SPEDA’s annual focus group gathers important perspectives that guide quality-of-life efforts
Retail development in eastern Pulaski County, more entertainment options for young people, improved traffic flow, and expanded healthcare access topped the list of priorities local students shared for their community during the Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) annual focus group.
The session — which serves as the capstone project for SPEDA’s summer interns, coupled with a final report — was organized by intern Hayden Browning, a Pulaski County High School graduate studying mechanical engineering at the University of Louisville this fall. Browning brought together four fellow Pulaski County High School students to share their perspectives about the community’s strengths and areas for improvement.
Through this project, SPEDA aims to catalog this perspective and apply it to economic development efforts, ultimately building a community where students will want to live as adults.
“Our young people give us unfiltered feedback that is essential to planning for Somerset’s future,” SPEDA President and CEO Chris Girdler said. “They want more places to eat, work, and gather with friends, and they also care deeply about healthcare, housing, and sustainability. We take their perspectives seriously as we shape long-term development strategies.”
Browning said leading the project showed him how economic development impacts every corner of the community.
“This summer with SPEDA has been far greater than I ever could have expected,” Browning said. “I’ve learned so much about economic development, patience, and the hard work it takes to create opportunities. Bringing students together for this discussion showed me just how much potential Somerset has to grow in ways that make life better for everyone.”
Participants shared a wide range of ideas to make Somerset-Pulaski County more attractive to their generation. Jackson Taylor highlighted the need for additional dining options in eastern Pulaski County, especially near Valley Oak, where thousands of employees and visitors travel daily. Both Browning and Jacob Morrow emphasized needed transportation improvements, suggesting roundabouts to improve safety and ease congestion, and the addition of landscaping along U.S. 27 to slow traffic and make the corridor more attractive. Shirazy “Zy” Adinata spoke about the lack of safe and welcoming gathering places for young people, suggesting that a venue with games, study areas, and free Wi-Fi could fill an important gap for high school and college students. Meanwhile, Sydney Gleason, who hopes to pursue a career in medicine, pointed to the importance of expanding research opportunities at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital and making it an even stronger regional hub for healthcare.
Students also floated innovative ideas such as solar panel canopies over large parking lots, rooftop gardens to bring more green space downtown, and the development of a downtown park with an outdoor water feature — tying downtown to the county’s biggest attraction, Lake Cumberland — and mixed-use housing, ideally in a space like the old Cundiff Square. Several agreed that affordable housing options for young families should be a priority as the community continues to grow.
SPEDA has hosted the intern-led focus group annually since 2020. Girdler said the feedback has been powerful in guiding the organization’s quality-of-life initiatives.
“Somerset’s young people are clear about what they want,” Girdler said. “Our job is to keep listening — and keep building the kind of community they’ll choose to call home.”