Spencer County tourism launches Laureate honors program; community visioning underway

Catherine Scott, Spencer County Tourism Director, told the Fiscal Court she is launching the Spencer County Laureate honors program to recognize local artists and cultural leaders and to help promote tourism. She named three inaugural honorees: Laura Mentor (stained-glass artist), Matthew Hagen (photographer) and Medina Dean (writer and historian).

Scott summarized a recent community visioning meeting held at the library that attracted roughly 40 people and included business owners, educators and elected officials. She said participants identified a broad list of priorities and were asked to pare them to five items the county should pursue; tourism staff plan another large public meeting in January or February and interim meetings in December to set legislative outreach in motion.

Scott asked the court to partner with tourism and Main Street on program expansion and on several economic-development ideas. The court and tourism staff discussed outreach, coordination with Main Street, and how aspiring projects could be taken to Frankfort for state funding. The presentation concluded with an invitation to celebrate honorees at a small reception at the chamber office.

The court did not take formal action on the Laureate program during the meeting; Scott said staff will continue public engagement and bring any formal requests to the court later.