The economic development of our area is central to its success.
As I’ve campaigned I’ve met with and talked to elected officials in our counties. I’ve done research on business models. There are two types of businesses. Knox and Laurel Counties want businesses that seek out communities that value the happiness and success of their citizens. These businesses want to locate where people are happy, generous with their time and service to the community. They search for locales where education is valued, praised and celebrated. We want those businesses to locate in Knox and Laurel County and become an integral part of our community. These community positive businesses invest millions of dollars in the communities they settle in and continue to make them desirable places to live and work. The second type of business looks for right-to-work states where they can put profit above worker satisfaction and safety. Our search will focus on the positive community minded business model.
Laurel County has a proven model for attracting and retaining business. That model embraces co-operation between county and city government, an Industrial Authority that networks all involved entities; representatives of Companies seeking expansion locales, representatives from city, county and the Commonwealth in the development and acquisition of grants, incentives, and recruiters for locating and bringing desirable companies into the county. The easy access to both North/ South and East/West highway systems and railway access are factors in the success of this industry model. This model should be implemented and used to further development in Knox and surrounding counties. The development of this model is one of my first goals.
We have an available work force with an outstanding work ethic in displaced coal miners and new High School graduates. We have available, appropriately zoned space in an established industrial park with shipping access to I-75 and I-80. Knox County’s school system has made excellent gains in achievement with 4 elementary schools being placed in the top 100 schools in Kentucky and 2 Knox County schools in the top 5% with a distinguished rating in achievement. Laurel County has built 8 new schools to state-of-the-art design recently to meet the educational needs of incoming families.
The 86th District is a prime location for new business that will improve our area as we improve their products and business model.
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