Laurel County African American Heritage Center - Founded in 2004 by Wayne Riley. He lived with relatives near Mill Street and 14th Street in London. The family land includes approximately 7-acres which is currently the site of the Grow Appalachia gardens which Mr. Riley manages as the County Coordinator. The project involves the Laurel County African American Heritage Center relocating a house that has been donated by the city of London to a new site next to the center. The house, which is in good condition, was scheduled to be torn down to make room for an expansion of the Community Center. The SOAR Small Production Fund loan of $7,500 will be used to help relocate the house which is being converted into a community kitchen.
The SOAR Small Production Loan Fund is a low-interest financing resource designed to assist small producers grow healthy, nutritional foods so that they can move into commercial production. The goal is to support and educate growers to develop a strong local food system in eastern and southern Kentucky that will be market-supported and result in a profit for the growers.
