HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) –During the July meeting, members of the Southwestern Kentucky Economic Development Council voted to approve their new Strategic Plan to help grow the industrial footprint in the region. This includes their goals for growth over the next five years in Christian County and surrounding counties.
Simply laid out, the plan has three major goals by the year 2030. This includes creating 2,500 new jobs in the region, bringing in over $3 billion in new capital investments, and securing over $20 million in PDI grants. Executive Director Carter Hendricks said if they succeed at bringing in 2,500 new jobs, that will create $114 million in payroll for residents in the counties, which they can put back into their communities.
Among these goals, they are aiming for a few target clusters to bring in diverse industries. Among these industries are automotive, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and distribution, and chemicals. Hendricks believes that due to their proximity to Fort Campbell, aerospace and defense would also make a good target.
“We continue to be in a good position to compete for these clusters very well in the three-county region, ” said Hendricks. “Automotive continues to be the number one cluster for the number of companies that are located here.”
The SWK EDC hopes to accomplish these goals by pursuing grant opportunities in each participating county, continuing to develop business parks and Commerce Park II, as well as constructing and selling spec buildings, among other strategies.
The plan was unanimously approved by present board members. The development of this Strategic Plan comes after thorough discussion and presentations over the past couple of months.
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