Civic Imagination Meets AI: How Bowling Green is Creatively Preparing for Rapid Growth

Known largely as the country’s sole manufacturer of the Corvette and home of Western Kentucky University (WKU), Bowling Green is also one of the largest and fastest-growing cities in Kentucky. Founded in 1798, the city and its surrounding Warren County are projected to double in size to 233,000 by 2050.

To prepare, its leaders are collaborating and adopting new strategies for sustainable and inclusive growth. One initiative, a pilot program called the BG2050 Project (BG2050), uses civic imagination and artificial intelligence (AI) to develop a 25-year vision to guide this anticipated growth.

Creatives Collaborate on Storytelling Journeys “By Any Media Necessary”

Civic Imagination (CI) Incubator is a partnership between Western Kentucky University's (WKU) Potter College of Arts and Letters, its Innovation Campus and the University of Southern California (USC). “The program originated out of media fandom,” says Sam Ford, the Executive Director of AccelerateKY and Board Chair of Kentucky to the World. “How do people react to pop culture stories, social issues, civic issues, politics? They were using fictional worlds to tell stories in Appalachia. … This is a natural partnership. We’re matching content with an outlet.”

How the WKU Innovation Campus Integrates Economic and Cultural Development

Through its role as an accelerator for small businesses, a collaboration space for people across industries and disciplines, and an incubator for tech startups and research programs, the Innovation Campus at WKU has turned its headquarters from an old mall into the epicenter for economic growth in the state.

Tourism & Economic Dev, Innovation, South-Central KYMichael PhillipsJuly 25, 2022

From Immigration to Innovation: Vijay Kamineni Manufactures a More Resilient Economy for Kentucky

Originally contracted by Logan Aluminum to work in their IT department temporarily, Vijay Kamineni has steadily advanced the ranks, earning titles like Development Team Leader and Business Transformation Leader. He now heads the company as a Chief Innovation and Technology Leader. And as he’s ascended to lead the company forward in its digital future, his focus has remained the same: to seek out and identify ways that new technologies can improve processes for both the worker and the work.

VICKI PHILLIPS CHAMPIONS ACCESS TO EDUCATION

Vicki Phillips has charted the course for the future of education. Now as the Chief Education Officer and Vice President of National Geographic, she has developed a plan to modernize the organization’s efforts in expanding children’s access to education.

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