medical billing & coding

- IT help desks

- Remote tech support

- Data annotation & AI training work

Why it fits

- Broadband expansion is improving.

- These jobs don’t require interstate access.

- Training programs can be completed in months.

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 6. Construction, Trades & Infrastructure Rebuild

With federal infrastructure funding flowing, Eastern Kentucky can grow:

- Electricians

- Plumbers

- HVAC technicians

- Heavy equipment operators

- Road & bridge construction crews

These jobs are in high demand nationwide and match the region’s skill base.

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7. Small-Scale Biotech & Medical Manufacturing (Long-Term)

Not full pharmaceutical plants—but component manufacturing, lab supply production, and sterile packaging are realistic.

Why it fits

- Clean-room manufacturing is growing.

- Doesn’t require huge power loads.

- Can be done in mid-sized industrial buildings.

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 Bottom Line: The Most Realistic Growth Sectors

If Eastern Kentucky wants jobs that pay well and scale, the top three are:

1. Advanced manufacturing

2. Energy transition & efficiency work

3. Value‑added agriculture + food processing

Tourism, remote work, and construction/trades are strong supporting pillars.

Here’s a 10‑year regional development plan for Eastern Kentucky built around the realities you and I have been mapping out: industry fit, workforce, infrastructure, and the structural barriers (like Kentucky Power’s rates) that must be confronted head‑on.

This is designed as a practical, phased roadmap—not a wish list. It’s structured so you can lift pieces of it directly into legislative proposals, PSC filings, grant applications, or county-level development briefs.

YEARS 1–3: Stabilization, Site Prep, and Workforce Realignment

1. Industrial Site Readiness (Top Priority)

Eastern Kentucky cannot recruit industry without shovel‑ready sites.

Focus on:

- Reclaimed mine lands with road access

- Existing industrial parks needing upgrades

- Sites along US 23, Mountain Parkway, and 25E

Deliverables by Year 3

- 10–15 certified industrial sites across the region

- Standardized site profiles for recruitment

- Regional GIS database of utilities, power capacity, and transportation access

2. Workforce Realignment

Shift the workforce toward advanced manufacturing, energy transition, healthcare, and remote services.

Actions:

- Expand trade programs (electricians, HVAC, welding, machining)

- Create a regional apprenticeship consortium

- Launch a “Coal Skills to Grid Skills” program for solar, storage, and linework

- Build remote‑work hubs in county seats

Deliverables by Year 3

- 2,000+ workers retrained

- 500+ workers certified for energy‑transition jobs

- Remote‑work hubs in Pike, Floyd, Perry, and Letcher

3. Tourism & Recreation Infrastructure

Lay the foundation for long-term tourism growth.

Actions:

- Expand trail systems (ATV, hiking, biking)

- Incentivize cabin and campground development

- Build county-level tourism brands under a unified regional identity

Deliverables by Year 3

- 150+ miles of new or improved trails

- 200+ new lodging units (cabins, boutique stays)

- Regional tourism marketing platform

4. Energy & Utility Reform (Critical for Industry Recruitment)

This is where TFEK advocacy work becomes central.

Actions:

- Challenge Kentucky Power’s rate structure

- Push for industrial rate reform

- Secure federal funding for grid modernization

- Incentivize solar + storage on reclaimed mine lands

Deliverables by Year 3

- Lower industrial entry costs

- 3–5 solar/storage projects underway

- Grid upgrades in Pike, Floyd, Perry, and Letcher

YEARS 4–7: Industry Recruitment & Regional Integration

5. Advanced Manufacturing Cluster Development

Recruit small-to-mid scale manufacturers that match the region’s workforce and logistics.

Targets:

- Metal fabrication

- Automotive components

- Aerospace parts

- Industrial equipment assembly

- Medical device components

Deliverables by Year 7

- 20–30 new manufacturing employers

- 2,500–4,000 new jobs

- Supplier networks tied to Toyota, Ford, GE, Lockheed, and regional OEMs

6. Energy Transition & Environmental Services Sector

Turn reclamation into a long-term economic engine.

Targets:

- Solar installation & maintenance

- Battery storage installation

- Grid modernization crews

- Environmental restoration companies

- Mine land solar farms

Deliverables by Year 7

- 1,500+ energy-transition jobs

- 1 GW of solar/storage capacity installed or in development

- Eastern Kentucky recognized as a national reclamation leader

7. Value‑Added Agriculture & Food Processing

Build a regional food economy that scales.

Targets:

- Controlled-environment agriculture (greenhouses, hydroponics)

- Meat processing

- Produce packaging

- Specialty crops (berries, mushrooms, hemp fiber)

Deliverables by Year 7

- 10–15 mid-sized food/ag businesses

- 1–2 regional food hubs

- 1,000+ agriculture-adjacent jobs

8. Remote Work & Back‑Office Services

Grow the digital economy.

Targets:

- Customer service centers

- Medical billing

- IT help desks

- Data annotation & AI training

Deliverables by Year 7

- 1,500+ remote or hybrid jobs

- 4–6 regional service centers

 YEARS 8–10: Consolidation, Scaling, and Long-Term Transformation

9. Regional Logistics & Distribution Network

As manufacturing and agriculture grow, logistics becomes a natural next step.

Actions:

- Develop distribution hubs along US 23 and 25E

- Expand river-linked industry in Lawrence County

- Build cold storage for food processing

Deliverables by Year 10

- 3–5 logistics hubs

- 1,000+ logistics jobs

- Integrated supply chain across the region

10. Tourism Maturity & Cultural Branding

By this stage, tourism becomes a major employer.

Actions:

- Expand lodging capacity

- Develop signature attractions (music, heritage, outdoor recreation)

- Build a regional events calendar

Deliverables by Year 10

- 500,000+ annual visitors

- 3,000+ tourism jobs

- A recognized Appalachian destination brand

11. Healthcare Expansion

Healthcare becomes a stabilizing anchor.

Actions:

- Expand ARH and Pikeville Medical Center specialty services

- Build rural clinics and telehealth hubs

- Train local residents for healthcare careers

Deliverables by Year 10

- 1,500+ new healthcare jobs

- Reduced out-migration for medical care

12. Long-Term Economic Governance

Create a regional development authority with real power.

Actions:

- Unified branding

- Shared incentives

- Coordinated recruitment

- Regional industrial strategy

Deliverables by Year 10

- A single, powerful regional economic identity

- Reduced county-level fragmentation

- Stronger leverage with Frankfort and Washington

The Big Picture: What Eastern Kentucky Looks Like in 2036

- A diversified economy with manufacturing, energy transition, healthcare, tourism, and remote services as core pillars

- 10,000–15,000 new jobs across the region

- Lower electric rates and modernized grid

- Reclaimed mine lands powering solar and storage

- A workforce aligned with 21st‑century industries

- A region that has finally broken the boom‑bust cycle

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty in Our Region

 The Future of Eastern Kentucky

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty in Our Region

Presented by The Future of Eastern Kentucky (TFEK)

Ladies and gentlemen,

At The Future of Eastern Kentucky, we believe the first step toward real progress is honesty. If we are serious about the future of our region, we must acknowledge a hard truth: the greatest obstacle facing low-income families in Eastern Kentucky is not one problem—it is a web of interconnected barriers that make daily life harder than it should ever be.

Families across our mountains are struggling with unsafe or unaffordable housing, unreliable transportation, crushing childcare costs, low wages, limited job opportunities, food insecurity, and ongoing health disparities. These challenges do not exist in isolation. They stack on top of one another, trapping families in a cycle of poverty that is extraordinarily difficult to escape.

Housing Is the Foundation

Eastern Kentucky faces a critical shortage of safe, affordable housing. Too many families spend more than half of their income just to keep a roof over their heads and the lights on. When housing costs consume that much of a paycheck, families are forced into impossible choices—rent or groceries, utilities or medicine.

TFEK believes housing stability is the foundation of economic stability. That means expanding affordable housing through rural housing tax credits, land banks, modular and manufactured housing, and energy-efficient upgrades that lower utility bills and keep families housed.

Transportation Is a Lifeline

In a rural region like ours, transportation is not optional—it is survival. With limited public transit and long distances between homes, jobs, schools, and healthcare, a reliable vehicle often determines whether someone can work at all. Too many Eastern Kentuckians are locked out of opportunity simply because they cannot get there.

TFEK supports practical rural transportation solutions—microtransit, employer shuttles, vehicle repair assistance, and regional ride-share hubs that reconnect people to work and services at a fraction of the cost of traditional transit systems.

Childcare Is an Economic Issue

In some Eastern Kentucky counties, families spend nearly half their income on childcare—more than double the national average. For many parents, especially mothers, working simply does not make financial sense when childcare costs more than their paycheck.

TFEK treats childcare as essential infrastructure. That means employer-supported childcare, small rural micro-centers, shared-services networks for providers, and expanded subsidies so childcare does not consume half of a family’s income.

Work Must Pay

Decades of economic decline and the collapse of coal have left too many workers with jobs that do not pay enough to live on. Even full-time employment often fails to lift families out of poverty.

TFEK focuses on building the economy that fits Eastern Kentucky—healthcare, remote work, energy transition jobs, outdoor recreation, logistics, and light manufacturing. That means apprenticeships tied to real employers, wage subsidies for hiring long-term unemployed workers, and incentives for companies that hire and invest in local people.

No One Should Go Hungry

Food insecurity remains a daily reality for too many families. High food costs and limited access to healthy options lead to poor health outcomes and long-term hardship.

TFEK supports community-driven food solutions—mobile markets, double-up SNAP programs, community fridges, school-based food supports, and weekend meal programs so no child goes hungry when school is out.

One Coordinated Regional Strategy

Here is what makes TFEK different: we do not believe in isolated solutions.

We believe in a coordinated regional model—housing located near job centers, childcare embedded in those communities, transportation connecting homes to work, employers committed to hiring locally, and wraparound services that support families every step of the way.

This approach is not theoretical. It is already working in rural Tennessee, Appalachian Ohio, and Western North Carolina. There is no reason it cannot work here—if we commit to it.

Our Vision for Eastern Kentucky

Eastern Kentucky does not need a miracle.

It needs a plan.

A plan that respects the dignity of our people.

A plan rooted in the reality of rural life.

A plan that connects housing, work, childcare, transportation, and food into one strong system.

That is the mission of The Future of Eastern Kentucky.

If we invest in the essentials every family needs—and if we do it together—we can break the cycle of poverty in Eastern Kentucky. Not someday. Now.

Thank you.

Ray Ratliff 

The Future of Eastern Kentucky 

When the Curtain Fell: Why Eastern Kentucky Deserves Better

 When the Curtain Fell: Why Eastern Kentucky Deserves Better

By The Future of Eastern Kentucky (TFEK)

You came to Eastern Kentucky for a promise.

A promise of a better life.

A safer place to raise your children.

Lower utility rates.

A quiet, close-knit community far from crime and chaos.

At first, it looked real. The mountains were beautiful. Neighbors waved. The pace of life slowed. It felt like home.

Then the curtain fell.

You saw the opioid epidemic tearing through families — not as a headline, but as funerals, foster care placements, and grandparents raising grandchildren. You saw poverty hidden behind pride, hunger masked by silence, and families choosing between electricity and groceries. You opened your utility bill and realized those “low rates” were padded with hidden fees, riders, and constant increases that hit fixed-income households the hardest.

You watched good jobs leave Pike, Floyd, Martin, Letcher, Knott, and surrounding counties — hauled out piece by piece while no replacement ever came. You saw crumbling infrastructure, hollowed-out downtowns, and schools doing more social work than education.

And worst of all, you saw corruption and indifference take root. Elected officials who campaign on Eastern Kentucky values but govern for their own benefit. Boards, commissions, and agencies that talk while communities starve. Public meetings where citizens are heard — but never answered.

This didn’t happen overnight.

And it won’t be fixed by slogans.

That’s why The Future of Eastern Kentucky (TFEK) exists.

The TFEK Plan: Fighting Back and Fixing Eastern Kentucky

TFEK was created by people who live here, struggle here, and refuse to give up on this region. We believe Eastern Kentucky doesn’t need saving — it needs honest leadership, accountability, and investment that actually reaches the people.

1. Economic Development That Stays Here

Prioritize local and regional employers, not out-of-state corporations chasing tax breaks.

Support small businesses, cooperatives, and worker-owned enterprises.

Demand job-creation accountability for every public dollar spent.

Invest in remote work infrastructure so Eastern Kentucky can compete nationally.

2. Utility Accountability and Ratepayer Protection

Expose and challenge hidden fees, riders, and unjustified rate increases.

Push for stronger Public Service Commission oversight.

Protect fixed-income families from utility shutoffs.

Expand energy efficiency, weatherization, and community solar programs that lower bills permanently.

3. Food Security and Community Resilience

Expand community gardens, food pantries, and community meals.

Support local farmers and producers instead of relying solely on outside supply chains.

Treat hunger as an infrastructure failure, not a personal one.

4. Opioid Recovery With Accountability

Demand transparency in opioid settlement spending.

Fund treatment, recovery housing, and long-term support, not just enforcement.

Support families caring for children impacted by addiction.

Measure success by lives stabilized, not dollars spent.

5. Government Transparency and Citizen Power

Open the books on local boards, agencies, and authorities.

Require public reporting on outcomes, not just promises.

Train and empower citizens to engage, testify, and organize.

Build a culture where public office is service — not a paycheck.

Eastern Kentucky Is Worth the Fight

Eastern Kentucky is not broken — it has been neglected, exploited, and lied to.

The people here are resilient. They work hard. They care for one another when the systems fail. What they lack is not character or effort — it is fair treatment, honest governance, and real opportunity.

TFEK exists to bridge the gap between citizens and power, to turn frustration into action, and to ensure that Eastern Kentucky’s future is decided by the people who live here — not those who profit from its decline.

The curtain has already been pulled back.

Now it’s time to fight back — and rebuild.

Proposed Kentucky Statute — Permanent Disabled Person License Plates

Dear Representative Lawrence and Representative Maddox,

I am writing to respectfully request your support for legislation establishing Permanent Disabled Person License Plates in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, building upon the principles reflected in House Bill 162, which you co-authored.

Kentucky currently requires many disabled residents to undergo repeated renewals, paperwork, and associated fees for license plates despite having permanent, lifelong disabilities. This places an unnecessary administrative and financial burden on individuals who are already navigating complex medical, accessibility, and economic challenges.

Several neighboring states, including Tennessee, have adopted policies that allow for permanent, non-expiring license plates for disabled veterans, recognizing that a permanent condition does not require repeated verification. Kentucky has the opportunity to take this concept a step further by extending this same dignity and efficiency to all permanently disabled individuals, not just veterans.

Establishing Permanent Disabled Person License Plates would:

- Reduce bureaucratic hurdles for disabled Kentuckians;

- Eliminate recurring registration fees for individuals with permanent disabilities;

- Decrease administrative workload for county clerks and state agencies;

- Promote fairness, dignity, and common-sense governance.

This proposal does not expand parking privileges or create new classifications—it simply recognizes that a permanent disability should not require repeated proof year after year. It aligns with conservative principles of limited government, reduced red tape, and fiscal efficiency, while also reflecting compassion and respect for disabled citizens.

Given your leadership on HB162 and your demonstrated commitment to addressing inequities in Kentucky law, your support for this policy would carry significant weight. I respectfully ask that you consider sponsoring or supporting legislation to authorize Permanent Disabled Person License Plates for qualifying Kentuckians.

Thank you for your time, service, and continued dedication to the people of the Commonwealth. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this proposal further or provide additional information if helpful.

Proposed Kentucky Statute — Permanent Disabled Person License Plates

SECTION 1. Title and Purpose

KRS Chapter 186.XXX — Permanent Disabled Person and Disabled Veteran License Plates

The purpose of this statute is to authorize the issuance of free, permanent, non-expiring motor vehicle registration plates to Kentucky residents who qualify as disabled persons or disabled veterans, thereby eliminating annual renewal fees for those with qualifying disabilities.

SECTION 2. Definitions

As used in this section:

“Cabinet” means the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

“Motor vehicle” means a passenger vehicle, truck, or motor home that is normally required to be registered under KRS Chapters 186 and 186A, and that is owned by a disabled person or disabled veteran.

“Disabled person” means a resident of Kentucky with a permanent disability certified by competent medical evidence, including but not limited to:

Loss or permanent loss of use of one or more limbs;

Permanent impairment of vision in both eyes meeting statutory criteria;

Any other permanent disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

“Disabled veteran” means a resident of Kentucky who served in the U.S. armed forces and is entitled to compensation under laws administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for a service-connected disability or a 100% permanent total disability rating.

SECTION 3. Issuance of Permanent Disabled License Plates

(1) The Cabinet shall provide and issue, free of charge, permanent disabled person license plates to any Kentucky resident who qualifies under this section.

(2) A disabled person or disabled veteran who qualifies under this section shall be entitled to have one set of disabled person license plates issued for use on one motor vehicle registered in their name. Additional disabled plates may be issued at no cost under the same eligibility criteria.

(3) The disabled person or disabled veteran must provide documentation of disability to the Cabinet or the county clerk, including a physician’s certification or a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating letter.

SECTION 4. Plate Features and Validity

(1) Disabled person plates issued under this section shall bear the words “Disabled Person” or “Disabled Veteran” and may include a symbol denoting disability recognition.

(2) Plates issued under this section shall not expire and shall be exempt from annual registration renewal fees.

(3) The disabled person or disabled veteran may transfer the plates to a replacement vehicle owned by the same person by complying with normal vehicle transfer procedures, without paying additional fees.

SECTION 5. Parking Privileges

A vehicle displaying a permanent disabled person or disabled veteran license plate issued under this section shall be afforded the same parking privileges provided under Kentucky law for vehicles displaying disabled parking license plates or placards.

SECTION 6. Implementation

The Cabinet shall promulgate administrative regulations as necessary to implement the provisions of this section and ensure proper verification of disability eligibility.

Notes / Policy Intent

This draft is modeled on Tennessee’s existing disabled veteran license plate statute, which provides free plates for qualified disabled veterans and defines disability criteria. 

FindLaw Codes

Unlike current Kentucky law, which requires annual renewal and generally charges fees except for 100% disabled veterans, and currently does not extend permanent free plates to all disabled persons, this proposal expands eligibility to all permanently disabled persons and veterans. 

Justia Law +1

The statute is designed to provide permanent, non-expiring plates rather than yearly renewals, comparable to benefits available in Tennessee and other states.

AN ACT relating to the delegation of federal and state disaster recovery funds for stream clearing and water infrastructure development.

 AN ACT relating to the delegation of federal and state disaster recovery funds for stream clearing and water infrastructure development.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

Section 1. Legislative Findings and Purpose

The General Assembly finds that repeated flooding events have caused significant damage to communities across the Commonwealth, particularly in Eastern Kentucky. Many of these events are worsened by obstructed waterways, inadequate stream maintenance, and lack of proper drainage and water infrastructure. The purpose of this Act is to establish a mechanism for the delegation of funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) programs, and state disaster recovery funds for proactive stream clearing, flood mitigation, and expansion of county-wide water and sewage infrastructure to unserved or underserved areas.

Section 2. Delegation of Funds

(1) The Kentucky Division of Water, in coordination with the Kentucky Emergency

Management and the Energy and Environment Cabinet, shall establish a Stream and Flood Mitigation Program to receive and allocate funds from FEMA, EPA, AML, and state disaster recovery programs. (2) Funds shall be delegated specifically for the following purposes: (a) Clearing and maintenance of creeks, waterways, and flood-prone areas to prevent obstructions and future flooding; (b) Rehabilitation of natural drainage systems and floodplain restoration; (c) Technical and financial assistance to counties and municipalities for localized mitigation efforts.

Section 3. County Infrastructure Expansion Subsection

(1) A portion of delegated funds shall be allocated to identify and develop county-wide water and sewage infrastructure projects. (2) The Division of Water shall work with county governments, local water districts, and public service commissions to identify areas that are currently unserved or underserved by public water and sewage systems. (3) Funding shall prioritize areas with demonstrated public health or environmental risks and areas of repeated flooding events.

Section 4. Reporting and Accountability

(1) The Division of Water shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly detailing the funds allocated, projects completed, and measurable reductions in flood damage and water infrastructure gaps. (2) All disbursements and expenditures shall be publicly reported and made available through the Kentucky Transparency Portal.

Section 5. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect upon passage and approval by the Governor or upon its otherwise becoming law.

AEP KY power letter to Legislators

This morning I sent this email addressed to each of the local representatives and senators on behalf of the citizens of Eastern Kentucky who are AEP customers. 

 Dear [Representative/Senator] [Last Name],

My name is Raymond Ratliff, and I am a resident of Pike County. I am writing to you because families in Eastern Kentucky are facing unsustainable electric bills that far exceed what Kentuckians are told to expect from a “low-cost electricity state.”

My most recent Kentucky Power bill shows an effective residential rate of 30.8 cents per kWh—a rate higher than the average paid by residents in New York, a state widely known for high energy costs. This is not an isolated case. It is the result of a rate structure that stacks riders, surcharges, and legacy costs on top of an already high base rate.

What this looks like in real life

- Usage: 1,238 kWh

- Residential charges: $381.06

- Effective rate: 30.8 ¢/kWh

- Riders and surcharges added: Fuel Adjustment, DSM, Environmental Surcharge, Securitized Surcharge, Purchased Power Adjustment, School Tax, and more.

These add-ons alone account for more than $65 of the bill, and they disproportionately impact customers in Eastern Kentucky—one of the most economically challenged regions in the state.

Why this is a legislative issue

Kentucky Power’s service territory includes some of the lowest-income counties in the Commonwealth. Many households:

- Rely on electric heat due to lack of natural gas access

- Live in older homes that are difficult to weatherize

- Have no alternative utility provider

- Use more electricity in winter out of necessity, not choice

Yet these same households are being charged big-city, high-cost-state prices for a basic necessity.

This is not simply a regulatory issue—it is a regional economic crisis. When families are forced to choose between heat, medicine, and groceries, the system is not functioning as intended.

What I am asking you to consider

I respectfully request that the General Assembly explore legislation that would:

1. Cap the cumulative impact of riders and surcharges on residential customers.

2. Require greater transparency in how utilities calculate and apply riders.

3. Mandate tiered or seasonal rate structures that protect high‑usage households during extreme weather.

4. Strengthen oversight of securitization and environmental cost recovery, ensuring that corporate and legacy costs are not unfairly shifted onto consumers.

5. Expand weatherization and efficiency programs specifically for Eastern Kentucky, where housing stock and climate drive unavoidable high usage.

Why your leadership matters

Eastern Kentucky families are doing everything they can to stay afloat. But no amount of budgeting can overcome electric bills that exceed those in New York while incomes remain among the lowest in the nation.

Your voice and your leadership can help ensure that the people of our region are not left behind or priced out of basic utilities.

Thank you for your time, your service, and your attention to this urgent matter. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further or provide additional documentation.

Sincerely,

Raymond Ratliff

Ashcamp, Kentucky

Letter to media on AEP and PSC

When the Power Bill Becomes a Crisis: Eastern Kentucky Can’t Absorb Another Rate Increase

By Raymond Ratliff

Ashcamp, Kentucky

In Eastern Kentucky, winter doesn’t just bring cold weather — it brings fear. Fear of opening the mailbox. Fear of turning on the heat. Fear of choosing between electricity, food, or medicine.

My recent electric bills from Kentucky Power tell a story that thousands of families across the region recognize all too well. In October, my household used 438 kilowatt-hours and paid $113. In November, usage rose to 1,000 kilowatt-hours, and the bill jumped to $218. By January, winter heating needs pushed usage to 2,306 kilowatt-hours — and the bill exploded to $364.

This wasn’t luxury use. It wasn’t waste. It was survival.

Electricity is not optional in Eastern Kentucky. Many homes rely on electric heat. Housing stock is older and less efficient. Terrain and weather are unforgiving. And incomes — especially for seniors, disabled residents, and working families — are among the lowest in the Commonwealth.

Yet Kentucky Power customers are paying electric bills that rival or exceed those in wealthier urban areas and neighboring states. Nationally, average residential electric rates hover around 15 to 16 cents per kilowatt-hour. In many parts of the South and Midwest, they’re lower. TVA-served areas of Kentucky routinely see significantly lower winter electric costs.

So why are Eastern Kentucky families — with fewer economic opportunities and fewer choices — paying more?

The answer isn’t just usage. It’s the accumulation of rate increases, fuel adjustment charges, environmental surcharges, DSM riders, and fixed fees that pile on month after month. Even when customers conserve, the bill keeps climbing. Fixed charges punish low-income households the hardest, because they rise regardless of how careful you are.

For people on fixed incomes, these increases aren’t inconvenient — they’re destabilizing. Social Security doesn’t rise when utility riders do. Disability checks don’t adjust for fuel surcharges. Pensions don’t account for environmental compliance costs passed directly to customers.

When regulators approve rate increases in isolation, without fully considering cumulative impact, they may follow procedure — but they fail the people they are meant to protect.

The Kentucky Public Service Commission exists to ensure rates are “fair, just, and reasonable.” That standard must mean more than financial viability for utilities. It must also mean affordability for customers. A system that keeps the lights on but forces families into debt, shutoff notices, or dangerous under-heating is not reasonable.

Eastern Kentucky has already paid dearly for decades of extraction, environmental damage, and economic neglect. Asking the same communities to shoulder ever-higher utility costs — while alternatives are limited and incomes stagnate — is not just bad policy. It’s unjust.

This is not a call to bankrupt utilities. It is a call for balance, transparency, and restraint. Regulators should reexamine the compounding effect of riders and surcharges, expand protections for fixed-income and medically vulnerable customers, and demand real cost controls before approving future increases.

Electricity is a necessity, not a privilege. Heat in winter is not optional. The people of Eastern Kentucky are doing their part — budgeting, conserving, and struggling quietly. It’s time for regulators and policymakers to do theirs.

Because no one should fear freezing in their own home because the power bill has become unaffordable.

PSC Reference:

Kentucky Public Service Commission electric rate cases involving Kentucky Power Company (AEP Kentucky), including recent base rate increases and rider approvals under KRS Chapter 278.