FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 29, 2025) -- Building on the New Kentucky Home initiative, the Kentucky Main Street program, in partnership with Main Street America, is hosting free workshops designed to empower Kentucky small business owners with digital strategies for sustainable growth and success.
The free webinars will take place virtually from April to June. Each interactive session will provide actionable strategies to help small businesses grow, optimize their digital presence and engage more effectively online with customers.
Boost Your Business with AI: The Power of Optimized Descriptions & Keywords
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 | 9-10:30 a.m. EDT
Canva Made Simple: Design Basics for Small Businesses
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | 9-10:30 a.m. EDT
Social Media Made Simple: Planning Content & Going Live
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 | 9-10:30 a.m. EDT
“We’re honored to have received this generous grant from Main Street America and the USDA, which will help us expand our reach and offer a series of webinars for small businesses across the Kentucky Main Street network,” said Kitty Dougoud, Kentucky Main Street program administrator. “This support strengthens our mission to revitalize downtowns and commercial districts while deepening engagement and collaboration with our small business community.”
All workshops are free and open to all Kentucky business owners. Participants who cannot attend the live session will have access to the recording. The workshop sessions are funded by the USDA Rural Business Development Grant program.
Registration Links: Boost Your Business with AI: The Power of Optimized Descriptions & Keywords Canva Made Simple: Design Basics for Small Businesses Social Media Made Simple: Planning Content & Going Live
The Kentucky Main Street program builds on the New Kentucky Home initiative by revitalizing downtown communities to attract new visitors. The Kentucky Main Street communities’ investments and job creation build on the commonwealth’s recent economic momentum, including within the tourism industry.
To capitalize on Kentucky’s historic economic momentum and record-breaking tourism success, Gov. Beshear recently announced New Kentucky Home, a strategic initiative to further drive economic investment, attract and retain talent and increase tourism across the commonwealth.
The Governor recently announced that Kentucky Main Street communities reported a cumulative investment of $63.7 million in downtown commercial districts, resulting in a net gain of 394 new jobs and 105 new businesses in 2024.
Last year, the Governor announced that 2023 was the best year on record for tourism, with $13.8 billion in economic impact and 95,222 jobs. This followed a record-breaking 2022 when he announced that tourism had generated more than $12.9 billion in economic impact and secured 91,668 jobs in Kentucky that year.
Kentucky’s impressive economic success over the last five years is a direct reflection of the Beshear administration’s continued investments in the tourism industry.
In January, Gov. Beshear announced that 87 tourism marketing organizations across 80 counties are receiving $2 million through the Regional Marketing and Matching Funds Program.
In December 2024, Gov. Beshear announced that the commonwealth achieved another historic milestone, marking a new record with 10 new tourism development projects set to generate an estimated $256 million in economic investment. These projects also are expected to create 1,696 jobs once operational.
In 2022, Gov. Beshear announced $75 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to boost the state’s tourism industry and economy. Previously, the Governor dedicated $5.3 million in federal funding to 103 tourism and destination marketing organizations in 88 Kentucky counties.
Since the beginning of the Beshear administration, 33 tourism development projects totaling an estimated investment of $1 billion have received final approval. Once operational, these projects will create roughly 4,825 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history.
About Kentucky Main Street
Kentucky Main Street is a coordinating program of Main Street America dedicated to advancing economic development and revitalization through historic preservation. Serving communities across Kentucky, the program focuses on fostering vibrant, resilient downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. By supporting place-based development and preserving local heritage, Kentucky Main Street works to enhance economic prosperity, strengthen communities and improve quality of life across the state. The statewide program has 22 communities: Bardstown, Beattyville, Campbellsville, Carrollton, Grayson, Guthrie, LaGrange, Maysville, Middlesboro, Morehead, Murray, Paducah, Perryville, Pikeville, Pineville, Salyersville, Scottsville, Shelbyville, Springfield, Taylorsville, Tri-Cities of Cumberland and Williamsburg.
About Main Street America
Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 40 years. Today it is a network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, that share a commitment to both place and building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Main Street America is a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.