Southern Plate opens café

Rhonda Reeves, owner of Southern Plate Catering, has announced the opening of Southern Plate Café in downtown Danville. The café is located at 126 Church Street and is open for lunch between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays. Sandwiches on the menu include ribeye with caramelized onions and provolone on sourdough bread; smoked turkey, bacon and chedddar, chicken salad and a veggie burger. They also offer a soup of day, organic salad with warm bacon dressing and pasta salad. All lunches include bottled water, but other drinks may be purchased. Dine in is available or call (859) 319-3444 for take out orders.

Edward Jones named on list of admired companies

Financial services firm Edward Jones has been named to Fortune magazine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies, a ranking of the most respected and reputable companies.

Based on a survey of 3,900 executives, directors, analysts and experts, the ranking takes into account nine criteria from investment value and quality of management and products, to social responsibility and the ability to attract talent.

“We are proud of this recognition because it demonstrates that peers in our business recognize our focus on making a difference to the clients and communities we serve,” said Edward Jones Managing Partner Jim Weddle. “We partner with our clients to help them successfully reach their goals, and as we do, our branch teams help make our communities better places to live. Our clear focus on serving our clients creates an exciting career opportunity for individuals who share our values.”

The most admired ranking is the latest in a series of honors for Edward Jones by Fortune magazine. In its 18th appearance on the list, the firm ranked No. 5 on FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For 2017” list. Edward Jones also was named a great place to work for women, for millennials and for camaraderie by the Great Place to Work and FORTUNE magazine.

The Danville financial advisors are Bill Griffin, Jerry Smothers, Mack Kersey and Heidi Crutchfield. Visit the firm’s website at www.edwardjones.com and its recruiting website at www.careers.edwardjones.com. 

Community Trust Bank honored as top lender 

PIKEVILLE — Community Trust Bank Inc. was recently honored for the ninth consecutive year with the Gold Lender Award from the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) as Kentucky’s top volume SBA 7a Community Bank lender for the federal fiscal year (Oct. ’16-Sept.’17). The award was presented in November at the SBA Lender’s Conference in Shelbyville.

Community Trust had 64 new SBA 7a loans authorized for $7,802,500 in Kentucky during the federal fiscal year. Additionally, Community Trust Bank had more dollars ($7,852,500) authorized for new 7a loans in West Virginia by SBA during the federal fiscal year than any bank doing business in West Virginia, including national banks.

“Community Trust Bank has led the way with SBA lending for many years in Kentucky and is one of the premier community banks in the entire country,” said Ralph Ross, Kentucky District Director for SBA. “We thank Community Trust Bank for the commitment shown to small businesses in the region and for making a tremendous difference to communities and local economies.”

During the 2016-2017 federal fiscal year, Community Trust Bank closed or increased 91 SBA 7a and 504 loans, providing $18,356,739 in new funding for small businesses in four states (Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee and Ohio). Over the last nine federal fiscal years, Community Trust has closed or increased more than 770 SBA 7a and 504 loans, providing in excess of $133 million for small businesses in the communities we serve.

In the 2016-2017 federal fiscal year, 34 different Community Trust Bank employees closed SBA loans. Among them were: