Kentucky state officials are espousing the benefits of a series of access road funding initiatives as a means of spurring development at industrial parks in three counties.
Warren, Barren, and Fulton counties would serve as project sites. Streets and roads are indispensable to economic development, officials said.
“Even as we battle and sacrifice to save lives and control the spread of COVID-19, we still are working to grow our Kentucky economy,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “The work of growing our economy includes creating a favorable environment for manufacturing. That, in turn, requires more than just acreage. It requires investment in vital infrastructure, which includes access roads. We want our communities to be able to capitalize on development opportunities, but opportunity has to be met by preparation.”
In Warren County, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has allocated $500,000 from its Industrial Access Road program for a project by the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce to extend Prosperity Drive in the Kentucky Transpark; in Barren County, $500,000 is committing from the Industrial Access Road program to assist the Barren County Economic Authority in developing South Cooper Industrial Park along U.S. 68 in Glasgow; and in Fulton County, KYTC has agreed to provide up to $146,500 to Fulton County Fiscal Court toward design and construction of a boulevard entrance to a new industrial park that is a joint venture of Fulton and Hickman counties.
“We are thankful that Kentucky is committed to investing in our infrastructure as a strategy to grow economic development success, which drives return on investment,” Bowling Green Mayor Bruce Wilkerson said. “The Crown Cork & Seal project alone is bringing $147 million to our economy through the creation of 126 jobs. It’s wonderful that they’re building a 327,000-square-foot facility in the Transpark.”