In its most recent five-year plan, running from 2025 until 2030, officials from the South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council had a set of goals they wanted to meet over those 60 months.
The “Big Four,” as they have been termed, were:
+ the creation of 2,500 new high-paying manufacturing jobs
+ a $2.5 billion volume in new capital investment
+ the increase of entry-level manufacturing wages to more than $22/hour
+ and the recruitment of at least one new company from each target sector.
During Monday afternoon’s board meeting, Executive Director Carter Hendricks confirmed several headwinds were made throughout Christian, Todd and Trigg counties over the past year, including:
+ 1,200 jobs coming online or already announced
+ $300 million of investments initiated or announced
+ average entry-level wages crested $18.40/hour
+ and a handful of businesses announced or expanded, such as Kitchen Foods and Altria/US Tobacco.
Hendricks also offered a brief update on the future of the “Apex 1” Ascend Elements property in Commerce Park II, which after bankruptcy now belongs to its former contractor and joint venture Turner-Kokosing.
He noted contact has been made between his office and Turner-Kokosing leadership, as the future of the property and current facility comes under discussion and debate.
Hendricks, as well as SWK EDC’s Tony Prim, also noted that a recent staff tour of Kitchen Foods went well, with officials there moving “full steam ahead,” and that an upcoming KY KIS tour will bring Cabinet for Economic Development officials to six companies in Todd County.
In other SWK EDC news:
+ Officers presiding for the 2026-27 fiscal year include Chair Alan Gates, Vice-Chair Billy Bingham, Secretary Stan Humphries and Treasurer Jason Jenkins. It’s the first time in eight years the SWK EDC will be with a new chairman, following Lee Conrad’s service.
+ Board members unanimously passed a conservative 2026-27 budget, valued at $688,600 — just $20,000 more than last year.
This includes expected income of nearly $360,000 from six entities: City of Hopkinsville, Christian County Fiscal Court, Cadiz & Trigg County, Todd County, TVA/HES and TVA/PRECC. It also includes more than $270,000 in private sector investments, which involve board seats and donors valued between $200 and $3,000, and another $40,000 expected from the annual Industry Appreciation Luncheon.
Hendricks confirmed this is another “zero sum” budget, with a modest 2% increase for personnel, as well as TVA three-county marketing, as well as new and existing industry promotion and prospecting.
A $16,000 travel budget for next year, Hendricks added, could help build further relationships.
+ Speaking of board seats, members approved the admittance of AISG’s Will Bryan to the council. Also of Clean Air Technology Solutions, Hendricks noted Bryan will pay the $11,000 board fee, and joins as a “very strong, pretty young entrepreneur,” and that his involvement will “help the region grow.”
+ SWK EDC regularly closes its monthly meetings in executive session, with little to no action taken. This time, they closed for KRS 61.810 (1)(g): discussions between a public agency and a representative of a business entity and discussions concerning a specific proposal, if open discussions would jeopardize the siting, retention, expansion, or upgrading of the business.
