[♪♪] >> Renee: GREETINGS FROM THE HISTORICAL HAM BRA THEATER IN DOWNTOWN HOPKINSVILLE AS WE PRESENT A SPECIAL ROADSHOW EDISON OF "KENTUCKY TONIGHT".

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US I'M RENEE SHAW.

WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM THE 650-SEAT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND.

THE ALHAMBRA THEATER, COMPLETED IN 1928 AND REOPENED IN 1983 AND LAST HAD MAJOR RENOVATIONS IN 2018.

THE NAME WAS INSPIRED BY THE ALHAMBRA PALACE IN SPAIN WHERE QUEEN ISABELLA GAVE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS THE FUNDS TO SAIL TO THE NEW WORLD.

THIS SETTING PROVIDES THE PERFECT BACKDROP FOR OUR COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ABOUT THE STRENGTHS, THE PROGRESS AND THE CHALLENGES OF THE SOUTHWESTERN KENTUCKY REGION THAT FLANKS THE TENNESSEE BORDER.

WE HAVE BROUGHT YOU THE STORIES OF A GREAT PEOPLE WHO WERE IN EDUCATION AND ARTS AND CULTURE AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS ON KENTUCKY EDITION.

AND TONIGHT ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" WE'RE CAPPING OFF OUR LEG ONE OF OUR SUMMER ROAD TOUR IN HOPKINSVILLE WITH THIS COMMUNITY CONVERSATION HERE AT THIS HISTORIC THEATER WITH FOLKS REPRESENTING DIFFERENT INTERESTS AND BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERTISE BUT WHO ALL PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE VITALITY OF THIS AREA.

JOINING US ON THIS STAGE ARE STATE REPRESENTATIVE JASON PETRIE A REPUBLICAN FROM THE CITY OF ALTON HE REPRESENTS TODD AND LOGAN COUNTIES AND PART OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY AND CHAIRS THE APPROPRIATIONS AND REVENUE COMMITTEE.

WAYNE HUNT A LEADER IN AGRICULTURE AND CHAIRMAN AND C.E.O.

OF H AND R AGRIPOWER.

CARTER HENDRICKS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTHWESTERN KENTUCKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.

WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE WITH US MADISONVILLE MAYOR, KEVIN COTTON.

ELIZABETH MCCOY JOINS US SHE IS PRESENT AND C.E.O.

OF PLANTERS BANK.

AND Dr. ALISSA YOUNG, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF HOPKINSVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THEM ALL.

[APPLAUSE] SO WE'VE HAD A GREAT TIME HERE IN THIS REGION.

EVERYBODY HAS BEEN SO HOSPITABLE, CARTER, AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU FIRST ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT FROM THIS AREA SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SOUTHWESTERN KENTUCKY?

IT'S NOT SOUTHWEST KENTUCKY, RIGHT?

EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE.

>> WE ARE ON YOUR SHOW WHATEVER YOU CALL IT WE WILL BE OKAY WITH IT.

WELL, I THINK YOU TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THE STAGE AND WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER ON A PERSONAL LEVEL WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF THE REGION WE KNOW ONE ANOTHER AND CARE OF ONE ANOTHER AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO TAKING CARE OF ONE ANOTHER.

BUT THERE IS A HOSPITALITY IN THE DNA OF THE PEOPLETH THIS REGION.

AND THE REGION HAD THE CHANCE TO BE THE HOME OF THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE.

AND 120,000 VISITORS THAT CAME FOR THAT EXPERIENCE AND OVERWHELMINGLY HER FEEDBACK WAS THE PEOPLE TREATED US LIKE WE WERE PART OF A FAMILY.

AND THAT IS THE MAGIC TO THIS REGION YOU ARE NOT JUST ONE OF US YOU ARE PART OF A FAMILY AND THAT INCLUDES THE MANUFACTURERS, THE MILITARY OR THOSE WHO GREW UP IN AGRICULTURE AND POINTS IN-BETWEEN IT'S FAMILY IN SOUTHWESTERN KENTUCKY AND THAT IS UNIQUE TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS REGION.

>> Renee: YOU FEEL LIKE THAT HERE AND YOU ARE TREATED LIKE FAMILY HERE.

AND I WAS TALKING TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HERE OF ALHAMBRA AND SHE CALLED WHEN THE ECLIPSE HAPPENED IT WAS FRONT PAGE NEWS AND THAT SAYS SOMETHING.

SO TO HAVE 120,000 OF YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS AND YOU HAVE PREVAILED AND TRIUMPHED IN TIMES OF TRAGEDY.

DISASTER, NATURAL DISASTERS HIT HERE MORE NAN A COUPLE OF TIMES TO SEE THAT SPIRIT IS VERY ENCOURAGING.

CHAIRMAN PETRIE, WE OFTEN SAY HEAR PEOPLE SAY FROM SOUTHWESTERN KENTUCKY OR FAR WESTERN KENTUCKY THAT THE BLUEGRASS IN THE WESTERN WESTERN PARKWAY GOES BOTH WAYS AND IT'S JUST AS LONG TO GO BACK AS IT IS TO COME.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE DISCONNECTION SOME MAY FEEL IN THE REGION TO THE CENTRAL POWER IN FRANKFORT?

>> IT IS AN ONGOING DIFFICULTY HERE, I WOULD SAY.

COMMUNICATIONS, DISTANCE, HAMPERS THAT COMMUNICATION AND FLOW OF INFORMATION BACK AND FORTH.

BUT I WILL TAKE ONE SLIGHT CORRECTION THE WINDSHIELD TIME IS THE SAME BOTH WAYS IT'S LONGER GOING TO FRANKFORT BY AN HOUR BECAUSE YOU LOSE THAT.

IT IS A LONG HAUL WHEN PEOPLE FROM HOME COME TO FRANKFORT TO VISIT OR TAKING ACTIVITY OR EVENT I'M APPRECIATIVE BECAUSE I KNOW HOW LONG THAT HAUL IS.

AND WE ARE IN A SPOT WHERE OUR NEWS MARKETS DON'T MATCHUP TO FRANKFORT.

IF YOU ARE IN LOUISVILLE, LEXINGTON OR COVINGTON YOU WILL CATCH THAT FRANKFORT NEWS.

HERE YOU HAVE INTERNATIONAL, INDIANA AND MISSOURI AND IT'S HARD TO GET INFORMATION TWITTER FEEDS ARE DIRECT IN LINKS BUT THAT COMMUNICATION IS DIFFICULT THE DISTANCE THAT CREATES THEM.

>> Renee: JENNIFER BROWN WHO WILL JOIN US IN THE SECOND HALF HOUR THE EDITOR OF THE HOSPITALTOWN HOW SOME PEOPLE IN SOUTHWESTERN KENTUCKY THINK NASHVILLE IS THE CAPITAL BECAUSE THE NEWS IS WHAT YOU ARE RELYING ON.

I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY AND FOR SUCH A LONGTIME WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS OTHER THAN THE PEOPLE?

>> I CAN'T NOT SAY THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT IS BEDROCK.

THERE IS A LOT OF POTENTIAL AND A LOT OF ACTUALS GOING ON NOW.

AND THE PEOPLE ARE THERE.

BEING ABLE TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE AND GO WHAT DO WE NEED?

WHAT IS GOING ON?

WHERE CAN WE HELP?

IN ALL FACETS THAT IS A GREAT THING.

BUT ALMOST IN JUXTAPOSITION THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SOUTHWESTERN KENTUCKY WITH THAT TOBACCO HERITAGE THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INDEPENDENCE.

A INDIVIDUALISTIC INDEPENDENCE.

PULLING THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER YOU COME UP WITH A MASSIVE EXPLOSION.

IF YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT WILL PULL TOGETHER AND ARE INDIVIDUALLY STRONG YOU HAVE A HECK OF A TEAM IS WHAT YOU GOT.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE GOT THAT I DON'T KNOW EXISTS ANYWHERE ELSE.

>> Renee: WE WILL TALK TO Mr. HUNT ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF AGRICULTURE HERE.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER INDUSTRIES THAT REALLY HELP CENTER THIS COMMUNITY ECONOMICALLY?

AGRICULTURE IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE.

IT PREDATES EVERYTHING ELSE AND IT CONTINUES AND IS A BEDROCK FOUNDATION.

WE HAVE GREAT INDUSTRIAL AND MANUFACTURING THAT HAS COME ON.

WE HAVE GOOD ARTS DEVELOP COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND I SEE COMPLETELY NONPROFIT NETWORKS THAT ARE COMING INTO THEIR OWN BOTH FOR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OTHERWISE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS AND ENCOURAGE THAT ENTREPRENEURIAL SMALL BUSINESS.

NOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE IT, WE HAVE SOME AND THEY ARE GOOD IN THOSE SMALL MEDIUM SIZED BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT BULK UP BUT THAT ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT THAT COMES FROM THE INDEPENDENCE THAT WANTS TO INTEGRATE INTO THE COMMUNITY THAT IS AWESOME.

>> Renee: I WANT TO GO TO MADISONVILLE MAYOR KEVIN COTTON.

ON YOUR WEBPAGE YOU HAVE YOUR WELCOME.

AND IT TALKS ABOUT MADISONVILLE BEING IN A SEASON OF CHANGE.

I WANT YOU TO EXPAND ON THAT WHEN IT COMES IN TERMS OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OR EDUCATIONAL SPACES WHAT DOES THAT CHANGE LOOK LIKE FOR MADISONVILLE?

>> THANK YOU.

WE'VE SEEN AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE TOP COMMUNITY COLLEGES NO WORRIES OF HOPKINSVILLE.

BUT WE HAVE ONE OF THE TOP LEADING COMMUNITY COLLEGES THAT LOOKS OUTSIDE THE BOX FOR EDUCATION AND FINDS WAYS TO BRING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND ONE OF THOSE IS A ROT FOR SCHOOL, HELICOPTER PROGRAM NOT SOMETHING THAT EVERY COMMUNITY COLLEGE ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH HAS.

AND SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS US TO CONNECT WITH FORT CAMPBELL, WHICH IS A BIG PIECE OF SOME OF OUR GROWTH IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE'RE IN FORT CAMPBELL WE ARE LOOKING TO RECRUIT THOSE FAMILIES INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT WE WERE TALKING EARLIER, WE'VE SEEN ALMOST BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, WE WILL HAVE SEEN OR ANNOUNCED ALMOST HALF A BILLION DOLLARS IN INVESTMENTS INTO OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

AND THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CHANGE IN A COMMUNITY.

ONE OF OUR LARGEST RETAIL DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE COMING TO TOWN RIGHT NOW, IS THE LARGEST THAT'S HAPPENED IN DECADES.

SO THAT BRINGS A LOT OF CHANGE.

IT WILL BRING CHANGE FOR OUR WORKFORCE.

IT WILL BRING CHANGE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FOCUS ON QUALITY OF LIFE.

BECAUSE WE SEE THAT THOSE MANUFACTURERS THAT ARE LOOKING INTO THE COMMUNITIES ARE FOCUSED FIRST ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THEIR WORKFORCE.

AND THAT'S THE ONE THING ABOUT MADISON OR HOPKINS COUNTY WE'VE TRIED TO STEP UP OUR GAME IS THAT QUALITY OF LIFE PIECE.

BUT IT IS A TEAM.

WE HEAR THAT, IT'S BEEN A TEAM.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN A HUGE HELP IN OUR EFFORTS IN MADISON AND HOPKINS COUNTY AND CARTER HENDRICKS AS WELL, WE SEE THE PARTNERSHIPS WE GO AFTER THE PARTNERSHIPS.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I BELIEVE THAT REGIONALISM IS WHAT SETS US APART FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION.

>> Renee: ARE THE CURRENT DENSONS THOSE WHO CALL MADISONVILLE HOME ARE THEY EMBRACING THE CHANGE?

ARE THEY FEARFUL OF IT AFFECTING THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE?

>> THE QUALITY OF LIFE ENHANCEMENTS WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE IMPROVES THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AS WELL.

ONE OF OUR SHINING STARS IN THE COMMUNITY IS OUR MARR PARK ASH ARBORETUM IT HAD 600,000 VISITORS IN THAT PARK ALONE.

OUR COMMUNITY EMBRACES THAT CHANGE.

THEY HAVE BEEN STARVING FOR THE CHANGE FOREVER YEARS.

AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE GROWTH ON OUR RETAIL DEVELOPMENT OUR MANUFACTURING AND EVEN OUR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, IT'S CREATED SOME EXCITEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND MOMENTUM THAT I BELIEVE IS GOING TO TAKE US FOR SEVERAL YEARS TO COME.

>> Renee: WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOUSING AS A SEPARATE PROGRAM AND THAT IS A CHALLENGE FOR LOTS OF COMMUNITIES DEALING WITH GROWTH.

AND SO HAS THAT BEEN SOMETHING YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MITIGATE?

>> I WOULD LOVE TO SAY YES.

BUT THE ANSWER IS WE'RE ALL DEALING WITH THE SAME STRUGGLES AND THE CHALLENGE WITH MADISON AND HOPKINS COUNTY, THE DECEMBER TORNADO OF 2021 IT WIPED OUT ALMOST 700 HOMES IN HOPKINS COUNTY.

NO, WE'RE NOT WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

YES WE'RE GOING AFTER IT.

YES, WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

YES, WE HAVE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE COMING IN STARTING NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND BRINGING IN MULTIFAMILY HOUSING AND WE WERE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS JUST LAST WEEK.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT PIECE.

BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE US YEARS TO GET BACK TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE BEFORE WE CAN CONTINUE THE GROWTH ON OUR HOUSING.

>> Renee: IS THAT THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU FACE AT THIS POINT IN THE GROWTH PLAN?

>> YES.

HOUSING IS GOING TO BE ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES MOVING FORWARD.

>> Renee: ELIZABETH MCCOY YOU HAVE PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY POURED INTO THE COMMUNITY IN SO MANY WAYS AND YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE AND WITNESS THE CHANGE OF HOPKINSVILLE AND THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

AND I WANT YOU TO TALK TO US ABOUT THE EFFORTS TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN AND EVEN PERHAPS SOME OF THE INCENTIVES THAT HAVE HELPED THAT REVITALIZATION COME TO FORE.

>> I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN AS WE'VE DISCUSSED MULTIPLE TIMES INCLUDING OUR BANKS, GREAT SUPPORT OF THIS THEATER.

AND OUR MUSEUM AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE DOWNTOWN AND THAT'S BEEN CRITICAL TO THE REDEVELOPMENT.

AND CARTER WAS THE MAYOR AND THE PREVIOUS MAYORS AND JUDGES THAT HELPED INCENTIVIZE THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THESE I CAN'T THANK THEM ENOUGH.

AND THAT THEN SPEARED OTHER THINGS TO HAPPEN.

SO WE HAVE NEW RESTAURANTS DOWNTOWN.

I AGREE WITH CHAIRMAN PETRIE, WORKING FOR SMALL BUSINESS IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO OUR BANK THAT IS ALL THE CUSTOMERS WE HAVE ARE SMALL BUSINESS.

AND OUR AG EXCEPT FOR YOU Mr. HUNT, OUR BIG AG CUSTOMERS I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE YOU OUT.

SO IT DOES TAKE SOME FINANCIAL INCENTIVE.

IT'S EXPENSIVE TO REDO THESE OLDER PROPERTIES.

MY HUSBAND AND I SOLD OUR HOME AND RENOVATED AN OLDER BUILDING AND MOVED OURSELVES.

OUR BANK HAS VEN VACCINATED ABOUT FOUR FULL CITY BLOCKS ON THE OTHER END OF MAIN STREET.

SO WE'VE PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS AND WE HOPE OTHERS WILL FOLLOW US.

I APPRECIATE THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT THAT IT TAKES AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WESTERN KENTUCKY HAS MAYBE THAT'S NOT UNIQUE BUT IT'S SPECIAL.

AND I'VE WORKED FOR A NUMBER OF LARGER BANKS IN MY CAREER AND ONE OF THE THINGS I USED TO REMIND MY BOSSES IN LOUISVILLE OR CINCINNATI, WE LIVE HERE BECAUSE WE CHOOSE TO.

NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO.

AND THAT IS AS IMPORTANT IN THE SPIRIT AND THE FRIENDLINESS THAT THE OTHER GENTLEMEN HAVE REFERRED TO.

>> Renee: AND THERE HAVE BEEN INCENTIVE PACKAGES TO HELP WITH THAT.

DOES THAT BRING ON THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT WAS SOUGHT?

>> YES.

WE HAVE SOME FACADE IMPROVEMENT MATCHING MONEY.

WE ALSO HAVE MONEY THAT CAN BE USED TO DEVELOP UPPER STOREY HOUSING UNITS WHICH IS IMPORTANT.

AND TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO LIVE DOWNTOWN IS CRITICAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS.

OUR CITY RECENTLY HAS A NEW SMALL BUSINESS COMMISSION THAT WILL BE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THOSE THINGS.

WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A LOT NEXT DOOR PROGRAM THAT THE LAND BANK BOUGHT SOME PROPERTIES AND TORN PROPERTIES DOWN AND THEN TRIED TO FIND THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER TO GIVE THE PROPERTIES TO TO HELP CLEAN UP INNER-CITY AREAS AND BLOCKS AND THAT HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, TOO.

>> Renee: Dr. YOUNG IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I'VE HEARD REMARKABLE THINGS ABOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP AT HOPKINSVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORKFORCE TRAINING, EDUCATION GO HAND IN HAND.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN EDUCATED WORKFORCE TO HAVE THE JOBS FILLED.

HOW IS HOPKINSVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE MEETING THE DEMANDS YOU ARE HEARING THE FINE FOLKS TALK ABOUT AND WHAT PROGRAMS ARE EVOLVING TO HELP MEET THAT DEMAND.

>> IT'S NICE TO BE HERE TO BE A PART OF THIS PANEL.

AS I LOOK OUT I LOOK AT THE PANEL AND THE AUDIENCE I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE THAT HOPKINSVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DOESN'T PARTNER WITH.

WE ARE PROUD OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS.

AND THAT'S HOW WE ARE ABLE TO REALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THIS COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE IN ADDITION TO OUR ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS WE HAVE 100 SHORT-TERM CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS THAT PEOPLE CAN COME AND IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME REALLY CHANGE THEIR INCOME AND THUS THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIVES.

WE HAVE OUR CDL PROGRAM.

OUR WELDING, ACCELERATED WELDING PROGRAM.

INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY, ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY, CONSTRUCTION, AND I CAN GO ON AND ON.

VARIOUS PROGRAMS WE OFFER AT HOPKINSVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND WE REALLY CONSIDER IT A PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES, BOARDS, MEETINGS EVEN WHEN WE'RE RECRUITINGBIES ABOUT AND INDUSTRY TO THE AREA WE ARE INCLUDED SO WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT IS NEEDED AND WORK TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.

>> Renee: YOU ARE ENGAGED WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND ARE RESPONSIVE TO WHAT THEY SAY WE NEED MORE WELDER OR HVAC WORKERS AND THEN DO YOU TAILOR THE CURRICULUM TO MEET THAT?

>> YES, WE DO.

WE HAVE CUSTOMIZED TRAINING THAT WE PROVIDE FOR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY.

AS WELL AS WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO OFFER OUR COURSES, WE ARE CATERING THOSE OFFERING TIMES TO WHEN OUR STUDENTS CAN ACTUALLY ATTEND THE COURSES.

>> Renee: SO FOR THE ADULT LEARNING POPULATION WHO MAY HAVE JOBS AND FAMILIES HAVING THAT FLEXIBILITY TO GET THEIR CERTIFICATE ON-LINE OR CREDENTIAL ON-LINE OR AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY OR NIGHT OR WEEKENDS?

>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

WHAT WE FOUND COMING THROUGH COVID IS THE FLEXIBILITY IS NEEDED STILL.

IN TALKING TO A COUPLE OF OUR STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION STUDENTS, ONE OF THE COMMENTS THEY MADE IS THEY REALLY WANTED THE ON GROUND OR IN-PERSON COURSES BUT THEY STILL NEEDED THE FLEXIBILITY THAT ON-LINE OR EVEN WHAT WE'VE LEARNED NOW IS THAT THE HYBRID FORMAT IS THE MOST POPULAR WHERE YOU HAVE AN ON-LINE COMPONENT AS WELL AS A FACE-TO-FACE.

WE'VE MOVED MORE SO TO HYBRID THAN PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING ELSE.

>> Renee: WE KNOW A LOT OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND LEARNING THEY HAVE EBBS AND GLOWS IN ENROLLMENT.

WHAT IS THE EXPERIENCE WITH HOPKINSVILLE?

>> WE ARE THE SAME.

WHEN COVID HIT, OUR ENROLLMENT DECLINED CONSIDERABLY.

BUT I AM SO THANKFUL THAT AT THIS POINT WE ARE CLIMBING OUT OF THAT.

WE'RE NOT QUITE AT POST COVID NUMBERS JUST YET BUT AT LEAST THERE'S NOT A DASH IN FRONT OF THAT NUMBER WHICH MAKES ME VERY HAPPY AND I BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE MANY OF THOSE SHORT-TERM CERTIFICATES AND THOSE TECHNICAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE NEEDED.

>> Renee: HOW MUCH IS A GAME-CHANGER OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WAS MADE SEVERAL DAYS AGO BETWEEN THE KENTUCKY COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM AND THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSFER AGREEMENTS?

>> IT'S HUGE.

BECAUSE WE ARE STILL PRIMARILY A TRANSFER INSTITUTION.

THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS STILL DESIRE TO EARN THAT ASSOCIATES DEGREE AND TRANSFER TO A FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTION.

WHEN WE CAN CREATE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS IT JUST MAKES THE WAY EASIER FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH THE SEAMLESS TRANSFER TO THE NEXT PHASE.

SO THAT'S HUGE.

AND Dr. QUARELS HAS TRIED TO EXPAND THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> Renee: AND THERE COULD BE A FEAR OF BRAIN DRAIN THEY MAY NOT RETURN TO THIS REGION ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THAT?

>> THAT IS A CONCERN.

BUT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE HOSPITALITY AND I THINK, TOO, MANY OF US UNDERSTAND THE SMALL TOWN FEEL.

THE FRIENDLINESS, THE FAMILY ATMOSPHERE HERE.

THAT IS REALLY ATTRACTIVE AND IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY.

AND REALLY IF YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF HOPKINSVILLE YOU ARE NOT THAT FAR.

>> Renee: YOU CAN GET THERE QUICKLY.

Mr. HUNT LAST BUT NOT LEAST.

FIRST DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JAMES COMER DESCRIBED YOU AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE AGRICULTURE LEADER IN THE HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.

BUT YOU STARTED VERY MODESTLY AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL YOU WORKED NIGHT SHIFTS IN A FACTORY AND DAYS ON YOUR FARM WITH 20 ACRES AND NOW YOU HAVE A MAJOR AGRIBUSINESS, 500-600 EMPLOYEES.

TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE STILL TO THIS REGION?

>> I WAS WONDERING WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO ASK ME.

>> I THINK WE CAN'T BELIEVE HOW IMPORTANT AGRICULTURE IS TODAY.

YOU EAT, SLEEP AND BLEED AGRICULTURE YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND.

MOST OF MY LIFE HAS BEEN IN AGRICULTURE.

I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE THOSE REPRESENTATIVE COMER CAN GIVE YOU INFORMATION ON IT.

THE WAY I SEE IT AND IN THIS COUNTY WE ARE BUILT ON AGRICULTURE.

WE ARE AN AG COUNTY FROM THE BOTTOM UP.

THAT IS WHERE WE START AND THAT IS WHERE WE FINISH.

THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE YOU SEE YOUR FOOD FROM THE GROUND TO THE TABLE.

WE DO THAT HERE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT RECRUITING AND THINGS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BRINGING STUFF IN.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AGRICULTURE THAT COMES IN WHAT IT BRINGS WITH YOU.

I SAT DOWN LET ME JUST GO BACK AND THE MILLING COMPANY.

THE FIRST ONE WE HAD I WILL NEVER FORGET THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PEOPLE CALLING SAYING WAYNE THERE IS WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE A LOT OF DUST?

A LOT OF DUST WE HAVE TO BE THE NUMBER ONE WHEAT COUNTY WE MAKE A LOT OF FLOUR HERE.

AND WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THE MILLING CAME AND DAY-TO-DAY CAN PROCESS 75% OF ALL THE WHEAT IN THE STATE.

HERE IN HOPKINSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

IF YOU EAT A BUSINESS QUIT OF MCDONALD'S IT COMES OUT OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY.

HERE IN THE CENTER OF IT.

BUT WHEN IT CAME THEY BROUGHT A TRUCKING COMPANY WITH THEM.

ANOTHER INDUSTRY CAME IN WITH THEM AND THEY BROUGHT CONTINENTAL MILLS ANOTHER INDUSTRY CAME IN WITH THEM.

THAT IS WHAT YOU SEE THEY BRING A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THEM.

AND I THINK WE LOOK OUT HOW MANY WE HAVE WE ARE THE BEST VERTICALLY INTEGRATED COUNTY.

THAT MEANS YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF BUSINESS COME HERE AND COME UP FROM THE DIRT.

IT'S HOPKINSVILLE LEDGER, GREAT FARMER OWNED COMPANY AND THEY'VE GOT ENERGY TODAY AND WE WERE THE FIRST ETHANOL PLANT IN KENTUCKY ALL YEAR TO FARMER OWNED.

THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

ALL THOSE ARE INDUSTRIES WE DON'T COUNT SOMETIMES YOU FORGET WHAT YOU'VE GOT ALREADY SOMETIME WHEN YOU ARE OUT TRYING TO RECRUIT.

THERE IS A THING THAT SAYS LOYALTY, THAT CUSTOMER TRADES WITH YOU ALL THE TIME.

BETTER BE LOYAL TO HIM.

THAT IS WHAT THE INDUSTRIES YOU GOT BETTER BE LOYAL YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE THEM.

I THINK WHAT KENTUCKY HAS GOING FOR IT, A LOT OF IT, I THINK, GOES BACK TO THE BUYOUT FUND AND THE MASTER SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.

FOR THAT TO BE 24 YEARS ON THE COMMITTEE AND I THINK WE'VE HANDLED 707 MILLION BACK INTO AGRICULTURE.

BACK INTO MAKING KENTUCKY WHAT IT IS TODAY.

WE ARE ON FOLKS NAME IN PLACES.

WE DO HAVE AGRICULTURE IN KENTUCKY.

ALL THAT WENT BACK TO THE FARMS.

WE REPLACED TOBACCO INCOME THE LARGEST INCOME 24 BILLION IN KENTUCKY.

POULTRY IS 20 BILLION TODAY THAT THEY ARE DOING PLUS WE TOOK THE TOBACCO AND PHASED IT OVER THERE THAT IS 20 OF THE 24 AND POULTRY IS DOING 3.8 AND TOBACCO IS DOING 3.8 MILLION.

WE HAVE REPLACED THOSE DOLLARS AND RAISED THE AVERAGE CASH INCOME ON THE FARM FROM 3.4 BILLION TO 8.1 BILLION.

AND WE'RE HERE TO TRIPLE IT.

>> Renee: I'VE HEARD IT SAYS IF YOU EAT A MCDONALD'S BUSINESS QUIT EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI ALL THAT FLOUR COMES FROM HERE?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

IF IT IS A MCDONALD'S BISCUIT.

>> Renee: WE CAN'T ACCOUNT FOREST OF THEM.

THAT IS PROBABLY A LITTLE KNOWN FACT.

>> CONTINENTAL MILLS HAS TRUSTEES PANCAKE MIXES MADE RIGHT HERE.

THAT'S WHAT COMES WITH FLOUR.

4 BILLION INDUSTRY IS COMING IN WITH THE ONE FLOUR MILL.

>> Renee: I WAS GOING TO SAY AMY ROGERS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VISITORS BUREAU AND SHE WOULD BE UPSET THIS IS THE BATTER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

>> Renee: THAT IS MY NEXT SEGUE.

THANK YOU.

AND TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

WE WILL HAVE SHOWN A STORY ON KENTUCKY EDITION OUR CREW MADE A TRIP TO SEE HER.

AND ITH I THEY GOT IN THE BIG THING.

I WANT TO SEE EVIDENCE OF THAT.

PEOPLE MAY BE SURPRISED HOPKINSVILLE IS THE BATTER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

>> SOMETHING WE ARE PROUD OF AND Mr. HUNT WAS SPEAKING TO WHY WE CAN MAKE THAT CLAIM IS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THIS VERTICALLY INTEGRATED SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS THE WHEAT, THE CORN AND THE GRAIN COULD BE GROWN AND PROCESSED AND MANUFACTURED INTO FOOD PRODUCTS THAT WE LOVE AND ENJOY, PANCAKES AND BUSINESS QUITS.

IT IS THE BATTER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD BASED ON THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING WE PRODUCE THE BEST AND HAVING THE BEST TASTING PRODUCTS AS A RESULT OF IT.

>> Renee: SHE BACKED YOU UP.

YEAH.

THE PROOF IS IN THE BATTER.

WELL -- >> [INAUDIBLE] >> WELL, THERE IS A LOT MORE INTERESTING THINGS TO TALK ABOUT AND WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A BRIEF PAUSE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR TOBY GIBBS GIVE A BRIEF HISTORY ABOUT THIS CITY OF HOPKINSVILLE AND THE SETTLERS HERE AND SOME OF THE GREAT INTERESTING FACTS THAT YOU ALSO MAY NOT KNOW.

SO STAY WITH US.

>> THEY SETTLED PRESENT DAY HOPKINSVILLE IN 1796.

THE WOODS CLAIMED 1200 ACRES OF LAND AND BUILT A CABIN.

OTHER SETTLERS ARRIVED AND AFTER THE TOWN BUILT A COURTHOUSE AND JAIL THEY CALLED THEMSELVES CHRISTIAN COURTHOUSE TO.

HONOR THE WOODS FAMILY THE TOWN WAS RENAMED ELIZABETH AFTER THEIR ELDEST DAUGHTER AND THAT CAUSED CONFUSION WITH ELIZABETHTOWN.

IN 1804, THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY RENAME TO DO 407 KINSVILLE A COLONEL WHO ROSE TO THE RANK OF GENERAL IN THE WAR OF 1812.

CHRISTIAN COUNTY IS NAMED FOR A REVOLUTIONARY WAR FIGURE, COLONEL WILLIAM CHRISTIAN.

AGRICULTURE DOMINATED THE LOCAL ECONOMY WITH CORN, WHEAT AND TOBACCO.

THE CIVIL WAR DIVIDED HOPKINSVILLE AND CHRISTIAN COUNTY WITH SOME PEOPLE SUPPORTING THE UNION AND OTHERS PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THE CONFEDERACY.

HOPKINSVILLE CHANGED HANDS A HALF DOZEN TIMES IN DECEMBER OF 1864, JUST A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THE WAR ENDED, CONFEDERATE FORCES CURRENTED THE COURTHOUSE USED BY UNION FORCES ANSWER AN ARMY BARRACKS.

THE RAILROAD ARRIVED IN HOPKINSVILLE IN 1868.

HOPKINSVILLE AND CHRISTIAN COUNTY ARE PART OF THE BLACK PATCH TOBACCO BELT AND THE FIGHT OVER THE PRICES TURNED VIOLENT.

MANY FARMERS SAW THE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY AS A MONOPOLY KEEPING PAYMENTS TO FARMERS AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.

IN 1904, TOBACCO PLANTERS FARMED THE DARK TOBACCO DISTRICT PLANTERS PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION TO FIGHT BIG TOBACCO.

IN 1907, THE ASSOCIATION'S NIGHT RIDERS SEIZED HOPKINSVILLE POLICE STATION AND CUTOFF CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD AND SET FIRE TO THREE WAREHOUSES TO PUNISH EXECUTIVES WHO BOUGHT TOBACCO FROM FARMERS WHO WEREN'T MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION.

CHRISTIAN COUNTY CAN CLAIM A VICE-PRESIDENT.

ADLAI STEVENSON UNDER GROVER CLEVELAND WAS BORN IN CHRISTIAN COUNTY IN 1835.

BETTER KNOWN GRANDSON WAS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT IN 1952 AND 1956.

IT'S MOST FAMOUS NATIVE IS BELL HOOKS THE AUTHOR, EDUCATOR AND SOCIAL CRITIC BORN WATKINS IN HOPKINSVILLE IN 1952.

SHE DIED IN 2021.

FOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" I'M TOBY GIBBS.

>> Renee: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

WE APPRECIATE YOU AS ALWAYS.

IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT", THIS IS A SPECIAL EDITION OF "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" ON THE ROAD AT THE REMARKABLE HISTORICAL HAM BRA THEATER IN HOPKINSVILLE, KENTUCKY AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE ISSUES AND THE REVITALIZATION THAT IS HAPPENING IN HOPKINSVILLE AND COMMUNITIES.

AND WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE WITH US ON THE PAM WE HAVE WITH US ELIZABETH GRIFFITH MUDD WHO IS PRESIDENT OF THE KENTUCKY LAKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JENNIFER BROWN THE COFOUNDER EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF HOP TOWN CHRONICLE WE HAD HER ON THE PREVIOUS KENNEBUNKPORT AND SO -- "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" IT'S GOOD TO HAVE HER FOR THIS CONVERSATION.

WELCOME THE TWO GUESTS AND WE THANK EVERYONE FOR HANGING WITH US.

ELIZABETH I WANT TO COME TO YOU TO TALK ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION BECAUSE YOU ARE IN WEST KENTUCKY.

WESTERN KENTUCKY.

BUT HOW DO YOU COLLABORATE WITH THE SOUTHWESTERN PARTNERS OF THE STATE?

>> SURE, ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES I CAN GIVE YOU AND GOING BACK TO MAYOR COTTON'S MENTION ABOUT REGIONALISM AND EVERYTHING, I THINK ONE OF THE BEST WAYS WE DO THAT IS THROUGH THE KENTUCKY CORNERSTONE A GROUP OF 13 COUNTIES THAT HAVE COME TOO LONG AND ARE POOLING THEIR RESOURCES BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL REALIZED WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES ON OUR OWN.

BUT WE CAN BE STRONGER IF WE WORK TOGETHER IN ORDER TO MARKET THE ENTIRE WESTERN KENTUCKY REGION.

AND SO CARTER AND I ARE A PART OF THAT WE GET TO WORK TOGETHER IN THAT WAY.

BUT IT'S BEEN REALLY BENEFICIAL TO SEE THAT REGIONALISM AND ALL OF THOSE LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER.

BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE COMPETITIVE, OF COURSE, IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LIKE WE SHOULD BE.

BUT IT'S NICE TO BE COLLABORATIVELY COMPETITIVE AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Renee: WHAT CAN OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES OF A SIMILAR SIZE TO THE 12 COUNTIES WHAT CAN THEY LEARN FROM YOUR REGIONAL COLLABORATION THAT YOU HAVE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE?

>> THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING TOGETHER.

I THINK SOMETIMES YOU CAN BE OUT THERE ON YOUR OWN ESPECIALLY IN A RURAL COMMUNITY AND FEELING LIKE IT'S JUST YOU.

BUT IT'S SO BENEFICIAL FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SEE THOSE COLLEAGUES FREQUENTLY AND TALK AMONGST EACH OTHER.

IT WOULD BE NOTHING FOR ME TO GET ON THE PHONE WITH CARTER AND SAY I HAVE THIS ISSUE AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS IDEA?

SO I THINK THAT IS TRULY THE BENEFIT IT'S WORKING TOGETHER, COLLABORATIVELY.

WE CAN ALL BE STRONGER WHEN WE DO THAT INSTEAD OF BEING OUT THERE ON OUR OWN.

>> Renee: SURE.

WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT FORT CAMPBELL AND YOUR BACKGROUND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT, MAYOR, YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND IN DEALING WITH MILITARY AFFAIRS ET CETERA.

TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FORT CAMPBELL TO THIS COMMUNITY AND HOW IT HAS CHANGED THIS COMMUNITY IN THE MANY DECADES SINCE IT'S BEEN HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE THINK ABOUT THE CORNERSTONES OF THE ECONOMY OF THIS REGION.

AND GO BACK TO THE KENTUCKY CORNERSTONE WE CHOSE THAT NAME BECAUSE WESTERN KENTUCKY IS THE CORNERSTONE OF KENTUCKY AND WE'RE PROUD OF THAT.

IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.

BUT FORT CAMPBELL IS A CORNERSTONE PIECE OF THIS ECONOMY, MANUFACTURING AND MILITARY AND IT'S FORT CAMPBELL AND REPRESENTS $5 BILLION ANNUAL IMPACT OF THE REGIONAL ECONOMY AND IT GOES BEYOND THE BORDERS OF THE COUNTIES IT A52-WEEKS ELIZABETH IN HER AREA, IT AFFECTS COTTON IN HIS COMMUNITY AND JUDGE YOUNG IT IS A REGIONAL STATE-WIDE IMPACT 5 BILLION WITH 30,000 SOLDIERS STATIONED AT FORT CAMPBELL ONE OF THE THINGS IS UNIQUE EVERY MONTH ROUGHLY 500 SOLDIERS ARE GETTING OUT OF THE ARMY.

BUT OVER HALF OF THEM STATE THAT THEY WANT TO LIVE IN THIS REGION THIS BROADER REGION OF THE FORT CAMPBELL REGION UPON EXISTING FORT CAMPBELL IT IS NUMBER ONE AMONGST THE PIER INSTALLATIONS.

THAT THAT IS WHY IT HAS A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE, THE SOLDIERS WANT TO GET OUT AND STAY IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

IT IS TRULY CENTRAL TO WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE.

IT'S CENTRAL TO OUR DISCUSSION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT RECRUITING A COMPANY WE CAN SPEAK WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE HOW WE LEVERAGE THAT WORKFORCE THAT MILITARY SOLDIER IN TRANSITION THAT MILITARY SPOUSE THAT WANTS TO GO TO WORK AND HOW WE CAN CONNECT THEM TO OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

IT REALLY IS LIKE WE SAY TO OUR PROSPECTS IT IS OUR SECRET WEAPON AND THE PUN IS INTENDED.

>> Renee: Dr. ALISSA YOUNG, PRESIDENT OF HOPKINSVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE THE HCC IS THE ONLY INSTITUTION THAT IS ON THE FORT CAMPBELL INSTALLATION.

AND TALK ABOUT HOW YOU ARE HELPING NOT JUST THOSE WHO SERVED BUT THEIR FAMILIES GET HIGHER EDUCATION CREDENTIALS?

>> THERE ARE FOUR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS ON THE CAMPUS BUT WE ARE THE ONLY COMMUNITY COLLEGE ON THE BASE.

AND WE AS CARTER MENTIONED, YOU HAVE 400-500 SOLDIERS EXISTING.

WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEM IN WHAT IS CALLED THE CAREER SKILLS PROGRAM FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS WHILE THEY ARE IN THE MILITARY.

THEY CAN TAKE COURSES OR RECEIVE TRAINING.

AND SO THAT IS WHERE WE COME IN.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY THREE UNDER ONE UMBRELLA.

OUR COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE.

OUR ACCELERATED WELDING PROGRAM AND WE'RE STARTING INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE.

ACTUALLY AT FORT CAMPBELL THIS FALL.

SO IT'S OUR PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY WHO HAVE BRAVELY SERVED US.

AND NOT ONLY THEM, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AS WELL.

IN FACT, OF THOSE CSP'S I TALKED ABOUT 85% OF THOSE ENROLLED IN THE COURSES ARE ACTUALLY MILITARY AFFILIATED.

SO WE GET ALSO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE 150 OR SO NEWCOMERS ON ALMOST A WEEKLY BASIS.

SO WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH THEM WHAT HOPKINSVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAN DO FOR THEM.

>> Renee: DO YOU CARE TO COMMENT ON THE IMPACT OF FORT CAMPBELL?

>> THINK ABOUT THE NUMBERS FOUR00-500 A MONTH COMING OUT AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT MONEY THAT FLOWS INTO THE REGION.

AND ALSO, TAKE NOTE THAT CLARKSVILLE IS ONE IF NOT THE HOTTEST CITY IN TENNESSEE AND JUST A LITTLE FURTHER EAST YOU RUN INTO BOWLING GREEN IF NOT THE HOTTEST CITY IN KENTUCKY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SYNERGIES THAT THE TAKE PLACE IN THIS AREA BECAUSE OF THAT.

I AM SO PROUD OF HOW THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WORKS NOT HERE BUT JUST IN FORT CAMPBELL AS WELL AS HERE AND HOW THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE SEIZED ON THAT EMPLOYMENT THAT SKILLED LABOR FORCE THAT COMES OUT.

IT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN A LOT OF SPOTS.

NOT READILY HAVE THE SOFT SKILLS HAVE THE BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE, HAVE THE TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE AND ARE TRAINABLE AND WILLING TO WORK.

THAT IS A JEWEL OF A WORKFORCE FLOW THAT COMES OUT.

>> Renee: I WANT YOU TO COMMENT, SIR, ABOUT HOW YOU IN FRANKFORT AND OTHER LAWMAKERS ARE HELPING TO MITIGATE THE COMPETITION WITH TENNESSEE?

HERE YOU ARE FLANKING THAT TENNESSEE BORDER.

HOW ARE YOU TRYING TO COMPETE WITH THE STATE THERE THAT IS DOING FAIRLY WELL, WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS AND GROWTH?

>> I WILL GO BACK TO SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID EARLIER AND IT'S BEEN IMPLICIT IN OUR CONVERSATION.

FIRST, WHAT IS GOING ON.

IT'S NOT THAT IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

IT'S NOT THAT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE BUT YOU LOOK AT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS AREA.

I WILL PUT OUR ROADS UP AGAINST TENNESSEE ANY DAY.

AND ANYBODY THAT TRAVELS FROM TENNESSEE TO KENTUCKY KNOWS WHAT I MEAN.

ROADS, WATER, WASTEWATER, BRAND BAND, GAS, ELECTRIC CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND WE ARE EXPANDING IN AN AREA THAT DOESN'T HAVE AS MUCH POPULATION LOAD WE ARE EXPANDING INTO THE FUTURE WHEREAS TENNESSEE IS TRYING TO CATCH UP.

YOU ALSO HAVE LESS PRICE INCREASE IN LAND BECAUSE OF THAT.

YOU HAVE ALL KINDS OF BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT IS TAKING PLACE AND JOBS WILL BE COMING ON-LINE.

AND IN A KEY DRIVER IN THAT BOTH FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE ROI FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS BECAUSE OF IT, THAT IMAGINARY BORDER BETWEEN TENNESSEE THAT SAYS TAX CODE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENCES THERE AND ONE OF THE PRIME DIFFERENCES WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO BECOME A RESIDENT IN KENTUCKY AS OPPOSED TO A RESIDENT IN TENNESSEE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE IS THE INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX RATE AND WE'VE GONE FROM 6% EFFECTIVE BACK IN 18 TO NOW 4 AND THERE IS A GOOD LIKELIHOOD IN JANUARY OF 26, CONDITIONS AND APPROVAL THAT WILL BE IN 3.5.

THAT PUTS US EXTRAORDINARILY COMPETITIVE WITH INDIANA, OHIO.

BUT REALLY PSYCHOLOGICALLY WE ARE COMPETITIVE WITH TENNESSEE AND WE SEE IT IN HOUSING STARTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE ONCE THERE IS A FORMULA THERE, IT'S NOT JUST A ONE AND DONE A ONE AND DONE, THEY HAVE INTENTION AT THIS POINT.

AND THAT'S ERASED A LOT.

I HOPE THAT EVERYONE HERE THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A FEW YEARS CAN LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.

I'M NOT TRYING TO BEEF THEM UM JUST THE HOUSING STARTS AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE INTEREST FROM OTHER STATES THAT SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE INVESTORS THAT COMING HERE BECAUSE THEY SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S AWESOME.

>> Renee: THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SIGNALED GETTING TO ZERO MAY NOT BE WHAT THEY ARE AFTER.

HOW DOES THAT SIT WITH YOU?

>> I'VE HEARD THAT SINCE I STARTED IN '18 AND PUT THE FORMULA IN PLACE IN '22 AND THERE WAS A CONVERSATION I HAD IN FRANKFORT IN FRONT OF PEOPLE WITH GREATER LOUISVILLE INC. AND I WAS TOLD THE FIRST PERSON THAT SPOKE TOLD ME HOW INCOME TAX COULD NOT BE PULLED DOWN WE COULD NOT REFORM IT'S NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT HORRIBLE THINGS HAPPENING AND WHEN THEY TURNED TO ME I SAID WE'LL SEE.

>> Renee: AND YOU WILL STILL SAY IT.

>> AND WE'RE SEEING.

I'M NOT FINISHED AND A LOT OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS NOT FINISHED.

>> Renee: ELIZABETH YOU CARE TO CHIME IN HOW TAX POLICY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF AREAS THAT NEED IT AND NEED TO COMPETE WITH THE AREAS WHERE THERE IS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

>> SO THE STATE LINE WE LIKE TO REFER TO IT AS SEEMS TO BE THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA SOME DAYS BUT TO US, TO OUR BANK, WHICH WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE IN TENNESSEE SO I AM UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE ISSUES WE DON'T CARE WHERE OUR CUSTOMER IS.

THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO GET OUT OF OUR WAY AND DO EVERYTHING IT CAN TO INCENTIVIZE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY AND LOWER TAX RATES IS ONE OF THEM.

TENNESSEE HAS AN EXTREMELY HIGH SALES TAX WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY OUR TAXES IT IS JUST A MATTER HOW WE WILL DO THAT.

THERE IS AT LEAST A PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUE WITH THE STATE INCOME TAX THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER TO OVERCOME.

WE HAVE 180 EMPLOYEES ABOUT 70 OF THEM LIVE IN TENNESSEE.

AND WE'VE GOT A DOZEN OF OUR KENTUCKY PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO TENNESSEE FOR THAT REASON AND GET THE 4% INCREASE AND 1.95% INCREASE.

YOU HAVE A 6% INCREASE BECAUSE YOU HAVE YOUR CITY TAX AND YOUR STATE TAX ON DAY ONE.

SO IT IS FOR THOSE THAT DISCOUNT THAT HAS IT IS NOT AN ISSUE NEED TO COME HERE AND BE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH IT AND IT IS AN ISSUE.

>> HE KNOWS IT'S TRUE, TOO.

>> I APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP ON THE TAX REFORM.

WE SEE IT CLEARLY THAT THAT IS THE COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE.

I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE, HOWEVER, TO CHAIRMAN PETRIE'S POINT AT THE CLOSER WE GET TO ZERO IT REPRESENTS AN AREA WITH THE THIRD FASTER CITY GROWING IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY AND THE SIXTH FASTEST STATE.

THERE IS POPULATION GROWTH SEEN FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND THE LEGISLATURE AND OTHERS TO CONTINUE PUSHING TO US TO A COMPETITIVE INCOME TAX RATE BUT NO INCOME TAX IS PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIER THAT THE CLOSER WE GET TO THAT NUMBER THE MORE LIKELY WE CAN COMPETE.

AN EXAMPLE, THE AUDIENCE PROBABLY KNOWS THIS, IF YOU GO FROM 2020 TO CURRENT IN POPULATION NUMBERS TENNESSEE HAS GROWN 200,000 IN POPULATION IN THE LAST THREE YEARS AND KENTUCKY BY 20,000.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND MORE RETAIL DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTERTAINMENT, POPULATION GROWTH IS WHAT FUELS THAT ECONOMIC FIRE.

>> Renee: IS THERE MORE TOO ABOUT WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY THAN HOW MUCH THEY PAY TAXES?

JENNIFER BROWN?

>> MY THOUGHTS ABOUT FORT CAMPBELL ARE THAT FORT CAMPBELL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THIS A VERY INTERESTING PLACE TO LIVE.

HOPKINSVILLE IS AMONG THE MOST RACIALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN KENTUCKY.

BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER DIVERSITY WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO AS WELL.

AND BECAUSE OF FORT CAMPBELL WE HAVE PEOPLE LIVING IN HOPKINSVILLE IN CHRISTIAN COUNTY WHO LIVED ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AND THEY CHOOSE TO COME HERE AND STAY HERE.

AND IT'S AFFECTED MY WORK FOR YEARS.

SOME OF THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE I'VE INTERVIEWED HAVE COME HERE BECAUSE OF FORT CAMPBELL.

AND IT REALLY DOES MAKE HOPKINSVILLE JUST A MORE WIDELY AN INTERESTING PLACE, I BELIEVE.

>> Renee: I WANT TO SHARE WITH THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE AT HOME AND YOU HAVE WITH US BEFORE WHY YOU STARTED THE HOP TOWN CHRONICLE AND WE HEARD CHAIRMAN PETRIE AND PEOPLE GETTING THEIR NEWS FROM NASHVILLE AND OTHER PLACES THE DISTANCE GEOGRAPHICALLY FROM FRANKFORT DOES PLAY INTO THE DISCONNECT THAT PEOPLE FEEL AND HOW IS HOP TOWN CHRONICLE TRYING TO FILL THAT GAP?

>> SURE.

SO AS I EXPLAINED TO YOU TODAY I WAS WITH THE NEWSPAPER IN PRINT JOURNALISM FOR 30 YEARS.

AND WHEN I LEFT, I HAVE TO CONFESS THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A LANDING EXACTLY DETERMINED.

AND I TOLD SOME PEOPLE YOU KNOW I WILL TAKE A GAP HERE IN MY MID-50s.

AND A GAP YEAR TURNED INTO TWO YEARS.

AND I WAS DOING TRAINING AT CONFERENCES AND DOING FREELANCING BUT I HADN'T FOUND WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO.

AND I BEGAN TO NOTICE WHAT I FELT LIKE WAS A GENUINE REVITALIZATION OF THE DOWNTOWN.

PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR YEARS.

EVERYBODY RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL AND FOR MAYOR FOR 20 YEARS SAID THEY WERE GOING TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN.

BUT UNTIL SOME PRIVATE INVESTORS AND SOME INCENTIVE PROGRAMS WITH THE CITY STARTED TO TAKE SHAPE, IT HADN'T HAPPENED.

SO I STARTED HOP TOWN CHRONICLE IN 2018 AFTER REPORTING A STORY ABOUT THE AUCTION OF SOME SIGNIFICANT PROPERTIES DOWNTOWN.

I FELT LIKE IT WAS A SHIFT, LIKE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW?

AND YOU KNOW, THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS USED TO RENOVATE THIS THEATER AND THE MUSEUM AND ALL THE PRIVATE INVESTMENT REALLY HAS POSITIONED HOPKINSVILLE'S DOWNTOWN TO BE SOMETHING THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE WANTED FOR A LONGTIME.

WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT TRAFFIC.

BUT I'VE REPORTED STORIES THAT HAVE SURPRISED EVEN ME.

LAST YEAR I REPORTED A STORY AND I LOOKED AT HOW MANY NEW BUSINESSES HAD STARTED IN DOWNTOWN HOPKINSVILLE IN LESS THAN 10 YEARS AND IT WAS 25.

THAT IS SIGNIFICANT FOR YOU KNOW, 30,000 COUNTY SEAT TOWN WHOSE DOWNTOWN IS 52 BLOCKS.

SO THERE IS A LOT MORE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

BUT IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO REPORT ON AND IT ALMOST FEELS ORGANIC TO ME AT THIS POINT.

>> Renee: WHAT DO YOUR READERS SAY THEY'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN?

THEY TRUST JOURNALISTS EVEN JUST IN NORMAL CONVERSATIONS I WISH HOPKINSVILLE WOULD DO ABC AND D?

>> I SEE A LOT OF THAT DISCUSSION ON-LINE.

AND OUR READERS DO COMMUNICATE WITH ME DIRECTLY.

BECAUSE OUR NEWSLETTERS ARE VERY POPULAR.

MOST OF THEM TALK ABOUT WANTING MORE PLACES TO HANGOUT DOWNTOWN.

MORE RESTAURANTS.

MORE ENTERTAINMENT.

AND THEY WANT SOME THINGS FOR KIDS TO DO.

SO WE HAVE SOME THINGS COMING UP, YOU KNOW.

BUT THERE'S -- THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAT COULD BE PURSUED AND I REALLY RESPECT ANY ENTREPRENEUR WHO WILL PUT THEIR OWN MONEY INTO STARTING A NEW BUSINESS.

I'M NOT SURE THAT I'M BRAVE ENOUGH TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT BUT IT IS AMAZING TO REPORT ON AND WATCH WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

>> Renee: ELIZABETH GRIFFITH MUDD I WANT TO ASK YOU BECAUSE ARE YOU A YOUNG PERSON AND MANY COMMUNITIES THAT THE ARE SMALLER IN NATURE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE BRAIN DRAIN THAT FOLK ALSO GO OFF AND GET THEIR EDUCATION AND THEY WON'T RETURN.

YOU ARE AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WHO HAS MADE KENTUCKY YOUR HOME.

AND WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE WHO THEY DESIRE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE CONNECTIVITY THAT COMES WITH A SMALL TOWN ENVIRONMENT BUT FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO GO TO A BIGGER CITY IN ORDER TO BE MORE FINANCIALLY GROUNDED OR SUCCESSFUL?

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IT CAN BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

ORIGINALLY I AM FROM OWENSBORO AND THERE IS A LOT GOING ON TO MARSHALL COUNTY IN WESTERN KENTUCKY AND MEETING MY HUSBAND IN THE UNIVERSITY.

IT IS A DIFFERENT WAY OF LIFE.

IT IS A SLOWER PACE BUT WHEN I SAY THAT THAT DOESN'T MEAN LAZY BY ANY MEANS.

HARD-WORKING, STRONG WORK ETHIC.

BUT I THINK THERE IS A LOT TO BE SAID FOR LIVING IN A SMALL TOWN.

AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS HIGH.

THE CRIME IS LOW.

IT'S SAFE.

YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN GO OUT AND WALK AROUND IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND WALK DOWNTOWN AND BE SAFE IN DOING THAT.

BUT I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY IN THOSE SMALLER COMMUNITIES.

I THINK SOMETIME IT IS CAN BE HARDER FOR YOUNGER INDIVIDUALS TO GET INVOLVED IN LARGER AREAS.

AND I KNOW WE HAVE A STRONG PROFESSIONAL GROUP IN MARSHALL COUNTY AND JUST A LOT OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

AND I THINK THERE'S JUST A TON TO BE SAID FOR SETTLING DOWN IN THOSE AREAS AND I THINK WE SAW A LOT OF THAT COMING OUT OF COVID AS WELL.

AND ESPECIALLY WITH US WITH THE LAKES THAT THE IS VERY ATTRACTIVE TO A LOT OF OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS WE SAW A LOT OF THAT OUT OF COVID PEOPLE WANTED TO GET OUT AND GO KAYAKING I CAN LEAVE WORK AND BE TO THE LAKE IN 10 MINUTES OR LESS.

IN A LOT OF PLACES YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

THERE IS A LOT TO BE SAID FOR LIVING IN THOSE SMALL COMMUNITIES.

AND THERE IS A TON OF OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS THERE.

BECAUSE THOSE AREAS WANT THEM TO BE THERE.

AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES IF YOU PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE.

>> Renee: I WANT TO POSE TO ALL OF YOU WHAT IS THE THREE, FIVE, 10-YEAR VISION FOR THE REGION YOU REPRESENT?

WHAT WOULD SUCCESS LOOK LIKE?

>> GOSH.

I MEAN FOR ME ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MIND IT'S ATTRACTING NEW INDUSTRY AND HELPING TO MAKE SURE MY EXISTING INDUSTRIES STAY THERE.

BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL VERY SUCCESSFUL.

SO THAT IS A HUGE PART OF IT AS WELL.

MAKING SURE THOSE EXISTING BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO GROW.

AND ALWAYS BE SUCCESSFUL.

BECAUSE IF THEY ARE THAT WILL HELP IN ATTRACTING NEW AS WELL.

AND I THINK THAT QUALITY OF LIFE PIECE AS WELL CONTINUING TO BUILD ON I KNOW WE'RE DOING A LOT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

IN DOWNTOWN BENTON AND WE HAVE A STRONG GROUP DOWN THERE, THE BENTON PARTNERSHIP THAT IS DOING A LOT.

TO REALLY REINVIGORATE THE DOWNTOWN OF BENTON BECAUSE WE LABEL THAT AS KENTUCKY LAKES DOWNTOWN.

BUT I THINK THAT ENTREPRENEURIAL PIECE IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE A GOOD ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM IN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES IN WESTERN KENTUCKY BECAUSE THERE IS A TON OF GREAT IDEAS.

THERE IS A LOT OF PRODUCTS BEING MANUFACTURED IN MARSHALL COUNTY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT BUT YOU USE EVERYDAY.

>> Renee: LIKE WHAT?

>> ONE IS WE HAVE A COMPANY CALLED PRECISION SONAR IN MARSHALL COUNTY AND THEY HAVE MANUFACTURED WHAT THEY CALL THE LEASH WHICH GOES ON THE BACK OF THE MOTOR OF A SPEED BOAT AND SO IF FOR SOME REASON THE MOTOR WAS TO HIT SOMETHING ON THE LAKE AND IT POPS BACK UP INTO THE BOAT THAT LEASH STOPS THAT RUDDER FROM MOVING.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING ON EXISTING BUSINESS VISIT AND MEETING WITH THE OWNER THAT IS SOMETHING I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT WE WOULD NEED BUT IT'S MANUFACTURED RIGHT THERE IN MARSHALL COUNTY.

SO LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT ARE SO NEAT.

>> Renee: CARTER, I WANT TO COME TO YOU TO TALK ABOUT HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOTTEN THERE WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT AND HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH?

>> I'M HONORED THAT YOU WOULD ASK US THE QUESTION THINKING WE'VE DONE ENOUGH.

I WOULD SAY YOU SHOULD NEVER TAKEN THE POSITION THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN THERE.

IT IS A PROCESS AND SATISFACTION IS THE ENEMY OF CONTINUED PROGRESS.

I THINK THERE ARE THINGS WE'RE DOING WELL IN THE REGION AND WE CAN TAKE PRIDE IN THAT WE'RE DOING WELL.

WE'VE GOT REGIONAL LEADERS IN THE AUDIENCE FROM A NUMBER OF SECTORS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN WILLING TO PUT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF RISK TO DEVELOP SITES AND DEVELOP THE COMMUNITYS' QUALITY OF LIFE AND BUILD WORKFORCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

WE HAVE SEEN SUCCESS IN THOSE AREAS WE HAVE SEEN SUCCESS WITH COMPANIES CHOOSING TO LOCATE IN THE REGION AS A RESULT OF THAT.

MY ANSWER WOULD BE THAT HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE AN ATTITUDE THAT WE HAVE ARRIVED.

BECAUSE THIS IS A CHANGING ECONOMY AND CHANGING SITUATION BECAUSE YOU MAY RECRUIT SOME COMPANY TODAY AND TOMORROW THERE MAYBE ANOTHER THAT DECIDES TO GO SOME PLACE ELSE.

YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR KNIVES SHARP AND YOU STAY ON TOP OF YOUR A GAME.

>> Renee: KEEPING YOUR EXISTING BUSINESSES HAPPY, TOO.

IT'S AS IMPORTANT AS RECRUITING NEW INDUSTRY, RIGHT?

>> YES, I WILL GO BACK TO THE OUTLOOK.

YOU HAVE TO HOLD WHAT YOU HAVE AND SUPPORT IT.

NOT JUST BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALSO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

AND THE FAMILIES AND THAT NETWORK OF INDIVIDUALS.

IT IS A CONSTANT BOARD THAT IS MOVING ALL THE TIME WITH DIFFERENT WEIGHTS ON DIFFERENT PIECES.

YOU NEVER ARRIVE.

YOU ARE ALWAYS ADJUSTING PART OF THAT IS MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS WITH EXISTING BUSINESSES AND SEE IF THEY CAN EXPAND OR BRING SOMEONE ELSE WITH THEM AS WILLIAM HUNT WAS TALKING ABOUT IN AG AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING.

YOU ARE NEVER FINISHED THE NEEDS ARE NEVER THE SAME THE WEATHER IS ALWAYS CHANGING AND YOU ARE ADAPTING HOW DO WE MAKE THIS BETTER FOR PEOPLE SO THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.

AND MAKE A GOOD LIFE AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO HIT A POINT.

I'M NOT AS YOUNG, BUT, FROM TODD COUNTY, GO TO COLLEGE, WESTERN FOR A MASTER AND OHIO STATE IN COLUMBUS FOR LAW SCHOOL.

AT LAW SCHOOL I'M MARRIED SOMEONE FROM TODD COUNTY.

I HAVE JOBS IN NEW YORK AND DC.

BUT I'M NOT IN NEW YORK AND I'M NOT IN DC.

AND WHAT IT CAME DOWN TO WAS A MOMENT LIKE THAT WHEN I HAD NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT HAVING KIDS BUT MY WIFE SAID WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FAMILY NOT AT THAT MOMENT BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A FAMILY.

AS SOON AS THAT WAS SAID, THEN I'M HEADED BACK HOME TO THIS AREA BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN RAISE A FAMILY EXTENDED EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT FROM HERE.

AND FIT IN A COMMUNITY AND HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.

AND WHETHER YOU ARE A DOCTOR, LAWYER OR A PROFESSIONAL OR SERVICE PROVIDER OF SOME SORT.

I CONSIDER THEM ALL PROFESSIONAL.

YOU WOULD BE AMAZED HOW GOOD OF A LIVING YOU COULD HAVE FINANCIALLY AS WELL AS JUST GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE COMING BACK TO AN AREA THAT WANTS YOU THERE AND YOU ARE NOT ONE OF THE OTHERS.

YOU ARE VALUED AND YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE IN WAYS THAT YOU CAN'T ELSEWHERE.

>> Renee: I WANT TO GO TO YOU JENIFER ABOUT CULTURAL PLACE.

AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING CONNECTED TO COMMUNITY AND LOVING COMMUNITY AND IT LOVES YOU.

THAT CAN'T BE UNDERESTIMATED.

>> NO, IT CAN'T.

I'VE SEEN, I THINK IN RECENT YEARS, MORE PRIDE ABOUT BEING FROM HERE AND BEING CONNECTED.

WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE LOCAL APPRECIATION FOR BELL HOOKS AND HER WORK, THAT COMES TO MIND.

I PERSONALLY BENEFITED FROM FRIENDSHIPS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED OUT OF WORKING TO MEMORIALIZE BELL HOOKS AFTER HER DEATH.

AND I'VE SEEN MANY PEOPLE TOGETHER IN PLACES THAT I PREVIOUSLY DID NOT SEE TOGETHER BECAUSE OF THAT.

BUT THIS IS REALLY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHO HAS COME OUT OF THIS COMMUNITY AND WHAT THEY HAVE REPRESENTED, YOU KNOW, BELL HOOKS WE HAVE A HISTORIC MARKER THAT I HELPED SECURE AT 9TH AND MAIN FOR TED POST TON THE DEAN OF BLACK JOURNALISTS OF AMERICA CAME OUT OF THIS COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE MANY OTHERS.

I WOULD PUT WAYNE HUNT IN THAT CATEGORY AS WELL.

IF I COULD JUST SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE THREE, FIVE, SEVEN, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THESE FALL BUT IN GENERAL.

>> Renee: IN 30 SECONDS.

>> I THINK THAT WE NEED MANY MORE STUDENTS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE ROTARY SCHOLARS PROGRAM TO GO TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR FREE FOR TWO YEARS.

AND TO RECOGNIZE THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AS A HUGE ASSET IN THIS COMMUNITY.

>> Renee: WELL, THOSE ARE FINE WORDS TO END ON AND Dr. YOUNG SAYS YES, YES, AND YES.

THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE OUT ONE WELCOMING US WITH SUCH OPEN ARMS TO BE HERE AT THIS BEAUTIFUL ALHAMBRA THEATER AND ALL THE HOSPITALITY AND YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN THAT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED NO FINER PEOPLE AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

AND I THANK THE AUDIENCE FOR BEING HERE AS WELL.

WE ARE COMING TO YOU FROM THE ALHAMBRA THEATER IN HOPKINSVILLE FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF "KENTUCKY TONIGHT".

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

UNTIL I SEE YOU AGAIN TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE.

[♪♪] [APPLAUSE]