Well, central Kentucky is seeing a lot of growth.

And it's not just contained to Lexington.

Cities like Nicholasville and Mount Sterling are experiencing their own growth spurts.

Katy's Renee Shaw talked earlier today with the economic development folks in Jessamine and Montgomery counties about their recent wins and ideas on what could advance and manage that kind of growth.

That is in tonight's Business Beat segment.

Renee, over to you.

Thank you so much, Kelsey.

Good to be with you all on a Friday.

And we are going to be talking some business beat.

And we've got two economic development experts with us today.

We're glad to have back with us.

Jason Rainey, who is executive director of the Mount Sterling, Montgomery County Economic Development and adjunct faculty at the University of Kentucky, Gatton College of Business and Economics, and Russ Meyer, who's with us now.

You're going to say he looks really familiar where he is, the former mayor of Nicholasville, a former state lawmaker, recent retiree from the Kentucky State Parks.

As commissioner there, and now the executive director of the Jessamine County Joint Industrial Development Authority.

Welcome, gentlemen.

Thank you for having me.

So, yeah, good to have you here.

And congratulations on on being back home and doing another in another capacity.

That is exciting.

Yeah.

Back home is exciting.

And I've enjoyed, all these roles, but, and being in Frankfort and being a part of this administration has been great.

A lot of big accomplishments going on.

But to get back home and to go to work for your community and where you live is, there's nothing like it.

Yeah.

So talk to us a little bit about Jessamine County and some of the great economic development wins already happening there.

Yeah.

Well, I mean, hey, we are growing, growing, growing and have been for, quite a long time.

We're now the fifth fastest growing, city in the state.

When I was mayor, we were the ninth.

So our mayor, Alex Carter, has done a great job.

But, now there's a lot of, big economic wins.

One thing that we've done is, we've got 162 acre, economic development industrial park on US 27 on the south side, the south lie down on Main Street on to 27.

So, we're working hard to get that, completed.

We're in phase three right now, and that's going to open up a lot of opportunities, you know, for industry, for business.

Commercial business.

Yeah.

To keep growing in our community, as you as, you know, coming to Nicholasville.

You know, Brandon Crossing has been a big hit.

That's been a big land for us, you know, over, a thousand jobs.

And and, you know, with that, in a five mile radius of Bryan across and there's 150,000 people.

So that's an opportunity in its own.

So you don't really realize that.

You don't think about that.

At all.

That's a biggie.

Yeah.

And, you know, we don't have, a major interstate.

Of course, you know, I hope to see us resurrect that 75 connector if we can do that.

But we'll see.

Yeah, see what happens.

But, you know, there's a lot going on, but, hopefully, you know, we can continue to play the role of being a great partner in the region, with Mount Sterling, with Fayette, with all the surrounding counties.

And, and that's where we really win is when we all come together and work as a region.

And, you know, Jason gave me a call to come on, with, with you all, and I appreciate that, Jason.

But, you know, hey, let's, action creates action.

We all do it together.

That's right.

It's all up from here.

I mean, you've talked, Jason, about that, the regionalism that's happening when it comes to economic development space.

And also, there's been some good news recently, Governor Andy Beshear announced there was a $700,000 community Development block grant fund that was coming to you all, company that specifically to lease equipment to a company called RIP Technology.

So tell us about this.

And what kind of gains you expect from this?

Yeah, this is a company that we were able to recruit and from Miami, Florida to Mount Sterling, Kentucky, they moved all the operations there.

We're really excited to have them as part of the community.

But this equipment loan is very significant because through partnership with Department of Local Government, the executive branch, everybody in Frankfort, you know, we're able to do this equipment loan.

It's going to create several jobs, 35 jobs, at least in a certain 51% of those will be low to moderate income people.

So we're able to try to bring folks up and give them more job economic opportunity for their for their families.

But when they pay the money back, ultimately the industrial authority or office will have those funds to reinvest in economic development.

As far as the significance of that Cdbg ed program, you know, this will be the third one in the last ten years in our Gateway Development District region.

So, you know, kudos to our fiscal court members.

Judge Haddix, you know, all the folks in Frankfort, Commissioner Sawyer working with us to be able to get get this through and especially the Gateway Development District, we couldn't do it without their help.

And, Josh Farrow, his team, they're really outstanding.

Yeah.

So what is it that you all may be asking state lawmakers to do when they go in for their 60 day budget session?

When it comes to economic development, what do you hope to say?

Well, I think continuing to make sure we have a priority with the Kentucky Product Development Initiative that that's funded in the biennium budget.

You know, we were talking before week.

Which means what I mean, you know, it's.

They it's to be able to develop, product for Kentucky for economic development sites.

Right.

And Russ and I, we were talking before we came in, you know, my new industrial port.

None of that is possible without the, without that program the legislature put in place.

They put funding in place.

And then, all the folks in the executive branch, secretary know Rocky being able to go to bat to say, hey, you know, Mount Sterling deserves a chance to to really elevate.

So we appreciate them and the teamwork.

So yeah.

That's right.

I would add to that, that's he's spot on.

Yeah.

Spot on.

I would add to that infrastructure.

Water, sewer road projects that that are important vital assets to, to our communities and to the longevity of economic development in the region.

And, if we look at all our projects, regionally and the impact, that's that's a big deal, but, I would have to call that one in my mind.

Yeah, one in money.

Right.

And some would say, well, Central Kentucky seems to have good roads and good infrastructure, but you say there's more to be done there.

There is more to be done.

There always is.

And that is our vision.

Yeah.

That is our clear vision is our infrastructure.

And we know that lawmakers did make a sizable commitment to that in the last budget session in 2024.

Right.

And we know that there were counties who really needed some additional help because they had some issues.

So it'd be interesting to see what happens.

They've got 60 days to figure it out.

Begins January the 6th.

And I'm sure we'll be seeing you all in the halls.

Well, it's a different hall this time because it's a temporary capital.

But we'll see an annex.

How about that?

And I hope you all have a great holiday season.

We'll be there.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Good to see.

You.

Happy thanksgiving.

Thank you.

Gentlemen.