ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY VISITS ADAIR

Prior to this week, John E. Hindman, Secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, had never stepped foot in Adair County during the 10-plus months he’s been on the job.
That changed Monday though, as Hindman came to Columbia and spent the day – and a half-day Tuesday – touring the city and county, meeting with local elected officials and community leaders, and sampling some of the amenities that we have to offer.
And, apparently the secretary’s visit left him impressed with what he saw and heard.
“Columbia is the most enthusiastic about their community of any place I’ve visited in the state,” Hindman told an audience of around 50 community leaders Tuesday morning at a breakfast at the Chamber of Commerce. “You have a positive attitude about what you are, what you’re going to be, and why you love being here. That does a lot to sell a community (to a prospective industrial or commercial client).
Hindman went on to praise local efforts to improve the economy.
“A lot of communities look for someone outside to do something for them,” he stated. “You’re going ahead and doing something.”
Hindman’s visit, arranged by Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sue Stivers, including a tour of the downtown area, a visit to the new industrial park and the Columbia-Adair County Water Commission’s new water treatment plant, a tour of Majestic Yachts, and visits to Lindsey Wilson College (including the site where the college’s new baseball and football fields will be built) and the Holladay Place development at Louie B. Nunn Parkway-KY 61 South interchange. Monday’s tour concluded with a dinner cruise on Green River Lake aboard  a houseboat provided by Holmes Bend Marina.
At the Tuesday morning meeting, Secretary Hindman explained a little about how the Cabinet for Economic Development works, and it’s strategic plan.
Unlike other state cabinet secretaries, he said the Economic Development Cabinet is not controlled by the governor, but is overseen by an independent board of which the governor serves as chairman. Hindman, who was appointed secretary by former governor Ernie Fletcher and has a five-year contract, said this is done to “keep politics out” and to ensure continuity of programs. And, so far, he said that Gov. Fletcher and Gov. Steve Beshear have kept politics out of the cabinet.
Prior to his becoming secretary, Hindman said that the cabinet’ emphasis had been narrow, recruiting only manufacturing concerns, but has changed that to include many other factors of economic development.
“Education is the foundation of economic growth,”he stated, noting that those working to recruit new industries and businesses must work hand-in-hand with those in the educational fields to ensure there is a properly educated and trained workforce.
He went on to say that a poorly educated workforce is the biggest deterrent to attracting new jobs to Kentucky, but noted that efforts are underway to correct this.
In an interview following the meeting, Secretary Hindman said that the current state of the economy is slowing down the recruitment of new industries, not only statewide but nationwide.
“Companies that we have been developing relationships with are delaying things such as expansion or relocation,” he said. “Unless someone just has to move, they’re putting it off until the next quarter, or the next year.
“However, these things run in cycles, and we will come out of it, I just don’t know when,” he continued.
When asked what he thought the chances were of Columbia/Adair County landing a new industry or new businesses to boost economic development, Hindman said it would be to hard to say because he doesn’t possess a crystal ball.
“But, if a company matches up with your community at all, I’ll try to direct them here,” he said.
The secretary said he was impressed with the new industrial park, the infrastructure that is in place, and how easy and quickly a site could be readied for a building. He also re-emphasized the attitude of the community.
“If I were talking to a company that was possibly considering Kentucky among several places to locate and they wanted to know about the people in the state, I’d tell them to come to Columbia, because of the enthusiasm,”he stated.
Secretary Hindman noted that he will be traveling to Europe next week to meet with a number of companies to explore the possibilities of them expanding or relocating to the United States, hopefully in Kentucky.
“Considering the value of the dollar against the euro, if there ever was a time when a company was considering coming to the United States, it would be now,” he said. “I don’t know if anything will come of our visit to Europe, but some good things could happen.”

 

Photo: SECRETARY VISIT. John Hindman, third from right, Secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, toured the new industrial park while on a two-day visit to Columbia and Adair County. Above, Secretary Hindman listened as Lenny Stone, manager of the Adair County Water District, talked about the new water treatment plant and the water lines leading to the industrial park. Also pictured are, from left of Stone: Joe Hare, Gas Superintendent for Columbia Utilities; Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sue Stivers; Secretary Hindman; County Judge/Executive Ann Melton; and Fran Carrico, a Development Specialist with the Cabinet. (Photo by Paul B. Hayes)