Merit National Fund Advisors, 357 Langdon St, Somerset, KY 42503, US

Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation was formed in 1968 to stimulate growth and create employment opportunities in a nine-county region of southeastern Kentucky. In 2003, KHIC expanded the service area to 22 counties, which includes the counties of Bell, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Estill, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lincoln, Madison, McCreary, Owsley, Perry, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Wayne and Whitley. Its mission is to provide and retain employment opportunities in southeastern Kentucky through sound investments in businesses that would locate in target communities and hire unemployed people. KHIC accomplishes its purpose through a process called development venture capital, which involves more active participation with management of the businesses than does traditional venture capital investing. A board of directors governs KHIC. It makes equity investments and assists businesses in developing financing packages as small as $500 to investments up to $10 million.