[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16591]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO THE KENTUCKY COMMUNITIES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL 
                  (KCEOC) COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 3, 2014

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the Kentucky Communities Economic Opportunity Council (KCEOC)--
Community Action Partnership in celebration of the agency's 50th 
anniversary of service to the people of southeastern Kentucky.
  As one of the first 23 agencies established in 1964 to address 
poverty, KCEOC has raised the bar high, going above and beyond the call 
of duty to provide greater opportunities for those in need. Thanks to a 
group of local citizens who applied for a competitive grant opportunity 
five decades ago, this organization has flourished into the multi-
million dollar service agency that it is today.
  KCEOC has inspired people across our region to put compassion for our 
neighbors into action. Through its programs and innovative responses to 
dire needs in our impoverished communities, more families today have 
access to child development programs, food resources, affordable 
housing, and assistance with financial needs than ever before. This 
agency has also been a critical partner for economic development, from 
recruiting jobs to providing the infrastructure for new businesses. The 
employees of KCEOC serve as great ambassadors for eastern Kentucky, 
proving that we have a strong, dedicated workforce and an intricate 
support community that believes in helping one another succeed.
  Through the vision of leaders like Paul Dole, this agency has turned 
community losses into gains. One of the greatest examples of those 
efforts was the transformation of the old asbestos-plagued Corbin 
Hospital into clean, state-of-the-art housing for senior citizens.
  Winston Churchill once said that a pessimist sees difficulty in every 
opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. 
That's what KCEOC works to convey every single day by providing a hand-
up, rather than a hand out. They provide hope in an otherwise dark hour 
for many families and I can't thank this agency enough for its efforts 
day-in and day-out, letting our neighbors know that someone cares.
  KCEOC has forged important partnerships with local schools, employers 
and other community organizations to capitalize on the resources that 
are abundant in our communities. Together, we have made great strides 
in southeastern Kentucky, but we certainly wouldn't be where we are 
today without the foundation that KCEOC has carefully crafted for 
thousands of families in our region.
  In celebration of this 50th anniversary, I ask my colleagues to join 
me in applauding the work of the KCEOC Community Action Partnership in 
southeastern Kentucky.

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