Community Leaders Delegation Vists Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet
Rockcastle County
Judge Executive Buzz Carloftis, all five county magistrates and the mayors
of all three incorporated cities led Rockcastle County’s delegation of 22
community leaders as the group made a presentation to the Kentucky Cabinet
for Economic Development. The goal of the visit was to ensure the state’s
industry recruitment department was aware of Rockcastle County’s commitment
to being progressive in creating an environment for growth, development and
new industry. “I believe we were successful in our goal of presenting a
unified front for Rockcastle County and showing the state we are working to
be proactive toward economic development,” according to Rockcastle County
Judge Executive Buzz Carloftis. “And while I am confident we made a positive
impression on the state, now we really must make sure we move forward
confidently with what it takes to be progressive in development,” he said.
“There is no question that today we learned from the cabinet what they
expect from us if we want to be on the list of communities they recommend to
prospective companies considering Kentucky,” he said.
The meeting today was held at the cabinet’s offices at the old Capital Annex
in their board room in Frankfort. The meeting consisted of all members of
the local delegation introducing themselves and the organization which they
represented. Then, a PowerPoint presentation was presented by RCIDA
Consultant Jim Holton on the community’s behalf. During the course of the
presentation, Holton would refer to various members of the delegation to
provide additional information for whatever the specific topic was being
presented. After the presentation was completed, the Rockcastle group then
had the opportunity hear from the cabinet’s business recruitment leaders.
“Our job at the state level is to match the needs of prospective companies
looking at Kentucky with communities which can meet those needs,” according
to J.R.Wilhite, Commissioner of New Business Development for the Kentucky
Cabinet for Economic Development. “A community must be committed to funding
a progressive economic development program and having available resources,
such as prepared sites with adequate infrastructure and available industrial
buildings, to be a viable option for business prospects,” he said.
“Ultimately, communities which are identified by the cabinet as potential
locations must by their nature increase Kentucky’s chance for locating that
company in the Commonwealth,” he said. When asked what Rockcastle County
needs to do to be a viable contender as a prospective location for industry,
Wilhite was very clear. “Have progressive leadership committed to doing the
things necessary to be competitive with the rest of Kentucky and other
communities nationwide,” according to Wilhite. “It takes a long-term
commitment of financial resources to purchase land and develop
infrastructure (utilities) so that you have what new businesses need to
consider your community for their project,” he said. “Companies also need
assurance that their investment will not be compromised due to a lack of
planning for land use and infrastructure development,” he said.
Approximately 10 representatives of the cabinet were on hand for the meeting
and impressed with the number of Rockcastle County community leaders who
attended the meeting. “We invite communities to come to our staff meetings
to make presentations regarding their plans and efforts in economic
development. This is the first time we have had any county bring every one
of their magistrates, all of their mayors and the county judge executive. To
date, this is the largest delegation we have had from any community in the
Commonwealth of Kentucky. This certainly shows how united Rockcastle County
is in helping move the county forward,” he said.
Those representatives from the community participating in the trip included
Judge Executive Buzz Carloftis, Rockcastle County Magistrates Ralph Allen,
William Denny, John Holbrook, Bill McKinney and Jan Stevens; Mayors Clarice
Kirby of Mt. Vernon, J.C. Griffin of Livingston and Walter Cash of Brodhead.
Others participating include State Representative Danny Ford, RCIDA Chairman
Corey Craig, and Vice Chairman Douglas Brock Sr., Gatliff Craig RCIDA Board
Member, Past Chamber President Mike Blount, Rockcastle County Schools
Superintendent Larry Hammonds and Leadership Rockcastle Alumni Robert
Lawson, Tamara Cox, Charles Napier, Lynn Tatum, R-TEC drivers Gary Reppert
and Jack Hansford and RCIDA Consultant Jim Holton.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CONTACT: Jim Holton, (606) 219-7030
