BY BRENNAN D. CRAIN, WCLU News
GLASGOW — Work to develop three industrial sites continues in Barren County.
Among them are Glasgow’s Highland Glen and South Cooper Parks and Cave City’s Chapatcha Industrial Park. South Cooper is the newest park along New Bowling Green Road.
Maureen Carpenter, the executive director of the Barren County Economic Authority, said infrastructure improvements at these parks has been a significant task for the authority the last two years.
A new “spec building” at South Cooper is set to go out to bid for build soon. These buildings are designed to save time, money and eliminate risk for potential businesses locating in the county.
“They will basically be build-ready. All of the infrastructure is there,” she said. “The roads and the pad will be ready – to come in and just start construction.”
Carpenter said these site preparations work as local capital investments since companies benefit from their development. They are designed with common industrial needs in mind such as necessary infrastructure and floor plans.
Barren County has seen little movement in industry recruitment and job creation in recent years, but officials are hopeful infrastructure improvements will persuade businesses to locate here much like nearby areas.
Ford and SK Innovation announced earlier this year plans to develop a 1,500-acre site in Glendale near Interstate 65. The companies said the combined investment would be $5.8 billion. Several projects are underway just a few miles west of Glasgow in neighboring Warren County.
“The amount of infrastructure that those projects take is tremendous,” she said.
Officials have conducted seven site visits this year with representatives from various companies, and five of those remain on the table as potential business recruits in Barren County. Who those companies are remains unclear, however.
As for the other major industrial sites in the county, one acre remains undeveloped at Highland Glen along Carol Knicely Drive just off U.S. 68. Groundwork at Cave City’s 44-acre Chapatcha Park continues near Interstate 65. A $1 million grant was announced months ago to continue development there.
Amid infrastructure construction remains one constant – the community’s part in industrial recruitment. Carpenter said the morale and attitude among locals is fundamental.
“It’s an entire community that can win or lose a project,” she said.
Business executives often visit local places like restaurants or stores earlier than expected to “get a feel” of the area. These interactions serve as a tryout of whether businesses want to locate to a particular area.
Local government and current industry partners are helpful for future business growth, too.
“When it comes to elected officials, they want to know that those elected officials are going to be there – that they’re going to make it easy for them to do business in the community,” Carpenter said. “That they’re going to be supportive.”
A housing study was conducted earlier this year. It examined barriers to residential development, available housing and stunted conversations about methods to recruit and retain residents here.
Carpenter said an industrial development announcement is not likely within the next year. Work will continue to develop industrial properties and infrastructure, stunt small business growth, annual action plan developments and site presentations.
“Barren County can be extremely successful in being a supplier community to these bigger projects. That’s why we’re preparing South Cooper, that’s why we’re preparing Chapatcha Park,” she said. “There’s a lot of interest, but we’re also seeing a lot of interest from companies that are not automotive. Again, you want to keep your community diversified.”
