Displaced refugees are welcomed to the region

Some Afghan refugees can soon call Northern Kentucky their home, as the region is set to welcome evacuees, NKY Chamber of Commerce announced in a press release.

In the coming weeks, Northern Kentucky will welcome the displaced refugees to the region as part of the Afghan Evacuee Welcoming Plan for NKY.

Various Northern Kentucky organizations—such as the NKY Chamber of Commerce, RefugeeConnect, Kentucky Refugee Ministries and Horizon Community Funds of NKY—are partnering together to provide resources and connections for the Afghan refugees to provide a welcoming home for those who have been relocated.

Kentucky Refugee Ministries is reopening its Covington office, which will provide three full-time jobs. Horizon Community Funds has started the NKY Afghan Evacuees Community Fund that will support and enable Afghans to thrive in Northern Kentucky as they are relocated.

“In recent years, Northern Kentucky has experienced dynamic growth—economic and otherwise,” said John Koehlinger, Executive Director of Kentucky Refugee Ministries. “I am heartened that the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, together with a wide range of prominent stakeholders in the development of Northern Kentucky, are partnering with KRM to welcome refugees and immigrants to the area. As shown by the crisis in Afghanistan, there is an urgent humanitarian need for this effort. But as we have seen throughout KRM’s 31-year history—and the history of the U.S. refugee program—persecuted people from all over the world embrace and contribute to those communities that offer them freedom, safety and opportunity. At KRM, we look forward to working together with all partners in Northern Kentucky to provide humanitarian support to refugees—and to build a prosperous, inclusive community for everyone.”