[♪♪] >> WELCOME TO A CONVERSATION EXAMINING HOW KENTUCKY CITIES AND COUNTIES CAN WORK TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AS WE PRESENT BUILDING UP KENTUCKY A KET FORUM.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

KENTUCKY IS EXPERIENCING RECORD-BREAKING GROWTH AND PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT AND SHOWING THE REST OF THE NATION THAT KENTUCKY IS A PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.

AND THIS PROGRAM, WE'LL TALK WITH OFFICIALS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADERS ABOUT HOW KENTUCKY IS POSITIONING ITSELF TO ATTRACT AND GROW BUSINESS.

HOW SMALLER RURAL COMMUNITIES CAN RIGHT SIZE THEIR GROWTH PLANS AND HOW TO MEET LABOR FORCE CHALLENGES AND CREATE A TALENT PIPELINE FOR GROWING INDUSTRIES NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

AND WE HAVE ASSEMBLED A GREAT PANEL TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THIS AND WE'LL HEAR FROM AN AUDIENCE MEMBER LATER ON.

JOINING US ARE STATEER IN MAX WISE CHAIR ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOURISM AND LABOR.

JOE MEYER THE MAYOR OF COVINGTON.

BROOKLYN LEAP, DIRECTOR OF MARION COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

JIM 4E7BDER SON DIRECTOR OF THE KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.

CHRIS GAD LER PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND HALEY McCOY, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND WE THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING WITH US AND OUR AUDIENCE AS WELL.

LET'S GIVE EVERYONE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[APPLAUSE] HALEY, YOU WERE WITH US LAST TIME.

I THINK THIS TIME LAST YEAR WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WE REMIND PEOPLE WHAT YOUR ORGANIZATION DOES AND TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE TRENDS IN KENTUCKY WHEN IT COMES TO SECTOR, INDUSTRY SECTOR GROWTH, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AND HOW IS THAT TRENDING?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS CONVERSATION.

WE'RE THE EXCITED.

THE KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS A MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONALS ACROSS ALL SECTORS WHO CARE ABOUT AND SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUCCESS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

SO WE HAVE BUSINESSES, EDUCATION PROVIDERS, LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, UTILITIES, INFRASTRUCTURE, PARTNERS WHO ALL COME TOGETHER TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

RIGHT NOW, THE STATE IS UNDERGOING A SERIES OF FOCUS GROUPS AND CONVERSATIONS TO LOOK AT A ROADMAP FOR THE FUTURE OF KENTUCKY.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF CONSENSUS AROUND NOT ONLY IS MANUFACTURING ONE OF OUR KEY SECTORS FOR GROWTH, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT KENTUCKY IS DECIDING IT WANTS TO BE AS PART OF ITS IDENTITY.

AS WE THINK ABOUT THAT AND LOOK AT RECRUITING WORKFORCE AND GROWING AND WHAT THAT IS GOING TO MEAN FOR COMMUNITIES, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE REALIZE THE PLACE THAT EVERYONE PLAYS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUCCESS AND THAT THAT GROWTH WILL MEAN THINGS LIKE HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, WILL ALL HAVE TO GROW AS WELL.

THERE IS A PLACE FOR EVERYONE.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.

>> Renee: WE WILL TAKE A DEEP DIVE.

HOUSE SOMETHING A BIG CONCERN WHEN THE COMMUNITIES DO GROW.

CHAIRMAN WISE, GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

AS CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM AND LABOR COMMITTEE WHAT POLICIES DO YOU ASSIGN TO HAVE GIVEN THIS BIG BOOST TO KENTUCKY'S ECONOMY AND PERHAPS THE IDENTITY THAT MS. McCOY TALKEDDED ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS A MANUFACTURING HUB?

>> FIRST, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON TONIGHT.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE WORK WE'VE DONE AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY I COULD THAT BE PROUDER WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

AND A LOT GOES BACK TO OUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WE START WITH THE RIGHT TO WORK AND TAX REFORM AND YOU LOOK AT THE POLICIES WE HAVE BEEN DOING.

THE INVESTMENT WE'VE MADE TO OUR TECHNOLOGY CENTERS OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT NEXT GENERATION OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES COME OUT WITH THE SKILLS TO BE INTO THE WORKFORCE.

WE ARE LOOKING AT POLICY AS A STATE THAT WE WANT TO KEEP FAMILIES HERE IN KENTUCKY AND ATTRACT NEW FAMILIES INTO THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

WE LOOK AT THINGS THAT ARE GROWING IN TERMS OF AVIATION, AND TRANSPORTATION, LOOK AT MANUFACTURING, ENERGY, THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE VERY POSITIVE FOR KENTUCKY.

AND I LOOK FORWARD WITH MY LEGISLATIVE COLLEAGUES CONTINUE PROGRESSING KENTUCKY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> Renee: DO YOU SEE IDEAS ALREADY IN THE POT TO CONSIDER FOR THE UPCOMING 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> WE GET INTO THE BUDGET I THINK THAT IS WHAT THE FIRST AND FOREMOST ISSUE OF ANYTHING IN THIS SESSION IS IS THE BUDGET AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS SECONDARY TO THAT.

WE HAVE GOT TO TACKLE EVERYTHING INVOLVING WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION.

I KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL DISCUSS HERE TONIGHT.

BUT ALSO I HAVE TO SAY THIS.

GOVERNMENT CANNOT DO EVERYTHING.

GOVERNMENT HAS A ROLE TO PLAY BUT IT ALSO GETS DOWN TO LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS AND FAMILIES AND GETS DOWN TO WORK ETHIC.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHIC WHO ARE THE WORKING KENTUCKIANS A LOT ARE IN THE 55 PLUS AGE GROUP.

THAT 25-45-YEAR-OLD SECTOR WE ARE MESSING.

THERE IS A HOST OF REASONS AND WE'LL GET INTO IT ON THE SHOW.

>> TED, WHO IS A NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED STRATEGIST HELPS STATES AND COMMUNITIES EVALUATE THEIR ECONOMIC POSITIONING AND COMPETITIVENESS.

HE HELPS THEM FIGURE IT OUT.

BASED OUT OF NORTH CAROLINA, HE WAS IN LEXINGTON AS A HEADLINER AT COMMERCE LATINX SUMMIT LAST MONTH.

HE STOPPED BY OUR STUDIOS TO TALK ABOUT HOW COMMUNITIES CAN BUILDUP BETTER.

>> WHAT DOES A GOOD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY LOOK LIKE?

WHAT ARE THE MAIN INGREDIENTS OR THE LEGS OF THE STOOL THAT HAVE TO BE IN PLACE?

>> THE BUSINESS CLIMATE IS THERE, THAT'S YOUR TAX POSITION YOUR REGULATORY CLIMATE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IT'S HOW GOOD ARE YOU AT PERMITTING AND GETTING SOMETHING DONE.

YOUR LEGAL CLIMATE ONE STOOL.

SECOND STOOL MOST IMPORTANT IS WORKFORCE DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO DO THE JOBS THAT ARE NEEDED AND DO THEY HAVE THE RIGHT SKILLS?

AND THE THIRD PIECE OF THE PRODUCT PIECE THAT IS INFRASTRUCTURE.

BUT INFRASTRUCTURE IS A LOT OF IT.

WE THINK WATER AND SEWER AND THINK ROADS OR AIRPORTS.

BUT IT'S HOUSING, IT'S CHILDCARE, IT'S BUILDINGS AND SITES.

IT IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO IF YOU HAVE THE PRODUCT AND YOU HAVE THE LABOR AND YOU HAVE THE BUSINESS CLIMATE THEN YOU WILL DO WELL.

>> SO WHAT STATES ARE DOING WELL?

AND WHAT STATES ARE WORKING TO DO BETTER?

>> SO UNFORTUNATELY, PLACES IN THE SOUTH ARE DOING WELL.

FLORIDA'S NUMBERS AND NORTH CAROLINA AND TENNESSEE'S NUMBERS, TEXAS WAS DOING THE BEST AND IT COOLED DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

OUT WEST IF YOU LOOK AT IDAHO AND NEVADA AND UTAH AND ARIZONA PLACES AS SOUTHERNERS WE DON'T THINK OF.

THE INNER MOUNTAIN WEST THEY ARE GROWING FASTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE RIGHT NOW.

>> WHY?

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE EXITING CALIFORNIA FOR ONE REASON.

BUT LOTS OF OPEN LAND IT'S FLAT.

PEOPLE ARE MOVING THERE IN DROVES.

AND SO THEY CAN FIND THE WORKERS THEY NEED.

SO IF YOU WANT TO BE IN THE LAS VEGAS AREA NOW, THE REPORT CAME OUT THIS WEEK IT IS THE NUMBER ONE PLACE THAT PEOPLE WOULD MOST LIKE TO MOVE.

IF YOU CAN GET THE LABOR FORCE THAT IS A BIG DEAL.

ON THE OTHER SIDE YOU DON'T WANT TO CALL OUT TOO MANY THINGS.

BUT THE DELTA AREA THE SOUTH STRUGGLES WITH THOSE PARTS IN THE NORTHEAST STRUGGLE.

AND THE UPPER MIDWEST HAS THE PROBLEM OF MAINTAINING ITS LABOR.

YOU CAN'T GET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO MOVE TO THE UPPER MIDWEST.

THOSE ARE THE PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT ARE STRUGGLING.

AND WE'RE WORKING IN HAWAII HAWAII IS STRUGGLING BECAUSE OF TOURISM POST COVID AND THAT CREATED SPECIFIC PROBLEMS IN PLACES.

>> KENTUCKY HOW DOES KENTUCKY SHORE UP?

>> PRETTY GOOD.

>> REALLY?

>> SINCE THE BEGINNING OF COVID THE COUNTRY HAS GROWN JOBS AT 3% AND KENTUCKY HAS GROWN AT 4%.

IN CERTAIN SECTORS LIKE MANUFACTURING SOME OF THE FASTEST GROWTH IN THE COUNTRY.

STRONG GROWTH IN CONSTRUCTION AND THE NICE PART IT IS A PRECURSORS TO WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT.

WE DON'T BUILD SOMETHING THE DATA LOOKS GOOD.

AND WE WERE TALKING BEFORE, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD HAVE SAID THAT 10, 15 YEARS AGO.

I DON'T KNOW IF KENTUCKY'S PATH WAS AS CLEAR.

BUT RECENT DATA HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD.

>> WHAT HELPED BRIGHTEN THE PATH?

>> I THINK THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT MAKES THE BUSINESS CLIMATE BETTER.

YOU ARE RANKED IN THE TOP 20 FOR TAX CLIMATE.

AFFORDABILITY HAS BECOME A BIGGER ISSUE FOR COMPANIES.

COMPARED TO OTHER PLACES YOU ARE STILL AN AFFORDABLE PLACE.

AND THEN SOME OF THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN AROUND WHAT SECTORS ARE GROWING.

SO AUTOMOTIVE IS IN A TRANSFORMATION.

YOU ARE ALREADY A STRONG AUTOMOTIVE STATE.

DISTRIBUTION HAS CHANGED AND YOU'RE POSITIONED WELL IN THE MIDDLE PART OF THE COUNTRY WITH GOOD TRANSPORTATION LINKS.

YOUR ENERGY RESOURCES ARE GOOD.

AND THE STATE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT APPROACH AND TRYING TO FIND THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO WORK FOR KENTUCKIANS.

>> LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT HAPPENS ON THE STATE LEVEL, RIGHT?

>> THEY ARE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE PRODUCT LOCALLY, IF THERE'S NO BUILDINGS OR SITES IF IT IS NOT ZONED CORRECTLY IF THEY DON'T HAVE WATER AND SEWER CAPACITY, YOU DON'T WIN.

IT'S SIMPLE WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE A COMPANY IS GOING TO MAKE A DECISION.

IT IS A FILTER AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE PRODUCTS YOU CAN'T DO IT.

IF YOU ARE A LOCAL COMMUNITY AND YOU DON'T HAVE A BUILDING AND SITES YOU CANNOT WIN.

THERE IS AN ADAGE NO PRODUCT, NO PROJECTS AND THAT HOLDS TRUE EVERY TIME.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WIN.

THEY HAVE TO BE THERE AND THEY HAVE TO GO TO MARKET.

THEY HAVE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THEY ARE THERE.

THEY HAVE TO WORK WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO GET PEOPLE TRAINED.

A LOT OF IT HAPPENS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OR THE REGIONAL LEVEL.

>> JIM, WITH THE KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, I WANT TO HAVE YOU PICK UP RIGHT THERE.

HOW CAN WE GET THOSE EXITING CALIFORNIA TO MAKE KENTUCKY THEIR HOME WHEN IT COMES TO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND AS THE ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH COUNTIES TO HELP THEM WIN WHAT IS THE STRATEGY?

IS THERE A BOILERPLATE STRATEGY OR INDIVIDUALIZED BASED ON THE COUNTY'S NEEDS?

>> IT'S VERY INDIVIDUALIZED.

AND LISTENING TO THE SPEAKER THERE, YOU KNOW, A FEW YEARS AGO THERE WERE 10 OR 15 COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE THAT REALLY HAD ALWAYS BEEN ENGAGED IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK YOU ARE SEEING A LOT OF OTHER COUNTIES NOW AROUND THE EDGES OF WHERE THE ENGINES MAYBE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT WAYS TO MARKET THEIR REGION.

THEY ARE FINDING THE NICHE MARKETS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN BEING NOT IN THOSE NECESSARILY HOT AREAS.

THEY WANT TO BE A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE OF THAT.

I THINK EVERY COUNTY IS DIFFERENT.

YOU HAVE THOSE NORMAL AREAS LIKE OUR AREA FROM SOUTH SOUTH KENTUCKY WHERE IT'S BOOMING AND THEY ARE FINDING WAYS TO MARKET THOSE COUNTIES IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WAY.

IT'S VERY INDIVIDUALIZED.

>> WHAT ARE ISSUES OR CONCERNS THEY EXPRESSED TO YOU ABOUT TRYING TO GROW WELL?

>> THE COUNTIES?

>> THE COUNTIES?

>> I THINK SOME LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE LARGER AREAS AND THINK HOW DO WE GET THAT.

AND THERE ARE REASONS PEOPLE WANT TO BE INDUSTRY LEADERS THE CORPORATE EXECUTIVES WHO WANT TO BE IN MORE URBAN POCKETS.

BUT I THINK SOME OF THE COUNTIES ALSO ASK WHAT CAN WE DO TO APPEAL TO THE OTHER PIECES OF THAT, THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT.

A LOT OF FOLKS WANT TO LIVE IN PLACES WHERE IT'S NOT CONGESTED AND FIGHT TRAFFIC EVERYDAY TO TAKE YOUR KIDS TO SCHOOL.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS SOME OF THE COUNTIES ARE LOOKING HOW THEY BETTER MARKET THAT ATTRACTIVENESS.

>> COVINGTON MAYOR, JOE MEYER THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE BRENT EXPENSE BRIDGE AND THAT IS TOP OF MIND FOR FOLKS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

I WANT YOU TO GIVE US AN EXAMPLE HOW COVINGTON HAS BEEN STRATEGIC IN HELPING THE PRIVATE SECTOR ALONG AND SPECIFICALLY TALK TO US ABOUT REPURPOSING AN OLD I.R.S.

TAX PAPER PROCESSING FACILITY?

>> WE TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR GOOD PUBLIC POLICY AND A LOT OF COVINGTON'S SUCCESS IS BASED ON GOOD PUBLIC POLICY AND A GOOD PUBLIC ATTITUDE.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE AN OLD CITY.

WE WERE DEVELOPED AND BECAME A CITY IN 1815 AND DEVELOPED LONG BEFORE SOAPING CAME ALONG.

SO WE DIDN'T FIT WITHIN THE SEPARATED USES ZONING MINDSET THAT WAS LAW FOR A LONGTIME.

THE CITY CHANGED THE ZONING LAWS TO GO FROM THE TRADITIONAL ZONING TO RECOGNIZE THAT MIXED-USE WAS A FACT OF LIFE IN MOST OF COVINGTON AND WE LEGALIZED IT THROUGH THE ZONE CALLED URBAN RESIDENTIAL ZONE.

AND WE CHANGED THE NAME OF THE ZONING CODE FROM ZONING TO NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CODE.

BECAUSE WE WANT AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC POLICY TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS GROW.

SO WE ESTABLISHED A REALLY GOOD SOLID LEGAL FRAMEWORK THAT MAKES IT EASY, EASY AND WE WERE INTENTIONALLY EASY FOR DEVELOPERS TO COME IN.

WE ARE A CITY WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A COMMERCIAL BUILDING AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDING AND SINGLE FAMILY HOME, AND MULTIPLE STOREY APARTMENT BUILDING ALL ON THE SAME STREET.

AND WE'RE FINDING THAT THAT IS AN ASSET.

PEOPLE LIKE THAT ENVIRONMENT.

SO YOU KNOW, OUR LEGAL STRUCTURE ENCOURAGES THAT.

A SECOND THING WAS AN ATTITUDE CHANGE.

A LOT OF TIMES DEVELOPERS AND CITY GOVERNMENTS ARE AT LOGGERHEADS.

AND WE TOOK THE ATTITUDE VERY PUBLICLY THAT WE WANTED NOT TO BE DRAMATIC.

THAT WE WANTED TO BE BORING.

THAT WE WANTED TO BE RELIABLE.

THAT WE WANTED TO BE TRUSTWORTHY SO THAT WHEN DEVELOPERS CAME TO SEE US WE VETTED EVERYTHING SO THAT ONCE IT WAS READY TO GO IT WAS REALLY READY TO GO.

NO DRAMA, NO CHAOS.

SO WE'VE HAD JUST A REMARKABLE AMOUNT OF DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CITY.

AND I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT THAT ATTITUDE IS A BIG PART OF THE REASON.

THE NEXT THING IS WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH THE WORKFORCE ATTRACTION IN PARTICULAR, QUALITY OF LIFE.

YOU WANT TO HAVE A CITY WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO BE.

AND WE CAN HAVE A LONG CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.

YOUR I.R.S.

SITE QUESTION, THE COVINGTON HAD A MAJOR I.R.S.

PROCESSING CENTER ON 23 ACRES IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN RIGHT NEXT TO THE OHIO RIVER.

THEY CLOSED IT IN 2019.

THE CITY BOUGHT THE PROPERTY IN 2020.

AND WE WENT THROUGH AN ENTIRE PLANNING PROCESS THAT INVOLVED OUR COMMUNITY THAT INSTEAD OF BUILDING HIGH-RISES AND BEING CINCINNATI JUNIOR, WE DECIDED TO BE COVINGTON ON STEROIDS.

SO WE ARE NOT USING A MASTER DEVELOPER.

WE ARE DEVELOPING IT AND SELLING LOTS SO WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SMALL DEVELOPERS.

WE ARE HAVING HUMAN-SIZED HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS NOT 10, 15, 20 STOREY BUILDINGS BUT FIVE STOREY BUILDINGS AND MIXED-USES IN THERE.

AND SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

CONDOS, APARTMENTS, COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, A CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION, HOTELS ALL PART OF IT.

OUR MASTER PLAN CALLS FOR RECONNECTING THAT AREA TO THE RIVER BY TAKING ONE STREET TO THE TOP OF THE FLOOD WALL AND REMOVING THE FLOOD WALL AND CREATING OPEN SPACE.

THIS PLAN WAS ALL DEVELOPED WITH A LOT OF INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY SO IT REPRESENTS COMMUNITY VALUES.

AND THEN WE'RE DOING SOMETHING WEIRD.

WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN.

WE ARE NOT LETTING IT SIT ON THE SHELF AND GATHER DUST.

SO WE ARE AT THE POINT HERE WHERE WE ARE ABOUT READY TO GO OUT AND HAVE THE MAJOR CONSTRUCTION FOR THE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURELE THES UNDERWAY.

23 ACRES ONE BUILDING ONE FLOOR BUILDING.

IT WAS ALL DEMOLISHED SO WE HAVE AN EMPTY LOT NOW.

SO WE'RE PUTTING BACK THE URBAN GRID THAT WAS THERE BEFORE THE URBAN RENEWAL.

THE CROSS STREETS AND THE NORTHWEST STREETS WE'RE RECREATING THE SENSE OF NEIGHBORHOOD WITH OUR STRUCTURE WITH OUR APPROACH.

AND THEN WE HAVE ALREADY GOT MAJOR DEVELOPERS LINED UP TO BEGIN THE FIRST PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION AS SOON AS WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING BORING YET BOLD.

I WANT TO GO TO CHRIS, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE SOMERSET DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE IT READS QUOTE AND SOMERSET WE ARE NOT JUST LAYING BRICKS WE'RE BUILDING CATHEDRALS AND YOU ARE MORE THAN JUST THE CAPITAL OF LAKE CUMBERLAND.

TALK TO US BUILDING CATHEDRALS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

RENEE THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU TO YOU AND KET FOR ALWAYS BEING THE LEADER IN HAVING THESE IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH AND JOE, THAT DIDN'T SOUND BORING I AGREE THAT SOUNDS BOLD I COMMEND YOU FOR THE SUCCESS YOU ARE HAVING.

RENEE YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

BECAUSE DIMES MAKE DOLLARS AND EVERYTHING WE CAN DO IN THE COMMUNITY ADDS TO THAT QUALITY OF LIFE THAT JOE WAS REFERRING TO.

WE WANTED TO REEVALUATE AND REIMAGINE WHAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WAS IN SOMERSET.

IT HAD BECOME SOMEWHAT STALE FOR ABOUT 15-20 YEARS.

AND WE WANTED TO BEG THE QUESTION, ASK THE QUESTION WHAT IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?

AND WE DECIDE IT WAS ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO THAT BENEFITS YOUR COMMUNITY ECONOMICALLY, POLITICALLY AND SOCIALLY.

WE HAVE BEEN INVESTING HEAVILY IN INDUSTRIAL RECRUIT.

AND COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, TOURISM, AND EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRYING TO ATTRACT CONFERENCES AND CONVENTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND IT IS THAT OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE'RE ALL SEEKING.

KENTUCKY WITHOUT QUESTION STANDS HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IN WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.

AND NOW IT'S JUST UP TO US TO TELL OUR STORY OUT THERE.

BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT TELLING OUR STORY, SOMEBODY ELSE OUT THERE MAYBE TELLING ONE WE DON'T LIKE.

I LOVE BEING ABLE TO CARRY THAT NARRATIVE FOR THE COMMONWEALTH AS WELL AS FOR OUR HOME REGION.

>> AND I WANT YOU TO SHARE THE STORY THE ORIGIN OF THE STORY OF THE HORSE BOURBON DISTILLERY.

IT HAS A SIGNIFICANT GENESIS AND COMPELLING STORY.

>> IT REALLY DOES.

AND GETTING TO KNOW THE PEOPLE AND THE STAFF FROM HORSE SOLDIER BOURBON HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BEST THINGS IN MY CAREER.

IT HAS JUST BEEN INCREDIBLE TO SEE THEM GROW THIS BRAND FROM JUST A START-UP COMPANY.

AND CREATE IT TO NOW WHAT IS THE FASTEST GROWING BOURBON BRAND IN THE WORLD.

WHEN SOMERSET MAYOR CAME INTO OFFICE ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES WHATS TO TRY TO RECRUIT A BOURBON DISTILLERY TO SOMERSET.

IT WAS A HEAVY LIFT BUT WE ENGAGED AT THE BEGINNING AND WE LIKE TO SAY KENTUCKY IS THE HORSE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD WHERE THE BOURBON CAPITAL OF THE WORLD AND MY NECK OF THE WOODS WE REFER IT TO AS THE HOUSEBOAT CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

AND THE BOURBON IS THE MARRYING OF THOSE THINGS THINGS.

AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROJECT $200 MILLION DISTILLERY COMING WITH A VISITORS CENTER, ROOMING ACCOMMODATIONS.

AND IT'S JUST HAS BEEN HEART WARMING TO SEE THAT THEN HAVE THAT SNOWBALL EFFECT AND LEAD TO GREATER ANNOUNCEMENTS COMING BEHIND IT.

>> WHAT DOES THE COMPLETION DATE FOR THAT?

>> THE START DATE IS THIS SPRING.

THE COMPLETION DATE WILL BE BETWEEN 18 AND 36 MONTHS.

RIGHT NOW THEY'VE INVESTED IN OUR DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY AND OPENING UP AN URBAN HOUSE IN DOWNTOWN SOMERSET THAT IS AN IMAGE WHAT THEY ARE OPERATING IN IN FLORIDA.

>> BROOKLYN LEE THANK YOU FOR JOINING USTH.

YOU GOT BOURBON ON YOUR SIDE, TOO.

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> BUT YOU HAVE OTHER INDUSTRIES ON THE BALL AND TALK ABOUT BOURBON, AND ALSO HOW YOUR PORTFOLIO FOR BUSINESSES IS MORE VAST THAN JUST BOURBON.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE IN THE STUDIO.

AND AMONGST PRETTY SPECIAL PEOPLE.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

AS YOU MENTIONED WHEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT MARION COUNTY THEY THINK ABOUT BOURBON.

WE ARE HOME TO THREE DISTILLERIES.

OVER THE LAST 30-40 YEARS WE HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB OF RECRUITING INDUSTRIES TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE A DOWN ACTIVE OF LESS THAN 20,000 PEOPLE.

AND VERY RURAL.

SO WE FACE THOSE RURAL CHALLENGES, NO RIVER, NO RAIL, 20 MILES FROM AN INTERSTATE.

BUT SOMEHOW, SOME WAY WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY DO A GOOD JOB OF RECRUITING JOBS TO MARION COUNTY.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR INDUSTRIAL BASE WE'RE HOME NO NOT JUST BOURBON BUT TIER ONE AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIERS, THE PLASTICS AND LUMBER INDUSTRY.

I CAN GO ON AND ON ABOUT HOW DIVERSE THE INDUSTRIAL BASE IS THERE.

WHILE WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB AT RECRUITING THE INDUSTRIES AND WE CONTINUE TO RECRUIT MORE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT PRODUCT THAT WE'VE HEARD, THE PRODUCT TO SELL TO RECRUIT MORE PROJECTS, WE'RE ALSO FACING CHALLENGES OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND HOUSING AND WHILE 30, 40 YEARS AGO WE STARTED DOING A GREAT JOB OF RECRUITING INDUSTRIES, I THINK WE THOUGHT IT WOULD HAPPEN ORGANICALLY THAT WE WOULD PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO MOVE TO MARION COUNTY AND THE RETAIL AND THE RESTAURANTS WOULD COME WITH THAT.

BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR WHATEVER REASON.

SO I THINK THE WHOLE POSITION OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR HAS CHANGED OVER THE LAST 30, 40 YEARS.

PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST FIVE TO 10 YEARS WHILE NOW, ECONOMIC VICE-PRESIDENT.

ENCOMPASSES MORE THAN JUST INDUSTRY RECRUITMENT IT'S THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> TOURISM.

>> TOURISM, ABSOLUTELY.

>> YOU ARE A FEW MILES FROM GLENDALE AND HARDEN COUNTY AND THERE IS A BIG PROJECT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT LOUISVILLE SK.

AND WE SPOKE ON THE PHONE THE OTHER DAY ABOUT DID YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT WORKER MIGRATION OR THE POSSIBLE TOUGH SIDE OF THAT, DO YOU EXPECT THAT MAIER I DON'T KNOW COUNTY WILL GET A BIG BOOST FROM THE BATTERY PLANTS?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

WE'VE RECENTLY SEEN AN UPTICK IN INTEREST FROM SUPPLIER PROJECTS.

WE FILLED OUT A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REGARDING ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS AND WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF SITE VISITS.

SO WHILE WE DO WORRY A LITTLE BIT THAT THEY ARE WELL PAYING JOBS AND CERTAINLY PEOPLE FROM MARION COUNTY WILL MAKE THE COMMUTE TO GLENDALE IF WE REVERSE THAT AND SAY HOW DO WE GET THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIVE IN MARION COUNTY THAT WILL BE WORKING HOW DO WE GET THEM TO MOVE TO MARION COUNTY.

AGAIN, THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

DO WE HAVE A REASON TO GIVE THEM TO WANT TO LIVE IN MARION COUNTY.

DO WE HAVE A PLACE FOR THEM TO LIVE AND THINGS TO DO.

WE ARE A BIT FEARFUL THEY WILL STEAL SOME OF OUR PEOPLE TO COME TO GLENDALE I THINK WE CAN LOOK AT THE POSITIVE SIDE AS WELL.

>> TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT IS THE LARGE HEFT DEVELOPMENT, BLUE SK IS INVESTING TO PRODUCE BATTERIES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES THE SITE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

AND OUR LAURA ROGERS SHARES MORE ON THE IMPACT AND THE WORK BEING DONE TO GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> IT IS AN EXCITING TIME IN HARDEN COUNTY.

IT'S CHALLENGING BUT IT'S EXCITING.

>> HARDEN COUNTY KEITH TALL IS UP WITH OF THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OVERSEEING THE PROGRESS ON THIS 1500 ACRE CONSTRUCTION SITE.

>> I SPEAK THAT LANGUAGE.

I WAS IN AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING FOR 30 YEARS.

>> KNOWLEDGE THAT IS PROVING HELPFUL FOR TWO MASSIVE EV BATTERY MANUFACTURING FACILITIES BUILT IN GLENDALE.

>> YOU HAVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND YOU HAVE THIS MULTIBILLION DOLLAR COMPANY THAT HAS CONFIDENCE IN MY LITTLE TOWN.

>> A HARDEN COUNTY NATIVE HE IS RETURNING HOME AFTER 30 YEARS AWAY.

TO MANAGE ONE OF THE TWO NEW PLANTS.

>> THIS PROPERTY I USED TO RUN AROUND ON NOW HAS THE TWO BUILDINGS, 4.3 MILLION SQUARE FEET THE NUMBER ONE PRODUCER OF BATTERIES IN THE INDUSTRY.

>> BLUE OVAL BATTERY PARK AIMS TO HELP FORD PRODUCING TWO MILLION ELECTRIC VEHICLES BY THE END OF 2026.

THE PROJECT IS ON SCHEDULE.

LEARNING A LOT ABOUT OUR COUNTERPARTS THEY ARE LEARNING A LOT ABOUT US.

IT IS A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FORD AND KENTUCKY, BUT NOW A NEW ONE WITH SK.

>> NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS SK BUT SK ARE THE NUMBER TWO BUSINESS CONGLOMERATE IN SOUTH KOREA.

>> WITH THE PROJECT THIS SIZE, COMES CHALLENGES.

NAMELY GETTING INFRASTRUCTURE UP TO SPEED TO ACCOMMODATE THE GROWTH.

PROJECTED TO INCREASE POPULATION SIZE BY 22,000 PEOPLE IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

>> THIS IS A TRANSITION FOR US IN THIS AREA.

TO MOVE FROM A VERY RURAL FARMING COMMUNITY OF GLENDALE INTO A LOT OF GROWTH.

>> THAT GROWTH INCLUDES NEW ROADS AND ADDITIONAL WATER AND SEWER LINES AMONG OTHER NEEDS.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT NEW HOUSING AND SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND APARTMENTS AND NEW RESTAURANTS AND SEVERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS ON NEW RESTAURANTS.

>> RICK GAINS HAS BEEN INVOLVED FOR 20 YEARS WORKING ON ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEYS AND UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> WHEN YOU TAKE ON A PROJECT OF THIS SIZE AND ALL THE GROWTH THAT GOES WITH IT, WE'RE STILL CONTINUING TO LOOK OUT FIVE OR 10 YEARS AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO NEED TO KEEP THE GROWTH RATE.

WE'RE WORKING ON THOSE WITH THE CITY EVERYDAY.

>> THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO CREATE 5,000 JOBS.

BUT OFFICIALS SAY THE IMPACT WILL EXTEND BEYOND THE GLENDALE SITE.

>> THERE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE AROUND 10,000 JOBS CREATED AROUND THE STATE BECAUSE OF THIS PROJECT.

>> JOBS ON-SITE RANGE FROM BASE OPERATORS TO EXPERIENCED ENGINEERS.

>> THIS IS NEW TECHNOLOGY.

IT'S VERY HEAVY IN THE ENGINEERING FIELD.

AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FIELD.

>> AND OFFICIALS HOPE BLUE OVAL SK WILL HELP RETAIN YOUNG TALENT IN KENTUCKY.

>> I THINK MANY OF US IN HARDEN COUNTY AND THE REGION SEE THIS AS QUITE AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF EACH ONE OF US AND OUR CHILDREN OUR GRANDCHILDREN.

>> NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY ESPECIALLY, GLENDALE, WE HAVE A WORLD CLASS TWO POWERHOUSE COMPANIES JOINED IN THE VENTURE IN OUR BACKYARD.

>> TO GET THE WORKERS JOB READY, THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM IS BUILDING THE BLUE OVAL SK TRAINING CENTER.

>> WHAT MAKES THIS EXCITING IS WHO IT IS.

FORD AND SK ARE ABOUT THE HUGE VERY REPUTABLE COMPANIES AND WE'RE JUST EXCITED THAT THE THEY'VE COME TOGETHER IN THIS JOINT VENTURE AND THEY CHOSE THIS SITE.

>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT AND AT THE SAME TIME I FEEL THE PRESSURE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN AND TO LEAD IN THAT WAY.

SO THAT WE DON'T FALL BEHIND.

I'M EXCITED.

LET'S DO IT, RIGHT, LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> FOR KET I'M LAURA ROGERS.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

TO YOU SENATOR WISE, 10,000 JOBS THEY PREDICT ACROSS THE STATE.

NOT JUST THE 5,000 THERE IN THE GLENDALE COMMUNITY.

WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION FOR HOW THIS CAN BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR KENTUCKY?

>> WELL, FIRST OFF, IT'S EXCITING WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO COME TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY WITH THAT WE ARE SEEING WHAT IS THE TIMELINE ON THIS?

WE'VE HAD MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE VIDEO THERE APPEARED BEFORE OUR ECONOMIC COMMITTEE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

AND THERE'S ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF HESITATION LIKE WOW.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG UNDER TAKING.

IF YOU TALK TO THE DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT LINCOLN TRAIL OF THE THINGS THEY HAVE TO PUT IN PLACE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND A LOT OF THINGS THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHAT THEY WILL BE EXPECTING.

AND ALSO GLAD THERE IS THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN ELIZABETHTOWN THAT IS STARTING TO PARTNER UP BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE TO GO INTO THE JOBS.

NOT FOR THIS MIGRATION OF PEOPLE TO BE TAKEN FROM OTHERS AROUND THAT AREA.

THAT IS PART OF MY DISTRICT A LOT OF US LIVE IN THE AREA THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS.

I THINK THERE WAS NEWS OF MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF A PAUSE.

AND I THINK SOME PEOPLE MAYBE WELCOMED A LITTLE BIT OF A PAUSE JUST TO SEE.

>> ON THE ONE PLANT.

>> TO BE GOING FORWARD OF ARE WE READY TO TAKE THIS ON?

AND IF SO, MAKING SURE WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD TIMELINE IN PLACE.

>> MS. McCOY ALL OF THOSE ISSUES INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING WE CAN SPEND A SHOW ALONE ON HOUSING AND WHEN YOU THINK OF THE MIGRATION COMING TO THE COMMUNITY HOW DO YOU START TO DEVELOP A HOUSING PLAN?

>> PARTNERSHIPS FOR ONE.

YOU KNOW, BROOKLYN MENTIONED THE ROLE OF AN ECONOMIC VICE-PRESIDENTER HAS CHANGED AND THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

IT'S NOT JUST JOBS BUT A 5,000-PERSON TOWN BEING DROPPED ON TOP OF ELIZABETHTOWN.

YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE SERVICES THAT PEOPLE NEED TO LIVE AND EXIST IN A COMMUNITY.

I'VE BEEN PLEASED TO SEE THE KENTUCKY LEAGUE OF CITIES.

JD WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR.

WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE IMPLICATIONS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHEN YOU ARE EXPANDING AT THAT RATE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE, LIFESTYLE ATTRACTIONS, KENTUCKY'S PUNCHING ABOVE ITS WEIGHT ON A LOT OF THINGS WITH TOURISM IS GREAT TO MAKE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE.

THERE ARE LOGISTICAL CONCERNS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR TALK ABOUT FROM THE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE OF WHERE THOSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES COME TOGETHER AND HOW WE AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS CAN BE THE BEST POSSIBLE PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> JIM?

>> IT'S INCREDIBLE TO WATCH THAT PROJECT AND SEEING THAT PROJECT I MAKE A WEEKLY COMMUTE TO FRANKFORT FROM SIMPSON COUNTY.

AND THAT PART OF THE STATE IS GOING TO BE TRANSFORMED IT HAS BEEN.

IT IS AN INCREDIBLE PROJECT TO WATCH COME UP.

AND YOU HAVE THE INTERVIEW WITH JUDGE TALL HE IS A NEW COUNTY JUDGE IN HIS FIRST TERM.

TOOK THE PLACE OF A 20-YEAR COUNTY OFFICIAL.

AND CERTAINLY THERE ARE A LOT OF EXCITING AS HE DESCRIBED IT, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I REMEMBER TALKING TO THE SECRETARY GRAY AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND HIS COMPANY WAS INVOLVED WITH THE TOYOTA PLANT AND I SAID MAYOR, HOW DOES THIS COMPARE, BECAUSE YOU THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT HE SAID IF YOU TAKE THOSE DOLLARS THAT TOYOTA WAS THERE, 1985ISH AND ANNUALIZED TO TODAY, THIS WOULD BE A TWO-AND-A-HALF TIMES LARGER IMPACT ECONOMIC IMPACT THAN TOYOTA.

MANY OF US HAVE BEEN BENEFACTORS OF NOW NEARLY 30 PLUS YEARS OF TOYOTA'S PRESENCE IN KENTUCKY.

AND THE SPIN-OFF EFFECT.

THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO BE HUGE NOT ONLY FOR THAT REGION BUT FOR THE STATE.

BUT IT IS IT'S CHALLENGING TO THOSE COUNTY LEADERS.

I HAVE A TALKED TO THE JUDGE A NUMBER OF TIMES AND HE DESCRIBED THE SAME THINGS HE SAID IN THE INTERVIEW TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO YOU GET AHEAD OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

HOW DO YOU PLAN FOR THE PRESSURE THAT IS GOING TO PUT ON SO MANY THINGS.

AND IT IS.

IT'S NOT ELIZABETHTOWN IT'S SOUTH OF THE CITY OF ELIZABETHTOWN IT'S IN A RURAL AREA.

I DON'T THINK GLENDALE IS AN INCORPORATED CITY.

IT'S ABOUT THE SITE AND THE FACT WE HAD THE SITE AND THE INTERSTATE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IT'S THERE.

NOW, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT YOU EXPECT TO HAVE WHEN YOU LOCATE A 5,000-EMPLOYEE MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN YOUR COMMUNITY, WHICH VERY FEW COMMUNITIES WOULD BE READY TO DEAL WITH.

ALL THOSE CHALLENGES ARE REAL.

SO YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF CONVERSATION IN ARE SAYING WHAT DO WE DO?

THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES AS BROOKLYN TALKED ABOUT MARION COUNTY IS NOT FAR AWAY.

BUT LaRUE, HART, GREYSON, BRECON RIDGE THERE ARE COUNTIES HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS TODAY ABOUT WHAT IS THIS GOING TO MEAN FOR US?

HOW DO WE GET READY FOR IT.

IT'S EXCITING.

BUT IT IS CHALLENGING.

>> AND SOME WOULD SAY 20 YEARS AGO THERE WAS A PROSPECT FOR THAT LAND AND MANY WOULD SAY WHY AREN'T THEY ALREADY READY?

>> YOU HAVE TO ASK THOSE COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT QUESTION.

I CAN'T ANSWER THAT.

>> IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE, YEAH, 20 PLUS YEARS THAT SITE.

>> THE ISSUE OF WORKER MIGRATION IT'S ONE I DISCUSSED WITH THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIST TED AND HE SHARES WHY COMPANIES ARE DRAWN TO SMALLER COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP MEGA PROJECTS LIKE THE ONE IN GLENDALE.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THERE'S MEGA SITE ANNOUNCEMENTS THEY ARE NOT IN THE CITIES.

TOYOTA ANNOUNCED A BATTERY PLANT OF NORTH CAROLINA.

IT'S IN RANDOLPH COUNTY.

NEAR GREENSBORO.

IT'S NOT IN GREENSBORO IT'S NEAR.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE PLANTS ARE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, THEY DON'T TYPICALLY END UP IN THE DOWNTOWN THEY END UP IN A SMALLER COMMUNITY THAT GOT ITS ACT TOGETHER EARLY AROUND BIGGER AREAS.

SO SMALL COMMUNITIES AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO GROW WITH A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.

THEY CAN GROW WITH HOMEGROWN.

ALL OF THIS STARTS WITH HELPING YOUR EXISTING BUSINESS THEY WILL GROW IF YOU GO OUT AND ASK BUSINESS WOULD YOU GROW IF IT YOU COULD FIND ENOUGH PEOPLE TO WORK FOR YOU THEY SAY YES.

YOU CAN GROW DIFFERENT WAYS SO COMMUNITIES HAVE HAVE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES.

SOME OF THE WORK WE DO IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE INDUSTRIES ARE HEADED.

WHAT DOES CAR MANUFACTURING LOOK LIKE IN 20 YEARS?

WHAT DOES ENERGY GROWTH LOOK LIKE?

WHAT DOES THE IT INDUSTRY LOOK LIKE?

THEY ARE GOING TO CHANGE.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WILL CHANGE ALL OF US.

SO IF YOU ARE PREPARING WHAT ARE YOU PREPARING FOR?

I'VE HEARD THE PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTIES SAY THAT IF THEY STARTED OVER THEY WOULD ANTICIPATE DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE NEED IN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THEY DID EVEN BEFORE THIS PLAN.

THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE READY AND TODAY WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS ENOUGH ENERGY IN AMERICA THAT IS THE NEXT FRONTIER HOW DO WE GENERATE MORE.

HOW DO WE GENERATE MORE BECAUSE THE NEXT ROUND WANTS MORE.

>> TO THE POINT ABOUT LABOR AND THE WORSE FORCE SHORTAGE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT A PLANT THAT COMES INTO GLENDALE, HARDEN COUNTY COMMUNITY AND WE NEED 5,000 WORKERS.

AND I THINK PERHAPS MAYBE SOME OF THE SMALLER BUSINESSES MAY FEAR I MIGHT LOSE MY WORKERS TO THIS HIGHER PAYING JOB.

HOW DO YOU OFFSET THOSE LOSSES OR GAINS AS IT MAYBE?

>> SO THERE'S GOING TO BE BENEFITS BUT THE THREAT IS REAL ON WHAT YOU DESCRIBED.

AND WE DO LOCATION ANALYSIS FOR COMPANIES.

AND SOME OF THEM MOVING FROM EXPENSIVE PLACES TO LESS EXPENSIVE PLACES AND THEY SAY ALL I HAVE TO DO IS OUTPAY THE CURRENT COMPANY.

SO I CAN GO DOWN IN WAGES BUT GET THERE.

IT'S REAL.

BUT IF YOU HAVE A PLANT LIKE THAT, IN ECONOMIC DEPARTMENTS THERE'S INDIRECT COSTS THAT ARE BENEFITS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THAT ARE GOING TO RAISE A LOT OF THINGS IN THAT COMMUNITY.

ARE THEY LIKELY TO LOSE WORKERS?

EVERYBODY LOSES WORKERS ALL THE TIME.

WE LIVE IN A DYNAMIC SOCIETY.

THEY WILL LOSE SOME DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE THEY HAVE.

BUT HE SAYS SO FAR BUSINESSES ARE UPBEAT ABOUT THIS.

THEY SEE OPPORTUNITY MORE THAN THEY SEE THREATS.

>> SO I WANT TO PICK UP CHAIRMAN WISE ON SOMETHING HE SAID BEYOND THE WORKER MIGRATION ISSUE BECAUSE YOU WERE NODDING YOUR HEAD WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT COMMUNITIES WHO WISH THEY HAD PREPARED DOUBLE AND TRIPLE WHEN IT COMES TO YOU WILL AOF THESE ISSUES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, SEWER, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

WHY IS KENTUCKY THERE LIKE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU ENGAGE WITH ARE THEY THINKING ABOUT 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD AND PREPARING FOR THE NEXT BIG GET?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS, TOO, MENTIONED EARLIER ENERGY.

THE RECENT DECISION MADE BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO LOOK INTO RETIRE SOME OF OUR COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS I WORRY ABOUT ENERGY FOR THE FUTURE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

OF OIL AND GAS WHAT WE HAVE WITH THE PARTICULAR PROJECTS.

THAT IS A HUMAN ISSUE AND WE SAW THE SHUT DOWN WITH THE WINTER STORM LAST YEAR.

THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE AND DECISIONS BEING MADE WITH THAT, WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT LONGEVITY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY USING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.

AND GETTING TO THE QUESTION YOU ASKED THAT IS WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE FORESIGHT AND GOT TO HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE AND A LOT OF THIS ARE ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE TREMENDOUS LIKE THAT.

EYE-OPENING.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK THAT IS WHERE COMMUNITY SUCH AS REGIONALLY, BROOKLYN AND THE OTHERS WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GET OFF SHOOTS OF THIS.

I WOULD EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN.

I WOULD EXPECT SOME COMMUNITIES WILL BENEFIT OFF OF THAT AND THAT IS WHERE THEY NEED TO LOOK TODAY AND WORKING WITH THE ROAD PLANS AND LEGISLATORS ON THESE ISSUES.

ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT KENTUCKY IS OUR ROAD SYSTEMS WE HAVE IN PLACE.

YOU COME FROM INDIANA AND YOU GO INTO TENNESSEE DIFFERENT STATE WHAT IS THEY HAVE.

WE ARE SO FAR AHEAD RIGHT NOW OF OUR LOGISTICS TRANSPORTATION WHICH MAKES US AN ATTRACTIVE STATE.

>> AND MAYOR, TALK ABOUT THAT AND YOU'VE NEGOTIATED WITH THE STATE ON STORMWATER SYSTEMS IF YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ACTIONS THE CITY HAS TAKEN WITH THE STATE TO HELP AND HELPING HAVE GOOD ROADS AND WAYS THAT HELP DECREASE CONGESTION AND MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND NEIGHBORHOODS?

>> IF YOU ARE DEALING WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AND ISSUES IN COVINGTON YOU HAVE TO START WITH THE BRENT EXPENSE BRIDGE CORRIDOR PROJECT.

TWO STATE, BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PLUS APPROACHES.

WE HAVE WORKED ON THAT FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS NOW.

AND BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT DRAMATICALLY NARROWED.

WE HAVE REDUCED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FAMILIES BEING RELOCATED FROM 104 TO FOUR.

WE HAVE SAVED A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES.

WE HAVE GOT THE STATE TO AGREE TO CORRECT PROBLEMS THAT WERE CAUSED BY THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION BY 75 BACK IN THE 60s.

STORMWATER YOU MENTIONED.

STORMWATER PROBLEMS ARE REAL ISSUE IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHEN IT RAINS HEAVY AND THE BASEMENTS FLOOD AND THE STREETS GET FLOODED.

AND SO WE'VE GOT AS PART OF THE TRANSPORTATION CABINET THE BRENT EXPENSE BRIDGE CORRIDOR PROJECT WE HAVE THOSE STORMWATER ISSUES BEING ADDRESSED.

ALL OF THE OTHER QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES FROM NOISE TO AIR POLLUTION WE HAVE SOME DEGREE OF MOVEMENT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

NOISE POLLUTION FOR EXAMPLE, THE TRANSPORTATION CABINET IS EXPERIMENTING IN COVINGTON WITH TRANSPARENT NOISE BARRIERS.

SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE DRIVE THROUGH COVINGTON THEY CAN STILL SEE THE CITY.

WHEN THE FOLKS WHO LIVE BY THE EXPRESSWAY THEY CAN STILL SEE THEIR VIEW IS NO LONGER A CONCRETE WALL.

>> AND THE SOUND BARRIER.

>> AND IT IS A SOUND BARRIER IT'S STARTING CONSTRUCTION THE FIRST TIME IN KENTUCKY IT'S BEEN USED AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW WELL IT WORKS IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> I'M SURE WE WILL HEAR ABOUT IT.

>> IT IS NOT JUST BIG PROJECTS LIKE THIS BUT IN COVINGTON IT'S LITTLE PROJECTS, TOO, THAT IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

SO WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF STREETS THAT ARE PARALLEL ONE WAY SYSTEMS THAT WERE BUILT BEFORE THE EXPRESSWAY.

AND IT'S MEANT TO HELP PEOPLE DRIVE FAST THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

DRIVING FAST DETERIORATES THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

SO WE'VE WORKED WITH THE TRANSPORTATION CABINET AND TAKING SCOTT AND GREEN STREET FROM A PARALLEL TO BEING TWO-WAY.

WE WANT TO SLOW DOWN THE TRAFFIC.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT A MORE DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT.

WE WILL SEE PROPERTY VALUES GO UP.

MINOR INVESTMENT, BIG IMPROVEMENTS IN TERMS OF CREATING A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE.

AND ANOTHER SMALL PROJECT AND THESE ARE SMALL IN TERMS BUT THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO US.

FOURTH STREET IN COVINGTON RUNS FROM THE LOOKING RIVER TO I-75.

AND IT IS A STATE ROUTE.

AND IT'S THREE LANES AND IT'S MISERABLE THE SIDEWALKS ARE NARROW, THE TELEPHONE POLES ARE IN THE MIDDLE.

IF YOU ARE IN A WHEELCHAIR YOU HAVE NO PRAYER OF GETTING THROUGH.

CARS DRIVE QUICKLY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF OUR I.R.S.

OUR CENTRAL RIVERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

GETTING THAT FROM A THREE-LANE DRIVE THROUGH THE CITY FAST APPROACH TO A TWO-LANE WIDEN THE SIDEWALKS BICYCLE LANES, ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE DRAMATICALLY.

AND RELATIVELY SMALL COST.

SO AND IT WILL RUN FROM THE INTERSTATE TO A BRAND NEW THE KENTUCKY VETERANS BRIDGE THE FOURTH STREET BRIDGE CONNECTING COVINGTON AND NEWPORT.

THESE KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS THEY ARE NOT AS SEXY AS BUILDING NEW HIGHWAYS THE NEW PLACES BUT THEY ARE VITAL TO CREATING THAT QUALITY OF LIFE THAT DESIRABLE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT THAT DEALS WITH THE FUNCTIONS, HELPING PEOPLE MOVE, BUT IN A WAY THAT ALSO ENHANCES THE RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL INTEGRITY OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT HOW YOUR ORGANIZATION IS WORKING TO GET COMMERCIAL AIR SERVICE IN SOMERSET AND THE REGION.

TALK TO US WHY THAT IS NECESSARY?

>> IN KENTUCKY THE IMPORTANCE OF AVIATION CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.

AVIATION THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH, I MEAN OUR LOCAL AIRPORTS MANY TIMES ARE THE WELCOME MATT TO THE WORLD.

THE PEOPLE VISITING CONSIDERING RELOCATING HERE OR OPENING A BUSINESS HERE.

FROM A COMMERCIAL AIR SERVICE PERSPECTIVE IT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE AND ALSO A PARTNERSHIP OF REGIONALISM.

WHICH I THINK IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE GROWTH HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

WHERE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THE COMMUNITIES OF LONDON TO JOIN SOMERSET TO PURSUE COMMERCIAL AIR SERVICE.

WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM.

LAKE CUMBERLAND HAS FOUR MILLION VISITORS PER YEAR TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE VISITORS TO COME AND OUR CITIZENS TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND SEE THE REST OF THE WORLD WHETHER THAT IS PLEASURE OR BUSINESS.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT WE ARE MAKING ON THAT.

WE'VE JOINED A NATIONAL GROUP CALLED RESTORE THAT IS A MAKEUP OF SMALL RURAL COMMUNITY AIRPORTS THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND WORKING TOWARDS THAT SAME THING AS WE ARE.

>> SO WE HAVE JASON WITH US AND HE HAS A LONG TITLE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MOSTLY SUNNY INDUSTRIAL AUTHORITY AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT MAN.

>> RENEE GOOD TO BE WITH YOU AND THIS PANEL YOU HAVE AN AMAZING GROUP HERE.

>> AND YOU ARE AMONG THEM.

A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THAT MOUNT STERLING IS HOME TO HOT POCKETS TREATS WE LIKE.

AND YOU HAVE ANOTHER FORTUNE 100 COMPANY THAT DEALS WITH ANIMAL AND FOOD SAFETY PRODUCTS.

TALK TO US ABOUT HOW MOUNT STERLING IS ATTRACTING THIS TYPE OF INDUSTRY.

>> AS I TRAVEL ACROSS THE STATE OF KENTUCKY A LOT OF FOLKS THINK OF US A COURT DAYS AND ROADSIDE CANDIES BUT WE HAVE A THRIVING MANUFACTURING BASE THERE LOCALLY.

ONE OF THOSE BEING HOT POCKET, NESTLE EMPLOYING 1200 FOLKS LOCALLY AND BACK IN JANUARY WE HAD A BUSINESS RELOCATE AND DO AN EXPANSION CREATING 90 JOBS, HIGH PAYING JOBS THERE FOR THE FOLKS.

ANIMAL PHARMACEUTICALS, FORTUNE 100 COMPANY AND SUPER EXCITED WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THE FRANKFORT DELEGATION OUT TO CELEBRATE THAT.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

I WANT TO PICK UP ON A POINT ABOUT REGIONALISM.

AND MOSTLY SUNNY IS PART OF A GREATER -- MONTGOMERY COUNTY, COMMERCE LATINX.

THAT INCLUDES NINE COUNTIES WHICH MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS ONE.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH BY COLLABORATING TOGETHER?

>> I WILL SAY MY PREDECESSOR FOUGHT HARD TO MAKE SURE MONTGOMERY COUNTY WAS INCLUDED IN THAT.

THE BLUEGRASS ALLIANCE AND WE HAD THE SUMMIT LAST WEEK ON WEDNESDAY.

IT 2ED IN TO SHARE AN UPDATE FROM A 50,000 SQUARE-FOOT VIEW OF THINGS.

AND THE THOUGHT IS AS AREAS ARE RUNNING OUT OF LAND, HOW CAN MOUNT STERLING BEING A PART OF THAT SOLUTION?

WE'RE LEANING HEAVILY INTO THE KENTUCKY PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE LOOKING AT AREA WHERE WE CAN EXPAND AND SUPER EXCITED ABOUT WORKING WITH THE STATE ON THAT.

ALSO, WE'VE STEPPED IN AND ENGAGED WITH OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION, RECEIVING EDA GRANT THAT IS FUNDING A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.

>> I'VE HEARD YOU SAY THERE'S NOT ENOUGH INDUSTRIAL SITES AND BUILDINGS IS THAT TRUE TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY?

>> INTENTIONALITY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE GLENDALE PROPERTY AND THE INTENTIONALITY SAYING WE NEED TO CREATE A MEGA SITE HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO BUILDING THAT INVENTORY ACROSS THE STATE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

>> AND TALK ABOUT THE KENTUCKY PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE WHAT IS THAT?

>> THE KENTUCKY PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE IS A OUR INTENTIONALITY AS A STATE THE STATE LEGISLATURE FUNDED THAT WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND THEIR VISION AND INITIATIVES TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE COMMUNITIES CAN COMPETE FOR MONEY TO BE ABLE TO BUILD OUT SITES, GET INFRASTRUCTURE, SEVERAL FOLKS HERE ON THE PANEL HAVE LEANED IN NO THOSE PROGRAMS TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AND MOUNT STERLING MONTGOMERY COUNTY WE HAVE APPLIED HERE IN ROUND TWO FOR SOME FUNDING THAT IS A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR US.

>> MS. McCOY YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROGRAM?

>> YES, IT STARTED OUT AS A PILOT PROJECT IN KENTUCKY WITH A FEW MILLION DOLLARS.

AND 2022 THE ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATED 100 MILLION TO THE PROGRAM SO COMMUNITIES CAN APPLY FOR GRANTS TO INVEST IN PROPERTY ACQUISITION AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FOR WHAT JASON IS TALKING ABOUT.

THE CABINET FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHO WE PARTNER WITH REGULARLY OVERSEES THE ACTUAL DISPERSEMENT OF THE FUNDS BUT WE HAVE A SITE CONSULTING FIRM THAT EVALUATES ALL THE APPLICATIONS TO LOOK AT ROI.

OVER THREE QUARTERS OF KENTUCKY'S COUNTIES PARTICIPATED IN IT AND IT'S ABOUT GENERATING A RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

THE DOLLARS WHICH ARE LOCALLY MATCHED ARE PROJECTED TO BRING A RETURN FOR THE COMMUNITIES.

IT IS A WONDERFUL PRECEDENT AND WE HOPE TO SEE IT IN THE FUTURE.

>> WE ALSO HAD SECRETARY NOEL PROVIDE US AN UPDATE AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE KENTUCKY MAP WHERE THE PROJECTS ARE GOING AND WHAT IS HAPPENING.

IT IS A BUDGETARY ISSUE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I SUPPORT I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES CAN GET BEHIND THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION 2022 IS WHEN WE PUT IT INTO PLACE.

IT PROVIDES SKIN IN THE GAME FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO DO AND THE STATE WORKING TOGETHER.

WHEN CHRIS TALKED ABOUT REGIONALISM THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE.

WE WANT TO SEE THE COMMUNITIES ARE PARTNERING TOGETHER AND LOOKING TO PAIR UP WITH US AS A STATE TO HELP FUND THEM.

>> ONE OF THE ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM IS THE WORKFORCE CHALLENGES, LABOR FORCE.

I WANT TO ASK YOU BROOKLYN ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

AND IF THAT IS A CONCERN AND HOW YOU ARE TRYING TO MITIGATE IT IN MARION COUNTY?

>> I THINK I WOULD BE LYING THROUGH MY TEETH IF I SAID IT WASN'T AN ISSUE.

I FEEL LIKE IT IS AN ISSUE EVERYWHERE.

I -- I WANT TO GO BACK TO HITTING HOME ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.

WE FEEL LIKE AND MAYBE THE WORKFORCE ISSUE HAS A BIGGER THING WITH THE POPULATION ISSUE IN KENTUCKY.

I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED MORE PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY AS A STATE.

SO CERTAINLY MARION COUNTY AND HOW DO WE DIAL THAT IN ON A LOCAL LEVEL WE ARE DOING THINGS THE BEST WE CAN IN IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE.

BROUGHT OUR EXECUTIVE HERE WITH ME TODAY AND I'M PROUD TO TELL YOU ABOUT A PROJECT WE JUST ANNOUNCED A MULTIPURPOSE FACILITY PROJECT THAT IS 35,000 SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING THAT WILL PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR TOURISM AS WELL.

BE HOME TO THREE BASKETBALL COURTS REGULATION SIZE FOR AAU BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS AND A PLACE TO HOST COMMUNITY EVENTS.

THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WE USED TO HAVE YEARS AGO AND WE NO LONGER HAVE A PLACE NO HOST THOSE THINGS.

WE BELIEVE THAT IS GOING TO SERVE AND MEET THE NEED OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN MARION COUNTY AND ALSO AGAIN THAT TOURISM OPPORTUNITY IS GOING TO BE HUGE AND PROUD TO SAY THAT THAT PROJECT IS 100% FUNDED BY OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

SO THE FACT THAT THEY RECOGNIZED THAT WAS SUCH AN IMPORTANT NEED CERTAINLY THERE'S SO MUCH VALUE IN THAT.

>> KEEPING YOUTH ENGAGED, TOO IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ALSO WORK WE HAVE A GREAT AREA TECHNOLOGY CENTER IN MARION COUNTY.

IN FACT, THE PRINCIPAL OF THAT ATC IS PROBABLY IN OUR INDUSTRY'S MEETING WITH THEM AS MUCH AS I AM.

SHE HAS A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND SHE UNDERSTANDS THEIR NEEDS.

SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO TAILOR CURRICULUM WITHIN OUR TECHNOLOGY CENTER TO REALLY HELP PROVIDE A GOOD PIPELINE OF WORKFORCE FOR OUR INDUSTRIES.

THAT IS WORKING WELL FOR US IN MARION COUNTY.

>> TO YOU, SOMERSET COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS TOPS HAVING BEEN THERE A FEW TIMES.

>> WE'RE PROUD OF SOMERSET COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.

THEIR SUCCESS IS GOING TO BE KEY TO KEN'S OVERALL SUCCESS WITHOUT QUESTION AND WORKFORCE IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY IN THE COMMONWEALTH RIGHT NOW.

AND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE SOMERSET PULASKI COMMUNITY IS TRYING TO HIT IT HEAD ON.

WE ARE WORKING ON THE DETENTION CENTER TRYING TO TEACH THOSE INCARCERATED SKILLS AND TECHNICAL TRADES SO WHEN THEY DO GET RELEASED THEY ARE ABLE TO GO TO WORK.

WE WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ON THAT WHERE THE FOLKS ARE GETTING WELDING CERTIFICATES AND EMPOID WHILE THEY ARE INCARCERATED AND HAVE EMPLOYMENT UPON RELEASE.

I THINK THE K-12 EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT CAN NEVER BE LEFT OUT OF THAT.

THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.

I'M PERSONALLY FOR THE UNIVERSAL PRE-K I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE KIDS GET INTO SCHOOL EARLIER BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO PAY FOR IT ON THE FRONT END OR THE BACK END IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD AS WELL.

>> WE'LL HAVE A SHOW ABOUT UNIVERSAL PRE-K.

SENATOR WISE YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION?

ANYTIME.

>> I DO WANT TO PICK UP ON THAT.

MAYOR MEYER, YOU'VE DONE INNOVATIVE STUFF IN THE WORKFORCE AREA, ACADEMIC AREA.

YOU'VE GOT A REPURPOSED AREA THERE THAT HELPS IN THE TRADES.

AND SO IF YOU WILL TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, ONE OF COVINGTON'S PHILOSOPHIES IS TO TRY TO BE A CITY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY THAT LIVES IN THE CITY.

WE'VE STARTED THREE MAJOR PROGRAMS ONE IS COVINGTON CONNECT WHICH TOOK THE IDEA THE FREE WI-FI THAT IS AVAILABLE DOWNTOWN AND WE SPREAD IT THROUGHOUT THE CITY BASED ON THE RESIDENTS OF YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

AS A RESULT OF THAT, IT'S NOT JUST BROADBAND IT'S DIRECT INTERNET CONNECTION.

WE HAVE HAD MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION INTERSECTIONS ON OUR FREE PUBLIC WI-FI SYSTEM.

WE HAVE HAD 300,000 PUBLIC SCHOOL SESSIONS ON OUR FREE PUBLIC WI-FI.

ANOTHER THING WE DID IS LOOK AT OUR YOUNGEST, THE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN WHO ARE SCHOOL READY IN COVINGTON IS WAY LOW.

SO WE INVESTED IN A PROGRAM CALLED READ READY COVINGTON TO PROVIDE LITERACY ONE IS TO GET A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN READY FOR KINDERGARTEN AND THE SECOND IS TO HAVE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN READING ON GRADE LEVEL AT THE THIRD GRADE THAT IS A GREAT THING.

COMING OUT THE BACK END, WE SAW MAJOR OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES H AN AREA WHERE AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE WAS NOT ABLE TO MEET OUR NEEDS.

SO WE CUT A DEAL WITH THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY HOME BUILDERS AND IN THE SECTION OF COVINGTON, WE NOW HAVE A CONSTRUCTION TRADES TRAINING PROGRAM WITH TRAINING IN SEVEN TRADES AVAILABLE DURING THE DAYTIME TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND ADULTS IN THE EVENING.

SO THAT THEY CAN BONE UP ON THEIR SKILLS.

AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT WE STARTED A HERITAGE TRADES PROGRAM.

BECAUSE COVINGTON HAS THOUSANDS OF VERY OLD BUILDINGS AND THE CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES OF TODAY DON'T WORK WHEN WORKING ON OLD BUILDINGS.

WITH THE INSTITUTE WE ARE TEACHING PLASTERING, WE'RE TEACHING THE OLD WOODWORKING TECHNIQUES AND HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE ROOFINGS AND THIS SORT OF THING.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE YOU BACK AND MAKE A VISIT TO COVINGTON TO SEE THAT.

ALL OF YOU ARE DOING IMPORTANT WORK AND WE THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO SHARING IT WITH US.

WE THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THIS FORUM YOU CAN VIEW IT ON-LINE.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

TAKE GOOD CARE AND I'LL SEE YOU SOON.