June 12, 2015
For Immediate Release

 

By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - The City of Campbellsville and Campbellsville University shared in celebration June 10 as Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear visited and shared the Governor's Cup from Site Selection Magazine in recognition of the Commonwealth of Kentucky's excellence in economic growth.

Beshear congratulated the Campbellsville region for being named a Top Micropolitan Community as Kentucky won the 2014 championship in economic development.

As a micropolitan area, Campbellsville-Taylor County ranked 2nd in Kentucky among Kentucky micropolitan areas, in terms of job creation and investment, and ranked 23rd in the nation among micropolitan areas on the same criteria.

Among the economic leaders at Gov. Steve Beshear's visit to Campbellsville University June 10 were from left: Front row - Wanda Washington, executive director of Greater Campbellsville United and president-elect of Campbellsville-Taylor County Chamber of Commerce; Jane Wheatley, member of the Taylor County Economic Development Authority; Beshear; Carol Sullivan, Campbellsville-Taylor County Chamber of Commerce board member; Yevette Haskins, vice chair of Greater Campbellsville United; and Angela Call, member of the Economic Development Authority and former president and board member of the Campbellsville-Taylor County Chamber of Commerce. Back row - Dr. John Chowning, chair of Greater Campbellsville United and vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president of Campbellsville University; and Mark Johnson, chair of the Economic Development Authority/Team Taylor County. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

Beshear said the nationally recognized Atlanta magazine rated every state and their communities in the United States by counting the number of projects that involve  capital investments of at least $1 million, creates 20 or more new jobs and adds 20,000 square feet of floor space and rate them per capita.

“The winners were not based on a popularity contest,” he said. He said the states weren't rated on a measure of potential, but rather “this is a measure of actual tangible development that has already happened.”

He said Kentucky was rated on whether the Commonwealth is attracting businesses and creating jobs and have they been successful in large-scale economic development.

“In the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the answer is a resounding yes,” he said. “We have seen more economic development per capita in Kentucky than in any other state in the entire United States of America.”

Ky. Gov. Steve Beshear called Campbellsville “a vibrant place to live and locate.” As a micropolitan area, Campbellsville-Taylor County ranked 2nd in Kentucky among Kentucky micropolitanareas, in terms of job creation and investment, and ranked 23rdin the nation among micropolitan areas on the same criteria. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

Beshear said last year Kentucky announced 350 new industries worth about $3.7 billion in new business in Kentucky last year and when those businesses come to fruition they will create about 15,000 new jobs. He said this was the most business investment in a single year in Kentucky since records have been kept in about 30 years.

Fourteen local regions won the Top Micropolitan Community Awards including the Campbellsville area.

He said in Taylor County for last year there were seven new and expansions of businesses worth about $8 million investment with over 170 new jobs. Since the recession in 2008, this area has announced 17 new and expanded businesses of $22 million investment with 480 new jobs.

“This all didn't happen by accident,” Beshear said. He said everyone came together and strategically planned and worked hard. He congratulated the State Legislature for working with him to overhaul all economic incentive tools to increase focus on existing businesses and encouraging growth in wages. He said the legislature also created a program that helped auto manufacturing with over 400 suppliers.

He thanked State Sen. Max Wise (R-Campbellsville) and State Rep. Bam Carney (R-Campbellsville), who were both present and who both spoke, for their work in making those changes happen.

Beshear said Campbellsville and the surrounding area is a good place in Kentucky to live and raise a family and do business.

“This is a vibrant place to live and locate,” he said. He complimented the area for making sure the infrastructure is up to date, houses and neighborhoods are inviting, schools are top notch and there is a good workforce ready to go to work.

After the meeting, many industries and individuals in Campbellsville and surrounding area had their picture made with the governor and the Governor's Cup.

Dr. John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president, introduced Beshear and said he is a governor who has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of all Kentuckians.

He said, under Beshear's leadership, Kentucky had made monumental strides in education and the Commonwealth's Kentucky Kynect Health Insurance Marketplace that is being praised throughout the country.

Among the dignitaries at the event with Ky. Gov. Steve Beshear and holding the Governor's Cup for economic development were from left: Dr. John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president of Campbellsville University; Campbellsville Mayor Tony Young; State Sen. Max Wise, Gov. Beshear, State Rep. John “Bam” Carney and Taylor County Judge-Executive Eddie Rogers. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, thanked Beshear for coming to Campbellsville University and presented him with gifts on behalf of the university.

Others speaking were Taylor County Judge-Executive Eddie Rogers and Campbellsville Mayor Tony Young.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.