According to South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council Executive Director Carter Hendricks, the 3rd Annual Jobs Fest is still very much on tap for this Thursday at the Planters Bank & Jennie Stuart Health Sportsplex in Hopkinsville.
During Monday’s EDC meeting, he also told dignitaries the efforts this year will be a little different than those of the past — in which businesses will focus on the high school students of Trigg, Christian and Todd counties from 9-11 AM, before pivoting to the general public from 11 AM until 1 PM.
In a shared sponsorship with the West Kentucky Workforce Board, Hendricks noted the Job Fest tries to fall in line with graduating high school students, and young collegians, in the tri-county and northwest Tennessee areas.
And, somewhat related, Hendricks later pointed to a slight uptick of unemployment in the region for March, with Trigg at 5.8%, Christian at 5.7% and Todd at 4.4%.
Montgomery County was at 3.1%, Robertson 2.2% and Stewart 3%, while regional unemployment was at 5.3%, Kentucky was at 5.1% and the U.S. was at 3.8%.
In other EDC news:
— Hendricks said there were many “legislative wins” of which to be proud of after this Kentucky General Assembly, including certain provisions made available in the biennium budget. He referenced the $70 million plus for road construction, $30 million for sewer upgrades in Guthrie, $30 million for economic developments site and energy infrastructure, as well as another $7 million for Christian County Public Schools and its athletic facilities.
— Also this Thursday, Hendricks said the SWK EDC team will be visiting with Amfine Chemical Corporation officials in Nashville to present short remarks and a token of appreciation for their 30 years investing and building with Christian County.
Located at 6805 John Rivers Road in Pembroke, the industry is a strategic joint venture of ADEKA Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas). Founded in 1994, a Hopkinsville manufacturing plant was established in 2000 and expanded in 2011.
They market a wide variety of specialty plastic additives and other materials related to automotive, building and construction materials, electrical and electronics, packaging, and others.
— Due to Memorial Day, SWK EDC officials will next convene at noon, May 20.
— Officials gave a round of applause for the completion of the Cadiz, Hopkinsville, and Elkton rotary club auction cycle, which combined for more than $970,000 raised this last month. In fact, Todd County raised more than $36,000 in just its fourth year.