While announcements for Ascend Elements and the Novelis expansion have been critical revelations for the region in the last year, the growth of Christian, Trigg and Todd County’s job market has been intrepid.
During Monday’s South Western Kentucky EDC meeting, Executive Director Carter Hendricks relayed that capital investments in the last year equated to more than 1,200 jobs and $1 billion in liquidity.
Those projects have been wide in variety and size — from PJ Clark Lumber in Trigg County, to the Casey Jones Distillery in Christian County, to Wednesday’s unveiling of Delavan in Todd County.
So what’s next on the fiscal calendar for SWK? Hendricks said the groundbreaking of Ascend Elements and the continued focus of labor-force nurturing are key.
Two regional spec buildings are also sharply under EDC review.
The “Charged and Ready” electric vehicle initiative has been a big push for the Christian, Trigg and Todd economic profile — based on its location to the exponentially-growing supply chain being built in Kentucky and Tennessee.
Hendricks, however, said many different types of industry are being sought for this area.
One area Hendricks said he’d like to see bite in the area: defense and aerospace.
Speaking of growth:
— The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet earlier this week alerted motorists of slow-moving, 960,000-ton “superloads” bound from the Eddyville Riverport, down I-24, and eventually into Christian County.
After one has already passed through the area, KYTC District 1 spokesman Keith Todd noted five more are on the way.
But where exactly are they going? Hendricks said these large structures belong to Martinrea.
A Tier 1 automotive supplier of lightweight structures and propulsion systems, Hendricks also noted that these caravans mean a little bit more than just unique traffic challenges for Martinrea and the regional industrial community.
They’re symbols of development and prosperity.
— And according to Hendricks, Rural King officials still have full plans to come to the Hopkinsville area.
He said he received a considerable update on the project about a month ago. The Bradford Square Mall has been purchased by the company, and there’s serious potential for redeveloping the properties around Rural King’s expected location with additional subletting for retail, restaurant and entertainment businesses.
The Rural King store itself should create 170 full-time jobs around 55 positions associated with the organization.