LEXINGTON, Ky. — Community Ventures, a nonprofit that serves people and communities in several ways which include helping people to own a home and revitalizing neighborhoods, recently announced it has received funding that will help its continued efforts to support underserved homeowners in Lexington and Paris.

What You Need To Know

  • Community Ventures recently received $50,000 in funding to continue the work its done in Lexington's East End and to expand its efforts to a neighborhood in Paris

  • The Artist Village in the East End is a small neighborhood that is targeted for artists. It was created by the organization to bring mixed income and diversity to that area

  • Stephanie Batts and Kevin Burney are a couple that currently live in the Artist Village and have enjoyed their experience living there

  • The funding will also go towards initial plans for a new development in Paris

Stephanie Batts and Kevin Burney are a couple that live in the Artist Village, a neighborhood created by Community Ventures in Lexington’s East End that’s targeted for artists.

The couple met when Batts started working out of Art Inc.’s studios in Feb. 2022. They began dating that summer. Batts was living in Louisville and had the opportunity to purchase a home in the Art Village. Now the couple get to work in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by neighbors who share similar interests.

“It’s amazing to be able to be creative on a full-time basis and to work within this community and to work around other artists makes it incredibly unique,” said Burney.

The goal of the Artist Village was to create a space that people want to live in and bring mixed income and diversity.

When construction of the Artist Village began, the neighborhood had 34% homeownership, according to Community Ventures president and CEO, Kevin Smith. He says that neighborhoods begin to decline below 50%.

Recently, the organization received $50,000 in funding from NeighborWorks America, a national nonprofit. The money will be used to continue the work Community Ventures is doing in the East End and to expand those efforts to a neighborhood in Paris.

“To walk in today, knowing that this was the highest crime area of Lexington and the dilapidated houses that were here and to just see how it’s transformed into a place where people can come together of all races, all incomes around this thing called art and it’s just a beautiful thing that’s happened,” said Smith.

And with development continuing, the couple is looking forward to who will move in next and what artistic talents they will bring. One home is currently in the process of being built, and there are seven more lots available.

“I think it’s a really supportive community,” said Batts. “I think just sort of the basic sharing ideas and maybe letting each other know about resources.”

The neighborhood in Paris will be a brand-new development for the community on the West side and that funding will go toward initial plans to create affordable housing. Community Ventures has already met with Paris residents and officials from both the city and county to discuss this newest initiative.

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