Bourbon group’s presentation offers a glimpse of tourism’s possible future

Gary Bishop, one of the board members of the Bourbon Capital Community Alliance, explains the group’s mission and goals during a presentation Tuesday to the Bardstown City Council.

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017 — The Bardstown City Council got a glimpse into what may likely be the future of tourism in Bardstown and Nelson County during a presentation by the Bourbon Capital Community Alliance.

The alliance’s stated mission is to encourage and support programs and projects that will broaden and enhance visitors’ experiences to the community, and to build on the community’s significance in bourbon history, preservation and other areas.

Councilman Roland Williams listens to a presentation about the mission and goals of the Bourbon Capital Community Alliance at Tuesday’s city council meeting.

Gary Bishop, a BCCA board member, explained the group’s purpose and reviewed some of the types of projects the group is working on, as well as its goals for improving Bardstown as a destination.

The group is planning to partner with two firms — Solid Light and C2 Strategic Communications — to develop a strategic plan. The group has the support the local bourbon industry, which includes a growing list of funding partnerships.

Mayor Dick Heaton said the BCCA’s efforts will have a trickle-down effect on the community in support of local business and enhancing visitors stays. The effort will require a true community partnership that will involve the city council, county government, the local chamber of commerce and local business owners and entrepreneurs, he said.

Councilwoman Keisha Copeland expressed support for the BCCA’s goals, and suggested that the business community look at how to provide more shopping opportunities downtown outside of the traditional business hours.

Bishop invited the council to participate in an upcoming event on Wednesday, Sept. 13, that will include adding new stones to the Bourbon Compass outside the Old Courthouse.

ROBOTIC UPRISING. State Rep. Chad McCoy explained to the council his involvement in robotics which began while his children were students at St. Joseph School. He and his kids have continued to be involved in robotics and robotic competitions, and he explained the direct connection between robotics in the classroom and workforce development.

State Rep. Chad McCoy explains the collaboration between the four local high schools in regard to their robotics programs. Mayor Dick Heaton has agreed to let the schools use a classroom in the city-owned COBEC building as a centrally located robotics classroom and lab.

As more companies turn to automation, they also need more qualified people who can repair, maintain and program robots, he explained.

The four local high schools have agreed to participate in robotics programs using the same system, McCoy explained. This means that the schools’ teams will be able to help one another as well as compete with each other in local competitive events.

McCoy said the one thing missing locally was a central location for the robotics teams to meet, work and test their robotic creations. McCoy said he met with Heaton regarding possible use of classroom space in the city-owned COBEC building for a common robot lab the schools could use.

Education is part of the mission of the COBEC building Heaton said, and that the space would not only help the high schools collaborate in robotics, but it also addresses a major workforce development issue. There are jobs in the community that need workers who are robot-savvy, and that trend will only continue to accelerate.

In other business, the city council:

— approved the requested street closures for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival beginning Friday, Sept. 15 through Sunday, Sept. 17.

— approved the requested street closures for the Arts, Crafts & Antique Fair, Oct. 14-15. Lisanna Byrd, executive director of Bardstown Main Street, asked that the streets this year close one hour earlier in order to give vendors more time to set up. The location of the food court will also change this year, she said.

— approved a request from the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth for a water main extension. The line will be run from the Wilson Industrial Park to the Nazareth campus, and will provide better water flow for fire protection on the campus.

— approved the use of the City Hall lawn for the annual Rotary Kids Day, Sept. 28.

— approved the New Life Center’s annual 5k run/walk on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23.

NEXT UP: The council meets next on Tuesday, Sept. 12.

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