At the Logan Economic Alliance for Development’s annual Business & Industry Appreciation Luncheon recently, LEAD Executive Director Tom Harned presented a highly positive report on economic development and job growth in Logan County.
The event was held at the Logan County Extension Conference Center. Nearly 300 people were in attendance.
Harned highlighted several recent developments in Logan County and the area including that Logan County is well positioned for future growth, all the key parts are in place with utilities and transportation. The automotive economy remains strong with trucks and SUV’s selling well.
The new southern bypass was set to open on schedule Nov. 7, completing a circle around the city. He talked about how rare it is for a city the size of Russellville to have such a bypass.
RJ Corman railroad continues to expand. They acquired a short line in South Carolina and built a new locomotive maintenance garage here in Russellville.
AT&T had announced cell tower-based Rural Internet Service the day before at the Shackleford Road, U.S. 79 cell tower. Both Russellville industrial parks have been certified internet and fiber ready by AT&T.
West Industrial Park improvements have been completed with the entrance paved, a new sign installed, and 40 acres cleared.
The Russellville-Logan County Airport continues to grow and is considering construction of new hangers.
Unemployment was 4.8 percent in August, and most employers are hiring. Hankook Tire just opened in Clarksville with a $800 million investment and plans to hire 1,000 employees. Fritz-Winter opened its new foundry in Franklin that week.
Carpenter Co. just completed its new building on Shelton Lane, and Emerson continues to expand and hiring continues.
Champion Petfoods has completed its second expansion with the installation of a third cooking line.
Logan Aluminum was to hold a ribbon cutting the following day for Direct Cast 4 and a ground breaking for the new cold rolling mill.
A new hotel project for downtown Russellville on the square has been announced and a new Casey’s General Store is under construction. A new urgent care on West 9th Street in Russellville recently opened.
There is a substantial amount of new housing construction underway all over the county.
Logan County has been recertified as silver level Sustainability by TVA.
The new Career and Technical Center on the grounds adjacent to Logan County High School is nearing completion on schedule. Superintendent Paul Mullins wants to have faculty meetings with business and industry groups and give them an opportunity to talk about exactly what they want to see taught at the new ATC.
Stephen Gray, President and CEO of Gray Construction in Lexington, was the guest speaker. He spoke on foreign direct investment in the United States and in Kentucky. He related his company’s experience with Japanese companies in the 1980s and experiences recently with companies from many different parts of the world. He discussed several projects they are currently working on, one in Canada for Champion Petfoods and, of course, the recent project in Auburn. He expressed concern about the federal national debt and its future consequences.
Gray noted that companies from 34 nations own facilities in Kentucky, employing some 105,000 Kentuckians He was very complimentary of Southern Kentucky and Logan County’s economic success. Harned presented him with a machined and polished metal tobacco leaf as a memento of Logan County.
Awards were presented by Harned and LEAD President Jimmy Kent Wilson for increased investment and employment in 2016-17 to Carpenter Co., Emerson Electric, Logan Aluminum, Logan Memorial Hospital and Ventra Plastics. Awards for increased investment were presented to Pro-Tec welding and the Russellville-Logan County Airport.