Lt. Governor tells crowd of local, state economic successes at lunch event
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, 10 p.m. — Lt. Gov. Crit Luallen was in Bardstown Thursday to help Nelson County’s elected officials, industry and business leaders to help celebrate the county’s recent economic development successes.
Lt. Gov. Crit Luallen was the special guest speaker at Thursday’s Industry Appreciation Luncheon sponsored by the BIDC and Wilson & Muir Bank & Trust.
Hosted by BIDC, the county’s industrial development coalition and Wilson & Muir Bank & Trust, nearly 100 people enjoyed the lunch event hosted by the Old Kentucky Home Country Club.
Luallen told the crowd that Bardstown and Nelson County represents something special in Kentucky economic development.
“This community has a real special spirit,” she said. “Its a spirit of community involvement and engagement that brings business leadership together with public leadership. This place is an iconic part of who we are as a state.”
Luallen said she considers Bardstown a model for how a community can preserve its past while coming together for strong economic development.
She praised the job Kim Huston and her team has done in leading the county’s economic recruitment efforts, and reviewed recent local and state economic development highlights.
Kentucky was honored by Site Selection magazine for its economic development successes in 2014, she said. Kentucky had the highest level of economic development that the state has recorded since it began tracking those numbers in 1987.
Kim Huston, president of the Nelson County Economic Development Agency, shows the crowd the latest wage and benefit survey for Nelson County. An electronic version of the document is available on the NCEDA website.
Kentucky is ahead of the national unemployment figures and has been for the past year. Nelson County’s latest unemployment rate is 4.4 percent, down 1.2 percent from this month last year.
In an effort to overcome the geographic isolation of some regions — and help spur economic development all across the state — Kentucky is working to build one of the highest capacity high-speed internet networks by 2018. Once completed, the $350 million partnership with Macquarie Capital of Australia will help enhance education, bolster existing business and encourage more economic development.
Luallen credited the work schools and industry are doing to help high school students become more career career ready. High school graduation rates in Kentucky are on the rise as well, she said, and Kentucky has the 10th highest graduation rate.
She said Kynect and the Medicaid expansion has improved healthcare for thousands of Kentuckians, and that has a direct impact on the economy.
“Better health means fewer sick days and a more productive workforce with more people in it, as well as a higher quality of life for all our citizens,” she said.
Since the Medicaid expansion, $2.2 billion has been paid out to Kentucky healthcare providers — including $8.2 million to Flaget Memorial Hospital in 2014 alone.
She called on citizens to become involved and informed on state and local issues, and use that information to vote for the candidates who will continue Kentucky’s progress.
Judge-Executive Dean Watts introduced Lt. Gov. Luallen at Thursday’s luncheon.
“Important decisions are made in Frankfort and Washington every day, and it is incumbent on all of you to business leaders to let your elected leaders hear from you about the issues that are important to you,” she said. “Your thoughts need to be part of that process.”
As citizens of a democracy, it is our responsibility as citizens to be engaged and to fully participate.
“If we all work together we can continue the momentum we see today and ensure a stronger future for the generations to come.”
Following the lunch, Luallen sat down with this writer and Margie Bradford for an interview that will air on an upcoming “Bradford & Brooks” show on WBRT Radio.
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