Michael HayesSpecial Projects Coordinator
P.O. Box 1738 |
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Michael Hayes is the Director of the Kentucky Highlands Empowerment Zone. He is responsible for establishment and overall administration of the Kentucky Highlands Empowerment Zone, one of the three original rural designations in the United States. This $40 million 10-year federal experiment focuses on locally based planning and execution of economic and community development initiatives. Mike is responsible for coordination and management of empowerment zone projects as well as preparing and evaluating business proposals, making investment decisions, closing loans, and marketing the Kentucky Highlands Empowerment Zone Program. Prior to coming to Kentucky Highlands, Mike was an Investment Banker for First Kentucky Securities Corporation where he was responsible for arranging financial packages for public and private sector bond issues. He was also Executive Director of the McCreary County Economic Development Council which was awarded the U.S. Forest Service "Spirit Award" as the top rural development program in the United States in 1993. Prior to that, Mike worked for the Commonwealth of Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development in various capacities including Executive Director of the Office of International Marketing and the Chief Representative in the Far East Representative Office in Tokyo, Japan where he was responsible for promoting Kentucky as a location for manufacturing investment to Japanese companies and assisting Kentucky companies research and market products in the Japanese economy. Mike has also been Executive Director of the Glasgow-Barren County Industrial Development Authority in Glasgow, Kentucky and Assistant Director of the Cumberland Valley Area Development District in London, Kentucky.
Mike has Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. This included study at the Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico. He also has a Masters Degree in City and Regional Planning with a specialization in Spactial Economics and Physical Planning from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He has completed and conducted various work related training and conferences.