[♪♪] >> Renee: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE SPECIAL ON THE ROAD EDITION OF "KENTUCKY TONIGHT".

COMING TO YOU FROM THE CENTER FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN SOMERSET, KENTUCKY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US I'M RENEE SHAW.

ALMOST THREE DECADES AGO, KENTUCKY'S FIFTH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS LED THE CREATION OF THIS CENTER TO BE A MODEL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AT THE FOCUS ON FOUR MAJOR AREAS, PUBLIC SAFETY, ARTS AND CULTURE, LEADERSHIP AND TECHNOLOGY.

TONIGHT, WE'VE ASSEMBLED ANS SEEMED GROUP OF LEADERS IN THIS AREA TO DISCUSS THE PROGRESS OF SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY AND HOW THEY ARE MEETING TODAY'S CHALLENGES.

PULASKI COUNTY OFTEN BOASTS OF MAKING BUSINESS ABOUT PEOPLE AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THAT, TOURISM, EDUCATION, AND MUCH MORE.

AND WE'RE DELIGHTED TO BE JOINED BY SOMERSET MAYOR, ALAN KECK.

MICHELLE ALLEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LAKE CUMBERLAND TOURISM.

BOBBY CLUE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SOMERSET PULASKI COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE KEN UPCHURCH WHO REPRESENTS McCRARY, WAYNE AND PART OF PULASKI COUNTY.

LONNIE LAWSON PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

AT THE CENTER FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT.

AND STATE SENATOR RICK GIRDLER WHO REPRESENTS CLINTON, CUMBERLAND, PULASKI AND RUSSELL AND WAYNE COUNTIES.

GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO OUR PANELISTS TONIGHT WE APPRECIATE THEM BEING HERE.

AND BY THE SOUND OF THE APPLAUSE YOU CAN TELL WE HAVE A STUDIO AUDIENCE HERE AT THE CENTER FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND WE ARE GRATEFUL THEY ARE SHARING THE EVENING WITH US.

SO, I'D LIKE TO START WITH YOU MAYOR, WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION THE OTHER DAY TALKING ABOUT THE GREAT WORK GOING ON HERE.

WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN AN IMPACT REPORT JUST RELEASED ALMOST IN TIME FOR US TO BE HERE.

IMAGINE THAT.

GOOD THINGS TO BOAST ABOUT.

AND I CAN SAY FROM OUR CONVERSATION, PART OF WHICH HAS AIRED ON "KENTUCKY EDITION" THAT I WOULD DESCRIBE WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING IN THE PROGRESS YOU ARE MAKING IN SIX WORDS.

BE BOLD, AND TELL YOUR STORY.

AND THOSE ARE YOUR WORDS NOT MINE.

>> BOOM.

>> Renee: WE HIJACK THEM SOMETIMES IN JOURNALISM.

TELL US HOW YOU ARE BEING BOLD AND TELLING THE STORY OF SOMERSET AND THE STORY YOU ARE TELLING.

>> I'VE SAID WE HAVE TO BE PROUD OF WHO WE ARE AND NOT APOLOGIZE FOR WHAT WE ARE NOT.

I READ A BOOK CALLED THE STORYTELLERS SECRET AND IT TALKED ABOUT THE POWER OF STORY WHEN I READ THAT BOOK I TALKED TO MY FRIENDS AND THE FOLKS ON THE STAGE AND WE HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE.

A HIDDEN GEM.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DUST THAT OFF AND TELL THE WORLD WHAT AN INCREDIBLE FLAYS THIS IS.

THE BOLD PART OF THAT VISION IS LET'S TAKE CHANCES WE'LL SWING AND MISS AND THAT IS OKAY.

AND WE WANTED TO BE THAT SMALL TOWN THAT WOULD RUN THROUGH THOSE WALLS AGAIN BEING PROUD OF WHERE WE CAME FROM AS YOU MENTIONED THE CONGRESSMAN LED A VISION HERE 30 YEARS AGO OR SO.

IT'S NOT AS IF NOTHING WAS HAPPENING.

JUST PERHAPS IT HAD GOTTEN STALE AND STAGNANT AND WE WANTED TO REIGNITE THAT PASSION AND PRIDE AND TAKE CHANCES ON HISTORIC THINGS AND THIS GROUP OF FRIENDS AND OTHERS HAVE HELPED US ACCOMPLISH THAT.

>> Renee: WHEN WE THINK ABOUT DOWNTOWN AND WE'VE BEEN DOWNTOWN DOING OF OUR SHOWS AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND THAT FOUNTAIN I THINK WE WILL HAVE OUR DIRECTOR TAKE THE KET VAN AND SEE IF SHE CAN JUMP OVER THE FOUNTAIN.

>> THOUSANDS WOULD LOVE TO SEE HIM TRY.

>> Renee: AND LIVE TO TELL ABOUT IT, TOO.

THE DOWNTOWN IS BUSTLING WITH RELABELLERS AND ARTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.

TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU SAW WHO YOU CAME IN TWO TERMS AGO, RIGHT?

WAS IT ALWAYS LIKE THAT?

AND HOW HAS IT CHANGED AND EVOLVED OVER TIME?

>> IT WASN'T.

THAT WAS AN AREA THAT HADN'T HAD A LOT OF ATTENTION OR FOCUS IN SOMETIME.

AND I AM A BELIEVER THAT DOWNTOWNS ACROSS THE HEARTLAND ACROSS RURAL AMERICA ARE OUR HEART BEATS AND YOU CAN'T HAVE A STRONG COMMUNITY OR A STRONG BODY WITHOUT A STRONG HEART.

I WILL BRAG ON MY FRIEND BOBBY, BECAUSE HE SAW THAT VISION HE MOVED THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFFICE TO SOME PEOPLE'S CHAGRIN FROM HIGHWAY 27, A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE DOWNTOWN HE SAW THE VISION EARLY.

I JOINED HIM IN THAT.

WE STARTED LIGHTING UP OUR ALLEYWAYS, PAINTING WALLS, CELEBRATING OUR ARTISTS HAVING FREE FESTIVALS THINGS THAT WOULD BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND THAT IS WHAT DOWNTOWN HAS BECOME.

IT IS A HEART BEAT AND COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE IT IS A SERIES OF THIRD PLACES.

NOT JUST THE HOME OR SCHOOL OR CHURCH BUT A PLACE THAT PEOPLE WILL GATHER.

AND I THINK THAT HAS IGNITED THIS MOMENTUM WE SEE IN OUR REGION NOT JUST SOMERSET.

>> Renee: BOBBY WE'LL HAVE YOU CHIME IN.

YOU ARE AND AECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUY, TELL US THE NUMBERS WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF MONETARY GAIN FOR SOMERSET PULASKI AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES?

>> I THINK ANYTIME YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A TREMENDOUS GROWTH OUT OF THAT AREA.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LOCATING TO THE AREA FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THEY ARE OPENING UP STOREFRONTS, BRICK AND MORTARS, BUSINESSES OUT OF THEIR HOMES THINGS THAT ARE EXCITING TO SOMEONE LIKE ME.

AND WE'RE SEEING THIS EVEN IN WHAT COULD BE CONSIDERED NOT THE BEST ECONOMY.

I THINK SOMERSET IS A GREAT DRAW FOR THE REGION.

YOU ARE STARTING TO SEE PEOPLE LOOK AT THIS AS A REGIONAL HUB FOR THIS PART OF THE STATE.

WE REPRESENT NOW AT THE CHAMBER OVER 1200 BUSINESSES.

IT'S ABOUT 90% OF OUR EMPTY EMPLOYED POPULATION.

AND THAT NUMBER HAS GROWN CONSISTENTLY YEAR TO YEAR SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

I'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST 14 YEARS AND I'VE SEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GROWTH.

THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN THIS COMMUNITY WITH THE BACKBONE OF IT, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT AND I WATCH THOSE GROW AND THRIVE ON A YEARLY BASIS BECAUSE OF SOMETHING SPECIAL WE HAVE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.

>> Renee: AND IT'S NOT JUST LAKE CUMBERLAND?

>> WE LOVE LAKE CUMBERLAND AND MICHELLE IS GOING TO TELL YOU IMPRESSIVE THINGS ABOUT THE LAKE.

BUT WE ARE A HUB, IF YOU WILL, FOR FACTORY, INDUSTRY, MANUFACTURING, HEALTHCARE, THERE IS A LOT OF SPECIAL THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THIS COMMUNITY.

WE TOOK IT DOWNTOWN WHERE I QUOTED OFTEN AS SAYING THEY HAVE 5:00 YOU COULD FIRE A CANNON THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN AND NOT WORRY ABOUT HITTING A SOUL.

AND NOW WE HAVE A BUSTLING DOWNTOWN.

AFTER 5:00 P.M. ACTIVITIES BARS, RESTAURANTS, WALK IN SHOPS TO FOR EVERYBODY'S ENJOYMENT.

AND THOSE THINGS WEREN'T HERE A FEW YEARS AGO.

WE ARE GROWING.

>> Renee: AND STILL RESPECTING CULTURAL PLACE, THIS IS STILL A PLACE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE NOT JUST COME AND WORK BUT TO RAISE A FAMILY AND HAVE A GOOD TIME DOING IT.

>> VERY MUCH SO.

>> MICHELLE ALLEN, TOURISM IS TREMENDOUS HERE, 26.8% INCREASE IN VISITOR SPENDING IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

A LOT OF METRICS YOU ARE MEETING AND EXCEEDING.

TALK TO US HOW IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE LAKE.

THERE'S LOTS GOING ON HERE AND TOURISM IS LEADING THE WAY.

>> WELCOME TO THE CAPITAL OF LAKE CUMBERLAND.

SOMERSET KENTUCKY IS THE CAPITAL OF LAKE CUMBERLAND.

LAKE CUMBERLAND FOR ONE THING IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF TOURISM FOR YEARS SINCE THE EARLY 50s.

SINCE THE LAST FEW YEARS, IT'S NOT BEEN THE ONLY THING PEOPLE ARE COMING TO ANYMORE.

OF COURSE WE GET FOUR MILLION VISITORS A YEAR, AND THEY ARE NOT JUST COMING TO THE LAKE THEY ARE COMING TO OUR DOWNTOWNS, THEY ARE COMING TO CONFERENCES AT THE CENTER FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT.

THEY ARE GOING TO SHOWS AT THE VIRGINIA AND SOMER KNIGHTS CREWS.

AND FROM OHIO INDIANA, NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA CAN COME.

KIND OF LIKE THE BIG TOWN OPPORTUNITY BUT A SMALL TOWNHOME FOR EVERYBODY TO ENJOY.

>> Renee: FAMILY ORIENTED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Renee: TALK TO US ABOUT THE VIRGINIA THEATER AND PLACES YOU COULD NAME THAT REALLY DO EPITOMIZE THE SPIRIT OF DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION.

>> WELL, IT'S NEW JUST THREE YEARS OLD ALMOST.

AND FOR ME, PERSONALLY LIVING HERE IT'S SO NICE TO GO DOWNTOWN, GO EAT DINNER, GO TO A SHOW AT THE VIRGINIA AND IF YOU WANT A COCKTAIL AFTERWARDS AND GO HOME AND BE IN BED BY 10:00.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO.

THE VIRGINIA DOES MANY THINGS GREAT FOR CONFERENCES, KIDS SHOWS, COMEDY SHOWS EVERYTHING.

BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT SIZE BEFORE.

SOMETIMES THINGS CAN BE TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL IT'S PERFECT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

>> Renee: TALK TO US ABOUT BOURBON.

BOURBON IS A BURGEONING BUSINESS TOO AND TOURISM CONNECTED TO THAT.

>> WE HAVE HORSE SOLDIER BOURBON THAT PLANS TO OPEN IN JULY OF 2026.

WE'RE EXCITED FOR THAT.

THEY FIRST ANNOUNCED IT A FEW YEARS AGO AND EVERYBODY WAS LIKE ARE THEY REALLY COMING?

AND WE'RE LIKE YES, TEAR.

BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE A NEW DESTINATION FOR SOMERSET, KENTUCKY FOR THE ENTIRE REGION.

OF COURSE THEY WILL BE ON THE BOURBON TRAIL WHICH WE LIKE TO SAY THE BEGINNING OR THEY WILL BE THE ANCHOR OF THE BOURBON TRAIL, WHICH BRINGS OVER TWO MILLION VISITORS A YEAR TO THE AREA OF KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: SO LONNIE LAWSON, YOU'VE BEEN IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR A LONGTIME AND YOU RUN THIS CENTER LONG TIME.

HUFF'S WATCHED THE EVOLUTION OF THIS AREA.

TELL US HOW YOU WOULD ASSESS THE GROWTH AND PROGRESS OVER MANY YEARS?

>> I THINK THE LAKE WAS A BIG, BIG DRAW FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

IT WAS THE BIGGEST DRAW WE HAD.

BUT A LOT OF IT WAS FOLKS THAT FAMILIES MOVED AWAY FROM HERE AND THEY ARE COMING BACK HOME.

BUT I'VE SEEN THIS COMMUNITY GROW AS BOBBY SAID INTO A REGIONAL HUB FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

YOU HAVE WAYNE, RUSSELL, CASEY COUNTY, YOU GOT ALL OF THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES THAT THIS IS THE HUB WHERE THEY COME FOR SHOPPING, WHETHER IT'S RESTAURANTS, ENTERTAINMENT THIS HAS BECOME A REGIONAL HUB.

IT IS A BIG, BIG DEAL.

AND YOU KNOW TRYING TO MEET CONGRESSMAN ROGERS' VISION IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT BECAUSE HE HAS SOME BIG DREAMS.

AND MAKING THOSE BECOME REALITY IS SOMETIMES A CHALLENGE BUT EVERY SINGLE DAY WE WAKE UP THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE TRY TO DO.

WE WANT TO KEEP OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST HERE AND CREATE JOBS SO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT LEAVING GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE.

WE WANT THEM HERE.

AND THE ONLY WAY IS TO HAVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE ITEMS LIKE THE RESTAURANTS, LIKE THE THEATERS, AND JOBS.

WE HAVE TO CREATE JOBS THAT WILL KEEP THEM IN THIS REGION.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS A HUGE, HUGE FOCUS FOR US.

>> Renee: WE HEARD BOBBY TALK ABOUT HEALTHCARE, WHAT KIND OF JOBS WILL KEEP THE YOUNG PEOPLE HERE SO THEY DON'T LEAVE AND GO ELSEWHERE?

>> I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

WE DO OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS AND SO WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS LOOK ATTICA REAR TRACKS OR POSSIBLE STUDENTS THEY ARE RISING JUNIORS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

HEALTHCARE IS ALWAYS A HUGE ONE.

AND THIS COMMUNITY IS LONG BEEN A HUGE HEALTHCARE REGIONAL HUB.

WE HAVE ENGINEERING.

WE HAVE TO GET MORE IN THE STEM DISCIPLINES.

AND THE GREAT THING IS NOW YOU CAN DO THEM FROM ANYWHERE.

I WILL TALK ABOUT BROADBAND.

AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THE BROAD BOND CONNECTIVITY YOU CAN WORK FROM ANYWHERE IF IT IS AN ENGINEERING FIRM IN CALIFORNIA THAT IS MAJOR.

WE'RE ALWAYS PUSHING UP FOR OWNERSHIP THE SMALL BUSINESSES IS WHAT DRIVE THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES KEEPING THE SMALL SHOPS OPEN.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED WITH WALMART YEARS AGO THEY DROVE A LOT OF THE MOM AND POP SHOPS OUT AND WE'RE SEEING THEM COME BACK IN.

IT TAKES ALL OF THAT TO KEEP OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST HERE.

>> Renee: YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT BRAD BAND BROADBAND.

>> IT IS A LITTLE BIT SAD BUT EXCITING, TOO, IN 2005 WHEN I LOOK BACK AT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN THE NUMBER ONE OBJECTIVE ON OUR PLAN WAS GETTING HIGH SPEED BROADBAND THROUGHOUT EASTERN KENTUCKY.

IT'S TAKEN US THIS LONG TO GET THERE.

AND I THINK WE FINALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT SO THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON HAS ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET.

IF THERE'S ONE GOOD THING THAT CAME OUT OF COVID IT WAS SHOWING THE VALUE OF HAVING HIGH SPEED INTERNET WHETHER IT WAS KIDS TRYING TO DO THE HOMEWORK OR WORK-FROM-HOME, WHETHER IT'S HEALTHCARE, WE SAW THAT EVERY SINGLE FACET OF OUR LIFE IS CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET.

THAT IS STILL OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS MAKING SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE RESIDENT AND ALL THE WE SERVE 45 COUNTIES THAT EVERYONE OF THEM HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.

AND I GOT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT, BECAUSE HE HAS HELPED TREMENDOUSLY AND CONGRESSMAN ROGERS HELPED TREMENDOUSLY MAKING SURE WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> Renee: DO YOU HAVE THE LAST HOUSE AT THE LAST MILE HOWEVER THE NEW FRAME OF THAT IS NOW?

IS THAT WHERE YOU ARE?

>> THAT IS WHERE WE'RE GOING.

WE ARE NOT THERE YET BUT THAT IS WHERE WE'RE GOING.

WHEN WE STARTED THIS KENTUCKY WIRE THING IT WOULD HAVE TO BE FIBER TO THE PREMISES.

WE'VE REALIZED THAT IS PROBABLY NOT POSSIBLE.

IF YOU ARE THE LAST HOUSE TWO-AND-A-HALF MILES UP A HOLLOW, FIBER MAY NOT BE FEASIBLE THERE BUT WE CAN GET YOU HIGH SPEED INTERNET NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.

WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY NOW TO BE ABLE TO GET YOU HIGH SPEED INTERNET.

>> Renee: SENATOR?

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

YOU AND REPRESENTATIVE UPCHURCH FROM BEING A PART OF THE POLICY IN FRANKFORT THAT HELPS THIS COMMUNITY THRIVE, WHAT DO YOU THINK IN TERMS OF WHAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN DO TO ENABLE MORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR GET OUT OF THE WAY OF IT?

>> SOMETIMES WE AS LEGISLATORS CAN GET IN THE WAY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE AND I'VE BEEN PROUD SINCE I STARTED IN 2017.

KENTUCKY WIRE WAS BIG IN IT.

WE FOUGHT FOR IT REAL HARD.

IT WAS STARTED FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY.

AND THEN IT GOT BRANCHED OUT TO THE WESTERN THE WHOLE STATE AND KIND OF SLOWED IT UP.

AND THE LAND IS FLAT.

I HAVE A PROBLEM.

IF YOU GOT MOUNTAINS I USED TO FLY A LITTLE BIT.

AND I WOULD FLYOVER EASTERN KENTUCKY AND I WOULD BE AT 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON AND I'D LOOK DOWN AND PEOPLE HAVE LIGHTS ON.

THE REASON THEY HAVE LIGHTS ON, I'VE HEARD THE SAYING IN SCHOOL, WE HAD TO PUMP THE SUNSHINE IN.

IN HARLAN I'M SURE THEY DO HAVE TO PUMP THE SUNSHINE IN.

YOU CAN'T JUST RUN SOMETHING IN ONE PLACE, YOU MAYBE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL OR DOWN IN THE VALLEY THAT IS ONE THING WE'VE DONE.

I TELL YOU SOMETHING I'M PROUD OF AS A SENATOR, VERY PROUD OF BEATING DOC MOSS, THE SECOND THING I'M PROUD OF IS WE'VE LOWERED OUR INCOME TAX TO 3.5%.

WE HAVE NOT LOST TAX INCOME FROM IT.

AND AS WE, EVERY TIME WE START TALKING IN CAUCUS OR ANYTHING, WE'RE COMPETING WITH TENNESSEE.

AND TENNESSEE HAS GOT THE SAME LEGS THAT KENTUCKY'S GOT.

I HAVE CLINTON, WAYNE, RUSSELL, AND PULASKI, AND CUMBERLAND OUR CUMBERLAND JUDGE IS HERE TONIGHT AND 12-YEAR-OLD BUT HE WON THE ELECTION.

ANYWAY, THAT'S THE PRETTIEST MOST BEAUTIFUL LAKE IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES.

I'D GET OUT AND FLYOVER IT AND FLYOVER THE DAM.

AND OH, MAN, I TAKE PEOPLE UP AND SAY IF I WAS A NEUROLOGIST AND I WANTED TO COME TO RAISE MY KIDS I WOULD WANT TO RAISE THEM HERE.

AND THIS IS HOME, THIS IS SOMERSET AND MY DISTRICT 15.

SO WE'VE DONE QUITE A BIT.

WE CAN GET IN THE WAY, THOUGH.

I'M ONE OF THOSE THE LESS LAWS THE BETTER OFF WE ARE.

LET'S GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THAT BUSINESSMAN THAT WANTS TO DO BUSINESS.

YEAH, WE'VE DONE WELL I'M PROUD OF IT.

I REALLY AM.

>> Renee: REPRESENTATIVE WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> FIRST I WANT TO TOUCH ON WHAT MAYOR AND BOB SAYING PULASKI BEING A HUB AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN SOMERSET IS PHENOMENAL.

AND IT'S TAKEN A FEW YEARS TO GET SOMERSET WHERE IT IS NOW EVEN WITH THE TOURISM AND THEY ARE A LEADER IN THIS REGION.

AND NOW, I THINK YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE I KNOW ESPECIALLY IN MY HOMETOWN OF MONTICELLO YOU ARE STARTING TO SEE GROWTH BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO I AM LATE WHAT HAPPENED IN PULASKI.

WE SAID WHAT HAPPENED IN PULASKI COUNTY IN SOMERSET WHY CAN'T IT HAPPEN IN MONTICELLO?

AS A RESULT WE'VE LANDED PRETTY BIG EMPLOYERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE OPENING UP.

WE WILL BE HAVING I KNOW THE TOURISM A LOT MORE OF THAT AND GOING TO BE DEVELOPING A VENUE TO HAVE CONCERTS.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S -- BECAUSE OF THEIR LEADERSHIP THAT HAS GIVEN AND THEIR VISION HAS GIVEN SMALLER COMMUNITIES IN THIS AREA THE IDEA THAT HEY, IF THEY CAN DO IT WE CAN ALSO.

BACK TO YOUR QUESTION IS WHAT WE'VE DONE AS A STATE.

WHEN WE TOOK OVER CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, IN 17, WE CAME OUT WITH PRETTY QUICK LEGISLATION THAT, I THINK, SET KENTUCKY ON A FAST PATH.

NUMBER ONE WE LOWERED THE INCOME TAX FROM 6% TO 5.

WE DID AWAY WITH PREVAILING WAGE.

AND RIGHT TO WORK.

SO THAT OPENED UP KENTUCKY FOR EMPLOYERS WANTING TO COME TO KENTUCKY.

AND THEN SINCE THEN WE HAVE CONTINUALLY DROPPED THAT INCOME TAX.

AND I THINK BECAUSE OF THAT, IT HAS CAUSED MORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ESPECIALLY IN THIS REGION BECAUSE WE'VE HAD AGGRESSIVE LEADERS THAT HAVE GONE AFTER THE THINGS THAT EMPLOY PEOPLE AND MAKE PEOPLE MONEY AND YOU'VE GOT THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> Renee: YOU MENTIONED ABOUT HOW MONTICELLO IS BENEFITING FROM WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT REGIONAL COLLABORATION.

IS THERE HEY REGIONAL GROUP OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORS WHO ARE TOGETHER WHO CAN SAY OKAY IF YOU DO THIS WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS TO HELP YOU?

BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HELP US, TOO.

>> IT WILL.

AND WE'VE GOT MAYOR IN MONTICELLO, AND JUDGE SCOTT GATHERING AND THE THREE OF US HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH MAYOR KECK AND CHRIS AND WE HAVE USED THEM AS A RESOURCE AND THEY'VE HELPED US INTRODUCELY.

TREMENDOUSLY.

THE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT IN THE PAST WAS WE'VE GOT TO COMPETE WITH SOMERSET.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO COMPETE WITH SOMERSET.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OURSELVES MORE LIKE WHAT NICHOLASVILLE IS TO LEXINGTON.

AND I THINK THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THAT.

AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP THAT THEY'VE GIVEN US ADVICE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE FIRE.

AND THEY'VE HELPED US AVOID SOME OF THE LAND MINES.

WE APPRECIATE THAT A LOT.

>> Renee: HELPS YOU WITH YOUR LESSON PLANNING BECAUSE YOU SAW WHAT THEY DID.

WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES ARE.

WORKFORCE ISSUES THAT IS NOT JUST RELEGATED TO ONE AREA OR REGION ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE NATION WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION IS SOMETHING THAT IS CONCERNING.

HOW ABOUT THAT HEAR MAYOR AND WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS HELPING TO BUOY THE PARTICIPATION IN GROUPS THAT ARE DISCONNECTED.

>> IT IS A HUGE ISSUE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE PROUD AND SHARE OUR CHALLENGES.

THAT IS ONE.

I'VE HEARD BOBBY SAY FOR YEARS IF YOU WANT A JOB YOU CAN GET ONE FOR MOST OF MY TENURE WE'VE HAD CLOSE TO A THOUSAND UNFILLED JOBS.

I THINK WE HAVE A DEVELOPING WORKFORCE CRISIS NOT JUST IN THE COMMONWEALTH BUT IN OUR COUNTRY.

AN AGING POPULATION LEAVING THE WORKFORCE, A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT OVERLY SUBSIDIZES FOLKS NOT TO WORK.

I APPRECIATE WHAT REPRESENTATIVE UPCHURCH SAID HE IS BEING TOO KIND.

I THINK THE REGIONAL COLLABORATION IS A POTENTIAL SOLUTION FOR IT, THOUGH.

FOR DECADES WE DID COMPETE.

I DON'T WANT THAT CITY TO HAVE IT.

WE NEED TO GET REELECTED AND HOLD OUR CARDS TIGHT AND WE NEED THIS WIN.

AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS THEN TENNESSEE AND INDIANA AND OHIO WERE GETTING THE WINS.

KENTUCKY DID NOT EXPERIENCE POPULATION GROWTH LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE THOUGH WE HAVE LOW COST OF LIVING INDIANA CREDIBLE QUALITY OF LIFE.

ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM IS ONE THING.

OVERLY SUBSIDIZING THINGS IS ANOTHER AND THIS COMMUNITY AND CHRIS DOES DESERVE A LOT OF CREDIT.

CHRIS HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT REGIONALISM AS LONG AS BOBBY.

I AM A BELIEVER SHARING BEST PRACTICES COMMUNICATING WELL, SHARING PLANS IN YOU HAVE THEM.

WE HAVE AN UNBELIEVABLE PARTNERSHIP, YOU WILL HEAR FROM OUR JAILER IS HERE.

UNBELIEVABLE JOB OF GIVING THE FOLKS THAT ARE GETTING THAT REHABILITATION WHILE INCARCERATED AN OPPORTUNITY TO EARN A LIVING.

WE SAW THAT MAYBE THEY ARE MOWING OR WEEDING THEY ARE LEARNING REAL SKILLS IN THE JAIL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND GOING AND WORKING AT ONE OF THE MANUFACTURING FACILITIES WHO NEED EMPLOYEES TODAY.

AND SO NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE A JOB OR CAREER WHEN THEY LEAVE THEY HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A DOWN PAYMENT ON A CAR OR HOME.

THEY HAVE THAT HOPE.

FOLKS DON'T GET INTO DESPAIR IS BECAUSE THEY LOST HOPE OR OPPORTUNITY.

I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF THIS TEAM BECAUSE IT'S REAL-LIFE CHANGE FOR FOLKS.

MOM OR DAD OR GRANDS MA AND GRANDPA HAS A CHANCE FOR A FRESH START AND THE COMMUNITY CAN THRIVE AS A RESULT.

>> Renee: WEIGH-IN THERE AND TALK ABOUT REGIONALISM AND THE GOOD ASPECTS IT R OF IT.

>> I SAY A RISING TIDE RAISES ALL BOATS I'VE BEEN PREACHING HAVING THE REGIONAL MENTALITY FOR OVER A DECADE.

I BELIEVE FIRMLY THAT IF FACTORY COMES TO WAYNE COUNTY OR RUSSELL COUNTY, IT BENEFITS PEOPLE IN PULASKI COUNTY.

IF IT GOES TO OWENSBORO IT DOESN'T HELP ANY OF US.

WE NEED TO WORK COLLECTIVELY AS A GROUP AND WE DO A GOOD JOB AT THAT.

I ENJOY WORKING WITH THE MAYORS AND JUDGES IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

I REALLY WANT TO TOUCH AGAIN ON WHAT MAYOR KECK SAID ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN OUR JAIL.

IT IS A GROUNDBREAKING PROGRAM THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.

IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPRESSIVE WHAT ANTHONY McCOLLUM IS DOING.

THEY ARE FINDING WAYS TO BE MORE THAN A JAILER.

IT'S NOT JUST INCARCERATION.

IT'S FINDING WAYS TO GET THAT RECIDIVISM RATE DOWN.

IF YOU TALK TO OUR JAILER HE WILL TELL YOU 90% OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THERE ARE IN THERE FOR A DRUG-RELATED CRIME.

90% OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE REPEAT OFFENDERS.

YOU SEE THE SAME PEOPLE DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

IF WE CAN GIVE THOSE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND A WAY OUT OF THAT VICIOUS CYCLE AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THEMSELVES A HAND UP WHICH IS WHAT HE IS DOING WHEN THEY LEAVE SOME OF THE PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE 30 OR 40,000 IN THE BANK.

WITH THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK INTO THAT SAME SITUATION THEY LEFT FROM.

THEY CAN RENT AN APARTMENT, BUY A CAR, IT IS A GAME CHANGING PROGRAM THAT OTHER PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE ARE LOOKING AT.

THAT IS HOW WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE A BITE OUT OF THIS ISSUE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

EVERYBODY'S GOT THIS PROBLEM.

>> Renee: AND WE HAVE BEEN GLAD THAT THE JAILER ALLOWED US TO COME OUR TEAM GOT TO VISIT AND TALK ABOUT THAT PROGRAM AND THAT STORY IS AVAILABLE ON-LINE AT KET.ORG/KJ EDITION.

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A PAUSE FOR JUST A MOMENT AND INVITE THE SOMERSET COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESIDENT CAREY CASTLE TO JOIN US.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU A STORY FROM OUR HISTORIAN AT KET TOBY GIBBS, WHO LOVES HISTORY WHO RESEARCHED INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SOMERSET, PULASKI COUNTY AND THE REGION THAT WE'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU.

>> CUMBERLAND, PULASKI, RUSSELL AND WAYNE COUNTIES HAVE A POPULATION OF 108,000 ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS OF 2020.

PULASKI COUNTY FOUNDED IN 1798, IS NAMED IN HONOR OF COUNT KAZMIR PULASKI A POLISH NOBLE MAN AND SOLDIER NAMED A GENERAL BY GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

SETTLERS ARRIVED IN WAYNE COUNTY IN 1775 WHEN BENJAMIN PRICE FOUNDED PRICE'S STATION ALONG THE CUMBERLAND RIVER.

THE COUNTY IS NAMED FOR A WAR FIGURE GENERAL MAD ANTHONY WAYNE.

IT'S CUMBERLAND COUNTY FOUNDED IN 1798 IS NAMED AFTER THE CUMBERLAND RIVER NAMED AFTER THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND.

AND RUSS OWL COUNTY IS NAMED FOR COLONEL RUSSELL WHO SERVED IN THE REVOLUTION AND THE WAR OF 1812.

UNION AND CONFEDERATE FORCES CLASHED TWICE IN PULASKI COUNTY DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

THE UNION WON THE BATTLE OF MILL CREEK IN 1862 AND THE COMMUNITY IS CALLED NANCY.

BOYS IN BLUE WON THE BATTLE OF DUTTON'S HILL.

THE FIRST RAILROAD CAME THROUGH IN 1875 BRINGING INDUSTRY AND INCREASE IN POPULATION.

THE BUILDING OF THE WOLF CREEK DAM ON THE CUMBERLAND RIVER LED TO THE CREATION OF LAKE CUMBERLAND.

THE DAM WAS BUILT TO CONTROL FLOODING AND CREATE HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER AND TURNED TOURISM INTO A $150 MILLION A YEAR BUSINESS.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY WAS HOME TO THE FIRST COMMERCIAL OIL WELL IN THE U.S., THOUGH DRILLERS WERE LOOKING FOR SALT BRINE WHEN THEY DRILLED IN 1829.

THE COUNTY WAS THE BIRTHPLACE OF JOEL CHEEK FOUNDER OF MAXWELL HOUSE COFFEE AND THE HOME OF PEARL CARTER PACE, AKA PISTOL PACKING PEARL THE FIRST WOMAN ELECTED SHERIFF OF ANY COUNTY OF AMERICA IN 1938.

SENATOR JOHN SHERMAN COOPER IS FROM SOMERSET THE REPUBLICAN SERVED IN THE U.S. SENATE THREE TIMES TOTALING 20 YEARS HE WAS MENTOR TO SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL.

MISS AMERICA 1944, IS FROM PULASKI COUNTY ALONG WITH ROSE WILL MONROE ONE OF FOUR WOMEN WHO INSPIRED THE WORLD WAR II FIGURE ROSIE THE RIFTEDDER.

FOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" I'M TOBY GIBBS.

>> Renee: IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US YOU ARE WATCHING A SPECIAL EDITION OF "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" ON THE ROAD IN SOMERSET AT THE CENTER FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT.

AND WE ARE GLAD TO BE HERE AS WE HAVE BEEN FOR THE PREVIOUS WEEK TELLING THE GREAT STORIES OF THE GREAT PEOPLE DOING TREMENDOUS WORK IN THIS AREA IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM AND EDUCATION AND OTHER SECTORS.

WE HAVE Dr. CAREY CASTLE WHO IS PRESIDENT OF THE SOMERSET COMMUNITY COLLEGE WITH US.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE PREVIOUS SEGMENT AND NOW WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE ENGINES THAT HELPS IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GETTING WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO.

DOCTOR, I WANT TO FIRST YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING BACKGROUND AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT ALLOW YOU TO TALK ABOUT YOUR UNUSUAL PATH TO BECOME A COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESIDENT.

>> YEP, I TOOK THE DIFFERENT ROUTE THAN MOST PRESIDENTS DO.

I WAS IN THE AIR FORCE FOR 26 YEARS AND WORKED ON AIRPLANES AND RETIRED FROM THERE.

AND WENT TO WORK AT ANOTHER COLLEGE FOR ABOUT 10, 12 YEARS.

AND UP TO MINNESOTA FOR FIVE YEARS AND FINALLY HERE IN KENTUCKY.

AND QUITE HONESTLY, IF YOU'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL THE WORLD LIKE I HAVE, I ALWAYS AM AMAZED HOW BEAUTIFUL AND GREAT THIS AREA OF THE COUNTRY IS.

AND THE WORLD.

AND AT TIMES I WONDER I DON'T THINK PEOPLE KNOW WHAT A GREAT PLACE THIS IS IN AND WHAT A WONDERFUL GROUP OF PEOPLE LIVING HERE.

>> Renee: YOU HAVE LIVED DIFFERENT PLACES ACROSS THE GLOBE WHERE DOES SOMERSET RANK?

>> UP THERE AT THE TOP.

ONE OR TWO BUT IT'S DEFINITELY THE TOP TWO.

>> Renee: TELL US ABOUT SOMERSET COMMUNITY COLLEGE I UNDERSTAND THIS PAST SPRING YOU HAD YOUR HIGHEST GRADUATING CLASS YOU WERE DOING QUITE A BIT IN TERMS OF HELPING KIDS GETTING A DEGREE AND TRANSFER AND WORKPLACE SKILLS.

>> YES.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE LOOK AT HIGHER EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND THEY THINK I CAN'T DO THAT OR THAT'S BEYOND MY REACH.

OR I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO MAKE IT WORK.

HERE, AT SOMERSET COMMUNITY COLLEGE I FEEL LIKE EVERYONE OF THE PEOPLE ON THE STAGE HERE WITH US TONIGHT ARE JUST AS INVOLVED AND JUST AS ENGAGED WITH COLLEGE AS ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE.

WE GRADUATED OVER 3,000 AND 3,000 CREDENTIALS AWARDED LAST YEAR.

WE HAVE HAD OVER 8,000 STUDENTS.

WHICH IS A HUGE INCREASE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TOGETHER WITH ALL SORTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE.

WE AREN'T JUST ABOUT EDUCATION.

WE'RE ABOUT WORKING WITH THE DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY ITSELF AND FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO GET WHAT THEY NEED DONE.

WE DO IT ALL THE TIME WITH ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND MANUFACTURING, THE LOCAL BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES, WE TALK AND MEET WITH THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS AND WE FIGURE OUT WHAT IS IT THAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU TO HELP YOUR COMPANY GROW AND LIKEWISE, ADD TO THE TAX BASE AND TO THE GROWTH OF THIS AREA.

WE'RE PROUD OF THAT.

>> Renee: YOU ALSO WORKING WITH K-12 AND WORKING WITH EDUCATION AND ON THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION PERHAPS?

>> YES.

IN FACT, ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR STUDENTS ARE DUAL CREDIT STUDENTS.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN MAKING THAT PROCESS WORK.

WE BRING THOSE STUDENTS IN OR THEY GET TAUGHT IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND EARN COLLEGE CREDIT WHILE THEY ARE THERE.

IN FACT, IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE TO AWARD ASSOCIATE DEGREES TO SOME OF THE STUDENTS GRADUATING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CLASS AT THE SAME TIME.

IT'S THAT IMPORTANT.

AND A LOT OF THEM GO ON TO DO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS WHETHER IT'S GOING DIRECT TO WORK OR DIRECTLY INTO A FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY AND GETTING THEIR HIGHER EDUCATION THERE.

>> Renee: AND THEY ARE ABLE TO SAVE A LITTLE CASH THE FIRST COUPLE YEARS, TOO.

>> QUITE A BIT.

WE TRY NOT TO MAKE TOO MUCH FUN OF OUR UNIVERSITY FRIENDS, BUT WE ARE QUITE A BIT CHEAPER THAN THEY ARE.

>> Renee: I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED LAST MONTH IN JUNE THAT YOU ARE CREATING NEW HIGH-TECH TECH AFFORDABLE 3D PRINTED HOUSING.

SO THAT IS A LOT.

AND IT'S HARD TO WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE 3D PRINTED HOUSING.

DESCRIBE WHAT THAT IS.

>> SURE I WILL BE HAPPY TO.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING NEW.

3D PRINTING ADDED TO MANUFACTURING SAME THING HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 20 YEARS.

AND WHAT HAPPENED AT SOMERSET IS WE HAD A VERY ENGAGED MAN THERE, ERIC WHO HAPPENS TO BE AN ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT AND HE RAN THE MANUFACTURING PROGRAM.

HE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH ALL THE FOLKS UP IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND THE UNIVERSITIES IN PARTNERING WITH THEM TO FIGURE OUT WAYS WE CAN INTRODUCE AND GROW MANUFACTURING.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS HE'S MADE HUGE STRIDES IN THAT CULMINATING IN WHAT WE DID THREE WEEKS AGO AND ACTUALLY BUILT THE FIRST 3D CONCRETE HOUSE IN KENTUCKY.

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS IS JUST AMAZING BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE WEATHER, TORNADOES, FLOODS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, CONCRETE PRINTED HOUSE WHICH CAN BE PRINTED IN ROUGHLY THREE DAYS, AND THEN DO THE ROOF AND THE INTERIOR WORK WILL BE WIND RESISTANT, SOME TORNADO UP TO 200-MILES-PER-HOUR IN SOME CASES.

FLOODS, YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE THE CONTENTS BUT THE HOUSE WILL BE THERE.

AND MOLD RESISTANTS BECAUSE OF THE MATERIALS WE USE.

IT'S JUST A WHOLE NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO BUILD HOUSES IN THE FUTURE.

AND MAKE THEM SAFE LONG-TERM.

>> Renee: MAYOR, HAVE YOU BEEN IN ONE OF THESE?

>> I WAS THERE AT THE CEREMONY WHEN THEY UNVEILED IT AND IT WAS SPECIAL.

ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF COLLABORATION.

THERE WASN'T ANYONE THERE LOOKING TO TAKE ALL THE CREDIT YOU SAW A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO DO THINGS TO HELP STUDENTS AND HELP PEOPLE NOT JUST IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

THIS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE ACROSS OUR ENTIRE COMMONWEALTH AND I THINK THE INNOVATION AND THE PASSION FROM THE DOCTOR AND HIS TEAM IS GOING TO BE A WHETHER HE ISING FOR KENTUCKY FAMILIES.

IT WAS A HOT DAY.

BUT THEY WERE PRINTING IN 90° WEATHER.

AND IT WAS REALLY SPECIAL TO SEE.

>> Renee: AND THE FACT THAT IT CAN WITHSTAND NATURAL DISASTERS, HIGH WINDS AND THIS AREA HAD ITS FAIR SHARE OF DEALING WITH THAT.

ONE THING I DID WANT TO VISIT ABOUT HOW THIS AREA IS RECOVERING.

WE KNOW THAT LONDON CERTAINLY WAS MUCH MORE DEVASTATED BUT IF YOU LOOK HERE THERE WASN'T DAMAGE HERE.

>> THERE WAS.

THERE WAS A CHURCH HIGHLY IMPACTED WE HAD A FATALITY A DEAR FRIEND OF MANY OF OURS AND LOTS OF BUSINESSES LOST EVERYTHING.

WE WERE SPARED CANDIDLY.

I WAS ON SCENE THE NIGHT OF AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE HERE IN SOMERSET PULASKI COUNTY.

WE ARE GRATEFUL.

WE'RE RESILIENT AND LIKE WE'VE SEEN ACROSS OUR STATE OVER THE LAST HALF DECADE OR SO IS THAT WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES, KENTUCKIANS COME TOGETHER.

WE HAD MORE PEOPLE OFFERING HELP THAN NEEDED HELP IN SOMERSET AND PULASKI COUNTY.

IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING AND BOBBY WOULD ECHO THIS EVERYONE WOULD, THERE'S STILL ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU TO THOSE THAT RESPOND.

IF YOU WANTED TO FEED OUR POLICE OR FIRE THAT NIGHT OR THE NEXT DAY, DO IT TOMORROW.

DO IT NEXT WEEK.

DO IT NEXT MONTH.

THOSE MEN AND WOMEN ARE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR LIFE FOR FOLKS THEY DON'T KNOW AND WILLING TO DO IT EVERY SHIFT.

IF YOU SEE THEM IN A RESTAURANT PICK UP THE TAB AND SAY THANK YOU.

I PROMISE IT MEANS A LOT.

AND THAT OPPORTUNITY ALWAYS EXISTS IT DOESN'T EXIST AFTER A TRAGEDY.

>> Renee: AS FRED ROGERS WAS SAYING IN I AM TOOS OF CRISIS YOU LOOK FOR THE HELPERS AND WE KNOW THAT OUR FIRST-RESPONDERS ARE OUR BIGGEST HELPERS.

I WANT TO REVISIT THE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOUSING.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS TAKING UP.

THERE IS A SPECIAL TASK FORCE ASSIGNED TO TAKE THIS UP.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE HOUSING NEEDS NOT JUST THIS REGION BUT THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE, KENTUCKY IS LOOKING AT MORE THAN 200,000 UNITS THAT IS NEEDED WHETHER IT'S RENTAL OR HOMEOWNERSHIP.

WHAT IDEAS ARE BUBBLING TO THE SURFACE SENATOR ABOUT HOW TO TACKLE THIS LARGE PROBLEM?

>> THEY'VE STARTED A TASK FORCE.

I WAS' FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ON IT.

WE'VE GOT IF WE CAN GET THE WORKFORCE HERE, THEN WE GOT TO HAVE THE HOUSES FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN.

WHEN I DRIVE TO LEXINGTON OR FRANKFORT OR I DON'T LOOK AT THE OFF SHOOTS THE ROADS.

ANYWAY, I NOTICED I WENT IN ON TTAI AND WHERE THE [INAUDIBLE] THERE'S HOUSES BACK THERE.

THEY WASN'T THERE WHEN ME AND LONNIE WAS GROWING UP.

THE HOUSES CAN BE BUILT IF WE HAVE TO BUILD THE CONCRETE HOUSES AND GET STATE FARM TO INSURE THEM FOR HALF BECAUSE THEY ARE CONCRETE, BUT THAT'S HOUSES WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT THEM.

I WANT TO PUT IN A WORD FOR Dr. CASTLE QUICK ABOUT DUAL CREDITS.

BEST THING WE EVER DID.

I GOT A GRANDDAUGHTER GOING TO GRADUATE THIS YEAR WITH TWO ASSOCIATE DEGREES.

TWO OF THEM.

AND SHE'S GOING TO SAVE HER MOM AND DAD A TON OF MONEY AND THEN ANOTHER THING THAT THEY DID AND HAROLD ROGERS, HAL ROGERS DID IT AS WELL, MULTIUNIVERSITY, DO WE STILL CALL IT THAT?

MILTY VERSTY IS YOU CAN GET A TEACHING CERTIFICATE DEGREE HERE.

>> CORRECT.

>> YOU CAN GET ALL THE OTHER IF YOU WANT TO SPECIALIZE IN SOMETHING HERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE HERE.

YOU CAN GET A COLLEGE EDUCATION HERE.

ANOTHER THING THAT I WANT TO THROW OUT, WELDERS, THEY START OUT MAKING 80, 90,000 A YEAR.

YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THEY ARE GOING TO OWE?

NOT A DIME.

SO THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FILL THESE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED WORKFORCE.

AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUY THE HOUSES AND EVEN ENTREPRENEURS ARE BUILDING WE GOT SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT BUILD RENTAL HOUSES AND THEY HAVE THEM AND THAT MAKES YOU A GOOD CHUNK OF CHANGE IF YOU ARE WILLING TO STICK YOUR NECK OUT.

HOUSING, I THINK WILL COME IF WE GET THE WORKFORCE HERE.

WE DON'T HAVE A NEED FOR HOUSING UNTIL THE WORKFORCE COMES.

BOWLING GREEN IS HAVING A MAJOR ISSUE.

AND SOMERSET IS NOT FAR BEHIND.

BUT, YEAH, THE HOUSING PART VERY IMPORTANT, I AGREE WITH THAT 100%.

GET THE WORKFORCE HERE.

ESPECIALLY NOW THAT WE CAN SAY OUR INCOME TAX TENNESSEE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME IF YOU LIVED IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY, YOU CAN GO WORK IN TENNESSEE AND SAVE 6% 3.5% INCOME TAX COME ACROSS THE LINE AND BUY THE GOODS AT 6% NOT 9-AND-A-HALF.

WE TRY TO -- WHEN WE LOOK AT STUFF WE TRY TO COMPETE WITH THE STATES AROUND US.

>> Renee: I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT AND THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.

REPRESENTATIVE, ARE YOU NOT COMPETING WITH YOUR NEIGHBORING COUNTY IT'S THE STATE AND FOR YOU ON THE BORDER OF TENNESSEE, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

SO HENCE THE MOVE TO REDUCE THE INCOME TAX AS IT'S BEING DONE AND OTHER POLICY MOVES THAT HELP THAT COMPETITION.

>> YEAH.

I THINK MAKING US MORE COMPETITIVE WITH NOT ONLY TENNESSEE, OF COURSE, THERE IS A LARGE BORDER WITH TENNESSEE BUT THERE'S SIX OTHER STATES THAT SURROUND KENTUCKY AND GETTING THAT SALES TAX AND THAT IS ONE OF THE BIG THINGS AN EMPLOYER WILL LOOK AT IS THE INCOME TAX WHEN THEY WANT TO COME INTO A STATE.

AS WE LOWER THE INCOME TAX IT MAKES KENTUCKY MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR EMPLOYMENT.

AND ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES IN KENTUCKY HAS MADE OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, WE HAVE MADE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE ROADS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAKE CUMBERLAND REGION IF YOU TAKE CLINTON, WAYNE, RUSSELL, PULASKI, AND ROCK CASTLE, IN THE TWO-YEAR BIENNIUM THERE WAS 135 MILLION APPROPRIATED FOR ROADS IN THOSE COUNTIES.

AND THAT ALL AFFECTS THE LAKE CUMBERLAND AREA THE COUNTIES THAT TOUCH OR McCRARY HAVING THE RIVER THAT FEEDS LAKE CUMBERLAND.

AND THEN IN THE FOUR YEARS OF THE THE PLAN FOUR YEARS WE TALK ABOUT A SIX-YEAR ROAD PLAN THE REMAINING FOUR YEARS THERE'S 450 MILLION DOLLARS.

SO THAT TELLS US BECAUSE OF THE NEED, BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT IS GOING ON IN THIS AREA WE NEED THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND AS WE BACKFILL THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IN YOU ARE GOING TO SEE MORE JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES COME TO THE LAKE CUMBERLAND REGION.

>> Renee: Dr. CASTLE I WANT TO RETURN TO YOU AND ASK WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WOULD NEED OR ASK FROM FRANKFORT SINCE YOU ARE SITTING NEXT TO TWO MAJOR PLAYERS TO EITHER HELP YOU ADVANCING THE COMMISSION OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM WHAT IS IT YOU NEED MORE OF PERHAPS?

>> EVERYONE THINKS MONEY.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING PEOPLE THINK THEY CAN USE MORE OF.

THE REALITY IS WE JUST NEED THE ABILITY TO MOVE THROUGH THE LAW, THE LAWS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

AND THE BUREAUCRACY, BUT THOSE THINGS THAT HOLD US UP FROM MAKING RAPID CHANGES THAT WILL IMPACT OUR STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY A LOT QUICKER.

IT'S NOT AS EASY FOR INSTANCE VERY APPRECIATIVE.

THEY BOTH WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US GET FUNDING FOR A NEW BUILDING WE'RE PUTTING UP IN THE LAUREL CAMPUS.

BUT GETTING THE FUNDING FOR THAT AND PUTTING EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT IS A LONG-TERM PROCESS.

AND JUST THE STATE PROCESS OF GETTING THINGS APPROVED AND MOVING THROUGH THE ARCHITECTURAL PHASE AND THOSE THINGS TAKES FOREVER.

AND MAYBE BECAUSE I'M IMPATIENT I'M NOT SURE.

BUT THE REALITY IS THEY DO A LOT OF GOOD FOR US NOW.

AND FOR US THAT IS WHERE WE'RE AT.

WE AS PART OF THE SYSTEM, HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THE LAST FEW YEARS LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER AND WE'VE DONE GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT AND THEY HAVE RESPONDED.

I WOULD SAY IT IS A CONTINUED PROCESS OF TALKING BACK AND FORTH.

>> Renee: DO YOU MIND SHARING WHERE YOUR AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT ARE?

>> OVERALL FOR THE SYSTEM?

A LOT HAD TO DO HOW WE'RE DEALING WITH DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR CURRICULUM AND HOW WE ARE WORKING THROUGH DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION AS WELL.

WE TALKED THROUGH DUAL CREDIT AGAIN AND SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS.

THERE WAS A LONG LIST OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAVE WALKED THROUGH.

AND 179 AND LATEST IN THE NURSING HOME RIGHT HAND REPORT.

THOSE THINGS HAVE ALL BEEN ADDRESSED AND WE ARE ON A INCLINE IN POSITIVE WAYS.

>> Renee: WHAT DO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS NEED FROM SOMERSET COMMUNITY COLLEGE?

>> I'M NOT SURE OTHER THAN THE THINGS THAT THEY ARE ALREADY DOING.

THEY ARE ADDRESSING THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE.

THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, THE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING THOSE JOBS ARE, I MEAN, INCREDIBLE AND A LOT OF OUR COMPETITORS TO THE SOUTH, ALABAMA, TENNESSEE, HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB ON THAT AND WE HAVE BEEN LAGGING A LITTLE BIT BEHIND.

THE GUY THAT IS RUNNING THE PROGRAM IS AMAZING.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU HUNG ON TO HIM THIS LONG BUT YOU NEED TO KEEP HIM BECAUSE HIS VISION IN THAT WORK SPACE IS INCREDIBLE.

JUST LIKE THIS 3D PRINTED HOUSE.

SO I THINK THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP DOING MORE OF IT.

>> Renee: WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE THREE TO FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

BOBBY, WHAT IS IT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW THAT LET'S TAKE A DIVE INTO THAT AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS.

I WOULD SAY THAT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS SOMETHING THAT, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.

FOR THE BETTER PART OF MY TIME AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT ISSUE FOR THE REST OF MY TENURE IN THIS POSITION AND WHOEVER IS THERE AFTER ME WILL DO THE SAME.

IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO TAKE SMALL BITES OUT OF.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUALLY WORK ON.

I BELIEVE ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US TRY TO TACKLE LOCALLY, IS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

I THINK THAT THAT'S A BIG ISSUE THAT BROUGHT UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET OUR ARMS AROUND RIGHT NOW.

THOSE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS HAPPEN WITH GROWTH.

20 YEARS AGO, THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY A CONVERSATION THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD.

BUT TODAY, I WOULD SAY THAT THOSE ARE BIG ISSUES.

I WILL TELL YOU, WE HAVE A VERY, VERY GOOD MAYOR.

WE HAVE A VISIONARY MAYOR WHO IS WELL AWARE OF ALL THESE THINGS I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING HE IS UNAWARE OF AND HE IS WORKING TO ADDRESS AND TACKLE THESE ISSUES.

MY JOB IS TO JUST PLAY A SMALL PART IN BEING IN AN ASSISTANT TO HELPING WITH THOSE THINGS.

THOSE ARE TWO OF THE BIGGEST THINGS FROM MY OFFICE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WORKED ON.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PIECE SOMETIMES PEOPLE MAYBE OUTSIDE OF SOMERSET AND THAT IS ONLY WHAT URBAN AREAS NEED.

WHY WOULD AN AREA LIKE SOMERSET NEED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WHEN AREAS LARGER DON'T HAVE THAT?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE DEMAND AND THE NEED.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE HERE THAT DON'T HAVE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.

THAT IS ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE ISSUES WE HEAR MONTH IN AND MONTH OUT FOR PEOPLE.

IF YOU LOOK ALONG OUR MAJOR THOROUGHFARES YOU SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WEARING YOU KNOW, CLOTHES GOING TO A PARTICULAR BUSINESS OR COMING HOME FROM A PARTICULAR BUSINESS AND THEY ARE WALKING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

THE NEED IS HERE.

I THINK IT VARIES DRAMATICALLY FROM COMMUNITY TO COMMUNITY.

BUT AS FAR AS SOMETHING HERE, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE SAME SOLUTION HERE THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE IN BOWLING GREEN OR LEXINGTON.

IT COULD BE A SMALLER COLLABORATION.

MAYBE WITH THE STATE OR THE COUNTY OR THE CITY TO POSSIBLY OR MAYBE A REGIONAL FIX.

THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE ON A DAILY BASIS OUR NUMBERS SWELL DRAMATICALLY DURING THE DAY FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING HERE TO WORK.

OUR TRADE AREA, IF YOU WILL, IS PROBABLY OVER 150,000 PEOPLE A DAY.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ANY CLOTHES THAT THEY PURCHASE, GROCERIES, CLOTHING, ENTERTAINMENT, RESTAURANTS, A MOVIE, AND THEN IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE WORKFORCE, IT SWELLS DRAMATICALLY FROM THE AREAS AROUND US AS FAR AWAY AS TENNESSEE.

WE CAST A BIG NET TO BRING JOBS HERE.

BECAUSE THERE'S GOOD, HIGH PAYING JOBS IN THIS AREA PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO DRIVE 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR TO COME HERE.

SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION THAT WE'VE GROWN A LOT AND PEOPLE RELOCATING HERE.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION COMES WITH THE TERRITORY.

AT SOME POINT EVERY COMMUNITY THAT IS GROWING WILL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

>> Renee: MAYOR, WHERE DO YOU STAND?

>> A LOT TO UNPACK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WORKFORCE AND HOUSING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IF YOU PULLBACK MAYBE 10 OR 15 YEARS NONE OF THOSE WERE CHALLENGES WE WEREN'T GROWING WE HADN'T GROWN.

INSTEAD OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WE WERE TRYING TO GET JOBS SO PEOPLE HAD A PLACE TO GO WORK.

AND IF YOU ARE NOT GROWING YOU ARE NOT BUILDING HOUSES OR SINGLE FAMILY WE HAVE INFILL VICE-PRESIDENTMENTS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE ARE FINDING LOTS AND PUTTING DUE DUPLEXES.

AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT BECAUSE OF OUR TOURISM ECONOMY AND HOSPITALITY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED OR GET TO AND FROM THE LAKE.

BOBBY IS RIGHT IT'S SOMETHING WE ARE STARTING TO LOOK AT.

IT WILL LIKELY REQUIRE AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION BECAUSE WE ARE NOT THAT URBAN OUR POPULATION DOES SWELL WE DON'T HAVE THE DENSITY THAT OTHERS DO.

BUT WE HEAR ABOUT IT WEEKLY.

OFTENTIMES MUTUAL TELL TIMES A WEEK I'M EXCITED WHAT A BEAUTIFUL CHALLENGE TO HAVE TO TRY TO SOLVE.

SO WE WANT TO WORK WITH WHETHER IT BE OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM OR THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO TRY TO TACKLE IT.

>> Renee: HAVE YOU GIVEN MUCH THOUGHT TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN THIS AREA?

>> I THINK THE BIG THING IS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DENSELY POPULATED THAT CREATES A MAJOR HURDLE AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN CITIES BETWEEN CITY AND THE STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT BEST WHAT THAT BEST SOLUTION IS.

AND I HONESTLY I DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOW STARTING TO REAR ITS HEAD AS TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO.

SO THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE WORK TOWARDS THAT.

>> Renee: ALONG WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS ANOTHER CHALLENGE FACING THIS COMMUNITY OR SERIES OF COMMUNITIES REGION AS IT WERE?

>> WELL, I THINK THE EMPLOYMENT THE WORKFORCE IS MAJOR HAVING THE WORKFORCE FOR THE JOBS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RECRUIT.

I KNOW IN MONTICELLO IF YOU DRAW A CIRCLE AROUND MONTICELLO YOU ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT 100,000 POPULATION.

AND SO THAT'S HOW WE SELL MONTICELLO.

AS FAR AS OUR WORKFORCE.

WE ARE NOT JUST TRYING TO EMPLOY PEOPLE IN MONTICELLO BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO MOVE INTO MONTICELLO.

AND SO THAT I THINK WILL BE THE KEY TO THIS REGION IS HAVING PEOPLE MOVE FROM OTHER STATES INTO THE LAKE CUMBERLAND REGION EVEN INTO KENTUCKY.

BECAUSE WE'RE STILL A SMALL STATE THERE'S FOUR-AND-A-HALF MILLION PEOPLE AND WE NEED TO GROW OUR POPULATION.

AND BY GROWING OUR POPULATION THAT WILL GROW OUR TAX BASE, IT WILL GROW OUR EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS AND MAKE FOR A BETTER SITUATION ALL THE WAY AROUND NOT ONLY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BUT STATE GOVERNMENT AS WELL.

>> Renee: SENATOR, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT?

>> PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION I HAVE THOUGHT A GREAT DEAL ABOUT IT.

IT'S HORRIBLE.

LET ME SAY SOMETHING ABOUT, I'VE READ A LOT ABOUT MITCH McCONNELL AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAL ROGERS, DO YOU KNOW THAT 461 HAS A BRIDGE OVER THAT MITCH McCONNELL AND HIS WIFE AT THE TIME GAVE US $25 MILLION TO MAKE THAT FLOW TRAFFIC FLOW FROM MOUNT VERNON TO I-75.

AND IN THE PLANS, THANKFUL TO Mr. UPCHURCH WE HAVE A PLAN TO MAKE IT FOUR LANE FROM 461 HERE AND IT WILL VISIT ALL THE LAKES.

AND THAT'S HAL ROGERS' VISION.

THAT'S THE REASON WE WENT TO I CAN'T THINK OF MITCH McCONNELL'S WIFE'S NAME.

EKLAIN CHOW.

>> AND HAL ROGERS I DIDN'T KNOW HIM WELL, MY COUSIN WORKED FOR HIM.

AND I WAS TOO BUSY RAISING KIDS AND COACHING BASEBALL AND HURTING SHOULDERS.

BUT IT AMAZES ME THAT A MAN CAN SIT BACK AND DO THIS KIND OF STUFF AND NEVER REALLY GET THE TO BE A PART OF IT.

AND HE TOLD ME ONE TIME, I SAID HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

AND HE SAID SOMETIMES YOU BUILD SHADE TREES YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO BE UNDER THE SHADE AND THAT MADE SO MUCH SENSE TO ME.

27, I HATE TO GO THROUGH LANCASTER HATE IT.

WE'RE GOING TO BY PAST LANCASTER.

AS WE ARE ABLE TO BRING MORE PEOPLE HERE, THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE EVER TRIED TO CALL AN UBER HERE?

AND WE USED TO HAVE THE BOYS THAT GOT US NOT TOO SOBER TO DRIVE HOME AND TAKE US HOME.

BUT THEY DON'T HAVE YELLOW CABS ANYMORE.

SO WE DO NEED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

NOT AS BAD AS PROBABLY IN THE AREAS OF SOME BUT AS WE GROW THIS WILL BE A PROBLEM FOR THE NEXT SENATOR.

BUT IT IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.

AS OUR THOROUGHFARE COMES TO GET AND WE WILL HAVE 914 AROUND SOMERSET AND IT WILL GO TO RUSSELL COUNTY AND ALL THE OTHER AREAS IN THAT AREA.

AND THEN OUR LAKES, OUR 461, ALL THEM BOATS, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE LINED UP ALL THE WAY TO 75.

THEY WILL BE GETTING IN AND OUT.

WE ARE GOING TO NEED SOME.

I LOOK FOR THAT MONEY TO BE FLOWING THROUGH HERE SO WE CAN POSSIBLY DO SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.

>> Renee: SOMETHING TO KEEP OUR EYES ON.

WE'LL HAVE TO PUT A PIN IN THE CONVERSATION THERE WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING HERE AND MICHELLE ALLEN WHO JOINED US WITH LAKE CUMBERLAND TOURISM IT'S BEEN A GOOD DISCUSSION AND I HOPE OTHER VIEWERS LEARNED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW TO BE BOLD AND TO TELL THEIR STORY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" ON THE ROAD AT THE CENTER FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT HERE IN SOMERSET.

WE'LL SEE YOU REAL SOON.

TAKE GOOD CARE.

[APPLAUSE]