The concept of Area Development Districts (ADDs) originated in Kentucky in the early 1960's with the establishment of Area Development Councils. These Councils were organized in all counties and ultimately became the model for Area Development authorization in landmark federal acts such as the Appalachian Regional Development Act and the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965. The fifteen Area Development Districts were formed during the period that followed, from 1966 to 1972.
The ADDs are designed to be the focal point of a necessary Federal-State-Local partnership for improvement of the quality of life in the Commonwealth.
The mission of the ADDs is basic:
To bring local civic and governmental leaders together to accomplish major objectives and take advantage of opportunities which cannot be achieved or realized by those governments acting alone.
Organizationally, the Kentucky Area Development Districts are truly a federal/state/local partnership, a council of governments, a sub-state regional planning district, a regional clearinghouse for coordination of public/private investments, a regional technical assistance center to the public and private sectors, and a local/regional/statewide programming and services organizer and implementer.
Each ADD is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of elected officials from the counties and communities within the District, as well as non-elected citizen members representing a cross-section of the region's social and economic institutions.
The ADD network has been in operation for over three decades. The network serves as a model of accountability, through annual, independent financial audits and the regular submission of reports covering various activities and programs.
Two organizations grew out of the ADD network and have enhanced their role in the development of the Commonwealth. The Kentucky Council of Area Development Districts (KCADD) is an organization representing all ADD Board members throughout the state. The Kentucky Association of District Directors is an organization of the fifteen ADD Executive Directors. The KCADD employs a full-time Information Director in Frankfort to coordinate network information flow in the state capital.
