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2010

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Hardin County United Launches Steering Committee (Press Release)

A new organization – Hardin County United – has been launched and has established a steering committee to see it through its initial development phase.

 

Press Release

 

                                                                                                                                    Contact:

                                                The Honorable Harry L. Berry

                                                Hardin County Judge/Executive

                                                270.765.2350

                                                Luke B. Schmidt

                                                President, L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC

                                                502.292.2898

 

For Immediate Release

 

 

Hardin County United Launches Steering Committee

 

New Organization to Develop Platform Which Will Examine Recently Developed Community Strategic Goals

Elizabethtown, Kentucky (April 27, 2010) – A new organization – Hardin County United – has been launched and has established a steering committee to see it through its initial development phase.

 

The development of Hardin County United (HCU) is the first action taken by community leaders since 24 strategic goals were announced earlier this month as the result of the Hardin County Vision Project.  As of today, 28 community leaders have volunteered to serve on the steering committee (a complete list of steering committee members follows).

 

The intent of HCU is to develop a platform which will examine each of the 24 strategic goals and to develop recommendations as to how the community should proceed.  It is expected that the steering committee will work to formally charter HCU into a formal, free-standing organization.

 

Hardin County Judge/Executive Harry L. Berry will serve as the Chairperson of HCU.  Radcliff Mayor Sheila Enyart will serve as Vice Chairperson.  In addition, Brad Richardson, Executive Director of One Knox, will serve as the Chairperson of the Community Development Subcommittee.  Al Rider, President/CEO of the North Central Education Foundation, will serve as the Chairperson of the Education Subcommittee and Ken Howard, Hardin Circuit Court Judge, will serve as the Chairperson of the Governance Subcommittee.

 

“Hardin County United will serve as the springboard to fully examine each of the 24 community strategic goals and to implement those goals which will provide real dividends to the County,” said Hardin County Judge/Executive Harry L. Berry.  “Each of these goals can make a real difference when it comes to such things as education, community unification, quality of place/quality of life issues, etc.  Hardin County has always been one of Kentucky’s leading counties…HCU will help take us to the next level.”

 

Each of the 24 goals was established following a methodical visioning process conducted by L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC, a Louisville-based consulting firm, beginning in July 2009.  Group interviews were conducted along with an examination of benchmark counties (select counties which align demographically with Hardin County in the Southeast).  In addition, confidential key stakeholder surveys were submitted to 100 community leaders with over 70% responding.  Two community leadership forums were held to review the survey findings and to develop the strategic goals.

 

“The formation of HCU is an important first step towards the examination and implementation of the strategic goals,” said Luke B. Schmidt, President of L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC.  “All too often when visioning and strategic planning sessions such as this one are conducted, the goals are tucked away in a nice, neat report and placed on a shelf to gather dust.  The community’s leaders have decided that in this case they would like to gain a complete understanding of the impact of each goal and work towards the implementation of those goals which make the most sense.”

 

In the end, the intent of the process is to make Hardin County even more competitive for future civilian and military investment Schmidt stated.  The goals can assist in this process.  The next step in the process will be to present the findings of the Vision Project to the first Community Forum, which will be held at the Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center at John Hardin High School (384 W.A. Jenkins Road, Elizabethtown) on Thursday, April 29th, beginning at 4:00 PM.  The public is invited to attend.

Hardin County is the sixth largest county (by population) in Kentucky and is governed by the three Commissioners of Hardin County Fiscal Court and Hardin County Judge/Executive Harry Berry (www.hcky.org).

 

L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC is a Louisville-based consulting firm which specializes in strategic planning, organizational development, public affairs, economic development and marketing/communications projects (www.lbschmidt.com).

 

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Public input sought at Vision forum The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise

The Hardin County Vision Project is becoming more than just a list of potentially helpful ideas. A steering committee made up of community leaders has been formed, and members of the public are invited to a forum this afternoon so they can learn about the project’s goals — which range from unifying school districts to expanding alcohol sales to revitalizing downtown Elizabethtown.

 

Article originally posted by The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise directed to:

http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/public-input-sought-vision-forum

 

 

Public input sought at Vision forum

Discussion to outline goals of project

By John Friedlein

 

Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 7:00 pm

By JOHN FRIEDLEIN jfriedlein@thenewsenterprise.com

The Hardin County Vision Project is becoming more than just a list of potentially helpful ideas.

A steering committee made up of community leaders has been formed, and members of the public are invited to a forum this afternoon so they can learn about the project’s goals — which range from unifying school districts to expanding alcohol sales to revitalizing downtown Elizabethtown.

“All too often when visioning and strategic planning sessions such as this one are conducted, the goals are tucked away in a nice, neat report and placed on a shelf to gather dust,” consultant Luke B. Schmidt said.

Through surveys, brainstorming sessions and examination of similar communities, the Vision project has produced two dozen strategic goals, which fall into categories such as community unification and development, governance, health care and education. The Department of Defense provided money for the initiative.

The new working group, Hardin County United, plans to develop a platform to consider the goals and make recommendations on how to proceed, according to a news release. The group will take into account public feedback from the forum, said Harry Berry, who is the group’s chairman and county judge-executive.

It will be a “springboard to fully examine each of the 24 community strategic goals and to implement those goals which will provide real dividends to the county,” Berry said.

Schmidt said it is too early to say how the group would implement the proposals.

Some ideas could attract investors — including the military — and improve residents’ quality of life, Schmidt said.

Today’s forum is a chance for local residents to express support or concerns for any of the goals — and offer alternatives.

The 4 p.m. meeting is at Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center at John Hardin High School in Radcliff.

“There will be plenty of time for the public to ask questions and make comments,” Schmidt said.

John Friedlein can be reached at (270) 505-1746

 

 

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Editorial: Shaping the vision The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise

With astounding growth spawned by changes at Fort Knox, including a $322 million increase in the annual economy, Hardin County needs to expect change. Reacting to it, however, is quite different than preparing for it.

 

Article originally posted by The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise directed to: http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/april-4-2010-editorial-shaping-vision

 

 

April 4, 2010, editorial: Shaping the Vision

ISSUE: Hardin County Vision project OUR VIEW: Ideas will benefit from broad input

By Ben Sheroan

Sunday, April 4, 2010 at 7:00 pm

With astounding growth spawned by changes at Fort Knox, including a $322 million increase in the annual economy, Hardin County needs to expect change. Reacting to it, however, is quite different than preparing for it.

Thanks to financing provided by the Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment and the work of Luke Schmidt’s consulting firm, a collection of ideas has been compiled that could serve as an outline for the future. The initial findings of this Vision project, released last week, come from surveys and brainstorming sessions among community leaders and other involved individuals considered to be “stakeholders” in Hardin County. Schmidt also examined five “benchmark communities” of similar size and some similar characteristics.

The concepts are broad and challenging but fall into six primary categories: education, community unification, community development, quality of place and quality of life, downtown Elizabethtown and health care. In presenting his findings, Schmidt said participants in the process had a high level of consensus in the suggestions offered for exploration.

The next step is community input.

A forum to review and discuss the findings has been scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, April 29, at the Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center at John Hardin High School. Please mark your calendars and try to be there.

Many concepts in the proposal are based on a sense of unification. The idea is simple: A county speaking with one voice when addressing industrial prospects, elected officials and military leaders can get more accomplished.

But to reach unanimity and a single voice, all voices must be heard in a forthright and honest discussion.

The forum process also could help identify people interested enough to work on task forces or steering committees to propel the 24 suggestions from ideas to implementation or at least to exploration.

To stir community discussion and keep this matter in the forefront of our minds, beginning today The News-Enterprise will use its informal online poll to ask a daily question based on the Vision project. The results, while not scientific, could provide a hint of public support and certainly contribute toward awareness in this community conversation.

A few of the proposals are quite controversial. Simply discussing increased availability of alcohol, a single county governement and merger of public school districts will create tension. But putting aside tradition and terrioritial matters in favor of considering the potential effectiveness of an alternative direction is a noble pursuit.

Which of the 24 strategic goals become reality is harder to predict than this year’s NCAA basketball tournament. But change is coming despite what steps we take. It’s better to embrace it and try to make the most of these opportunities.

— This editorial represents a consensus of The News-Enterprise editorial board.

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Three vision goals call for unification The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise

Consolidation and unification serve as a recurring theme in ideas posed by a vision research project designed to focus Hardin County’s growth.

Article originally posted by The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise directed to:http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/three-vision-goals-call-unification

 

Three vision goals call for unification

2010 Hardin County Vision Project

By Ben Sheroan

Friday, April 2, 2010 at 7:00 pm

Look for the following related articles:

§  Comprehensive list of Vision ideas

§  About the process

§  A look at the benchmark counties

§  Work already under way on some Vision objectives

§  Editorial: Public input will shape Vision

By BEN SHEROAN

bsheroan@thenewsenterprise.com

Consolidation and unification serve as a recurring theme in ideas posed by a vision research project designed to focus Hardin County’s growth.

The analysis released last week recommends a community dialog and consideration of merged school districts, a single countywide government, and creation of an umbrella organization to direct industrial recruitment, retail growth, tourism and all related development issues.

Judge-Executive Harry Berry, who joined consultant Luke Schmidt in media presentations of the research results, said a degree of “friction” can be anticipated for any proposed change.

“If we had 100 percent agreement on any of these things, they would have been done already,” Berry said.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Reaction to the federally funded research preceded its formal release Thursday. Gary French, superintendent of Elizabethtown Independent Schools, called to register an objection to the public school merger recommendation before the summary of strategic goals was issued.

French said he applauded the visioning process in which he participated with 69 other community leaders and “stakeholders,” but he objected to the recommendation about creating a single public school district.

“That does not represent the voice of our school district, the direction of our school board or our district,” he said.

Under state law, an independent district must trigger any pursuit of merger consideration. French said the district is financially sound and meeting its educational goals.

A cooperative agreement between the Elizabethtown and Hardin County districts prevents county Superintendent Nannette Johnston from discussing consolidation, she said. But developing cooperative relationships and dialog could produce mutual benefits and better service to students, she said.

“The bottom line is we need to do what’s best for kids,” Johnston said.

She mentioned the Vision project’s goal of an area technology center and its career development emphasis as one place where cooperation could enhance offerings of both districts.

Establishment of such a technology center could introduce local students to career experience and college credit while still in high school, said Al Rider, president of the North Central Education Foundation.

The nonprofit organization, which helped develop legislation that led to Kentucky’s community college system a half-century ago, works with public and private colleges and area school districts and is associated with One Knox and Wired65 on missions related to education and training needs.

Rider calls for “continued collaboration and partnership” among EIS, Hardin County Schools and the West Point district as a more critical outcome than a full merger, which could be snagged by politics, tradition or regulatory issues.

“I’m more interested in working together to help each other out and complement each other,” Rider said.

The regional representative of the Kentucky Education Association said there have been no discussions of the project’s proposal by local teachers’ groups. Linda Lynch, who formerly taught for HCS, said local associations comprised of teachers from the districts would develop any stance that might be taken.   GOVERNMENT

Radcliff Mayor Sheila Enyart said potential savings and efficiencies of a consolidated county government require significant research. As an example, she cited projected benefits of the merger of Louisville and Jefferson County that have not been realized.

“It sounds like a really good idea on the surface but a lot more needs to be looked at,” she said.

Charlie Bryant, who has served 25 years as Elizabethtown city government’s executive assistant, said  development is bringing cooperation and a move toward unified service.

“As the area grows and becomes more of a larger community there are individual boundaries … that become more formalities than practicalities,” he said. “I think it’s just natural that it will go that way.”

Bryant mentioned cooperative bonds between police and fire departments and interconnection of public water systems over the past 15 years that are signals of what he considers a natural progression.

Enyart said results of the 70 surveys of community leaders and follow-up discussions developed strategic goals but a sense of equity, fairness and trust must be built as the process progresses.

“It’s easy to say yes to an idea but not so easy when delivering the product,” she said.

Steering committees to develop action plans and research the goals are being formed. Jo Emary, executive director of the Radcliff-Hardin County Chamber of Commerce, was quick to volunteer at one of the private brainstorming sessions held for survey participants.

“We have to guard against boundaries and guard against paranoia as this process moves forward,” she said.

Public officials and community leaders must “risk a bit of ourselves” in seeking better solutions for all of Hardin County, said Emary, who is one of three candidates for the Radcliff mayor’s office.   DEVELOPMENT ISSUES

Cooperation between Hardin County’s four chambers of commerce has been mentioned as a possible forerunner of the Vision project’s recommendation of a “powerhouse entity” to drive all aspects of community development. The Heartland Chambers Alliance is a confederation of the chambers pulling together on projects, including welcome home events for Vietnam-era veterans this fall.

Those efforts were mentioned by some in the visioning process as a forerunner for the recommended “powerhouse entity” to direct all business, retail, industrial and tourism recruitment ideas.

Brad Richardson, executive director of the North Hardin Economic Development Authority, has first-hand experience with a united approach to problem solving across the region. He also heads One Knox.

“I think it works better than a fragmented approach,” Richardson said.

One Knox was developed by local governmental leaders to prepare for growth opportunities and related stresses coming to the area thanks to the Army’s realignment plan. The cooperative relationships developed with post leadership and effectiveness in achieving funding requested from the governor and General Assembly were cited as examples of community-focused problem solving.

“Through the good work of One Knox, people have seen the value of speaking with one voice,” consultant Schmidt said.

Richardson mentioned personal experience with Louisville’s various development efforts and an improvement seen with creation of Greater Louisville Inc., which now serves as an umbrella organization for various business and job development objectives. He cited similar successes seen in Bowling Green, Paducah, Owensboro and northern Kentucky.

“Several models exist,” Richardson said. “This is not something new.”

As proposed, tourism promotion would be vested in the overall development authority’s responsibilities. Directors of the tourism bureaus based in Radcliff and Elizabethtown declined to comment on the concept Friday pending review of the idea with their respective board members.

Ben Sheroan can be reached at (270) 505-1764

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Work under way on some vision objectives The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise

Some of the 24 strategic goals identified by the Hardin County Vision project already are being discussed or are on the drawing board.

 

Article originally posted by The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise directed to:http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/work-under-way-some-vision-objectives

Work under way on some vision objectives

By Ben Sheroan

 

Friday, April 2, 2010 at 7:00 pm

By BEN SHEROAN

bsheroan@thenewsenterprise.com

Some of the 24 strategic goals identified by the Hardin County Vision project already are being discussed or are on the drawing board.

The topic of alcohol availability in retail stores and establishment of smaller neighborhood bars has been stirred in the community. The subject surfaced frequently in conversations with visitors on BRAC-related tours who expect to relocate to the area from St. Louis, Indianapolis or Alexandria, Va., as a result of Fort Knox’s new missions.

“It’s not a game breaker for them,” said Brad Richardson of One Knox. “But it does appear provincial.”

Luke Schmidt, a Hardin County native who coordinated the visioning process as a contract consultant, said the wet-dry issue “has evolved from a moral issue to an economic development issue. That’s the honest truth.”

Individuals and organizations including the Heartland Chambers Alliance prompted discussions of increased availability of alcohol sales and invited a leader of Danville’s recent campaign to move from “moist” to “wet” status to talk to their members.

Radcliff Mayor Sheila Enyart sees the topic as an essential element of growth.

“In order to have a vibrant economy, we’ve got to come out of the 19th century,” Enyart said.

In recent years, portions of Hardin County approved liquor sales at restaurants which seat 100 or more and derive 70 percent of their revenue from food. Any relaxation of alcohol limits would require approval through a special local option election.

A referendum to approve wet status also comes into play with the Vision project’s recommendations regarding downtown Elizabethtown. Proponents think creation of a retail, residential and entertainment district in the historic buildings in the city’s core would be enhanced by the availability of alcohol licenses for small bistros and pubs.

Based on his survey, Schmidt said the revitalization of downtown Elizabethtown received broad support from all sectors of the county — not just participants centered in Elizabethtown.

Steve Barno, planning manager in Radcliff, takes issue with the survey question, which he said directed the conversation at Elizabethtown by saying Radcliff has no traditional downtown.

“When you base your brainstorming session on the results of a survey that prefaced sections with ‘Radcliff does not have a downtown so we will talk about downtown Elizabethtown’ you may have a skewed view of reality,” Barno said.

Charlie Bryant, executive assistant of Elizabethtown city government, said he thinks government will need to take a lead in downtown redevelopment with cooperative private partners. But first, a clear focus for the historic city center must be determined.

“You have to decide on what your vision is and work toward that,” Bryant said.

Another quality of life suggestion already in the works is a community YMCA.

A founders meeting was held in November as organizers, including HCS Superintendent Nannette Johnston, decided to place an emphasis on programs over construction. Development of Y classes will introduce YMCA offerings to the community more immediately.

The only health care topic identified by the visioning research was certification for a trauma center at Hardin Memorial Hospital. That idea is being researched as part of an upcoming strategic planning process in preparation for the next hospital budget cycle, which begins in June.

Through collaborative agreements with Louisville and Lexington hospitals, HMH now stabilizes trauma patients and transfers them by emergency helicopters for the appropriate level of care, said Michelle Murphy, the hospital’s director of marketing.

Speaking on behalf of HMH President David Gray, Murphy said the hospital is researching both capital expenditures and operating costs required for a Level 3 or Level 4 trauma center. Any decision will be influenced by state and federal funding, which Murphy described as “in flux” because of state budget shortfalls and uncertainty about changes coming with the federal health insurance reform.

Ben Sheroan can be reached at (270) 505-1764

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Five county comparison The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise

In addition to collecting and compiling the input of local leaders, the Hardin County vision project includes information about ideas and projects from five similar-sized counties. In his summary, consultant Luke Schmidt referred to the areas as “benchmark counties” and mentions examples of downtown redevelopment and unified strategies for growth.

 

Article originally posted by The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise directed to: http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/five-county-comparison

 

 

Five county comparison

By The Staff

 

Friday, April 2, 2010 at 7:00 pm

In addition to collecting and compiling the input of local leaders, the Hardin County vision project includes information about ideas and projects from five similar-sized counties.
In his summary, consultant Luke Schmidt referred to the areas as “benchmark counties” and mentions examples of downtown redevelopment and unified strategies for growth.

§  In Daviess County, the focus recently has been on downtown Owensboro. The Executive Inn Riverfront has been torn down and a new hotel and events center are planned along with housing and retail opportunities. The downtown, which houses a performing arts center, two museums as well as city and county government, also will be home to a new park being developed. The community received a $40 million grant to rebuild the riverfront and reduce erosion.

 

§  Warren County also is concentrating downtown. Bowling Green welcomed minor league baseball last year in a new 4,500-seat stadium just blocks from Fountain Square Park. The community intends to create a new corridor of activity from the stadium through downtown toward Western Kentucky University. The plans include a hotel, parking garage and loft-style housing as well as retail spots. By 2014, organizers expect private investment in the project to total $150 million.

 

 

§  Just south of the Kentucky line along Interstate 24 is Montgomery County, Tenn. Like Hardin County, the Army influence is apparent there thanks to neighboring Fort Campbell but the mission there more frequently one of deploying forces to world hotspots. To balance the economy and provide employment for military spouses, the community began a concentration on developing industry and focusing on advantages available through Austin Peay State University, a four-year college. It’s industrial megsite has attract 900 technology jobs with a semiconductor plant with more jobs expected from an upcoming expansion and suppliers.

 

§  The economy of Lowndes County, Miss., also benefits from military dollars thanks to its proximity to Columbus Air Force Base. The county merged its chamber of commerce and economic development forces to greate Columbus Lowndes Development LINK. Since 2006, LINK has been involved in the establishment of 4,000 new jobs and a $3.4 billion industrial and retail development. Also it created a 3,000-acre development megasite alongside the regional airport.

 

 

§  Lee County, Miss., gets a tourism boost because Tupelo is the birthplace of Elvis Presley. Guided by its Community Development Foundation, which has collected $2.6 million in private donations, the area attracted a planned Toyota manufacturing plant and converted an outdated mall into a 9,000-seat arena and convention center plus a conference center which led to development of a Hilton Garden Inn. Lee County also is home to a 650-bed private hospital which operates a 24-county health care network.

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Hardin County Vision Project Identifies Several Key Community Goals (Press Release)

Hardin County’s Vision Project has come to a successful conclusion. The project, which was first announced in July 2009, involved dozens of community leaders representing various constituencies from across Hardin County.

 

Press Release

 Contact:
The Honorable Harry L. Berry
Hardin County Judge/Executive
270.765.2350

Luke B. Schmidt
President, L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC
502.292.2898 

For Immediate Release

 

Hardin County Vision Project Identifies Several Key Community Goals for the Future

Project Involved Community Leaders from Across Hardin County

Elizabethtown, Kentucky (April 1, 2010) – Hardin County’s Vision Project has come to a successful conclusion.  The project, which was first announced in July 2009, involved dozens of community leaders representing various constituencies from across Hardin County.

The purpose of the project was to build upon the positive momentum that has been created by the BRAC transformation at Fort Knox and to begin developing a vision for what the County might look like in the future.  The project was designed to build upon Hardin County’s strengths and current growth opportunities, identify weaknesses, maximize efficiencies and establish strategic community goals.

“The Vision Project identified many areas which when addressed will make Hardin County an even better place to live, work and grow business opportunities,” said Hardin County Judge/Executive Harry Berry.  “Hardin County has always been one of the Commonwealth’s leading counties,” Berry continued, “we need to capitalize on what BRAC is bringing to the community and further position the County for future growth and new jobs.”

Louisville-based consulting firm, L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC, conducted the project on behalf of Hardin County Government. The project’s methodology included the following key activities:

County Strategic Assessment

The consulting firm identified key issues and conducted an assessment of the County’s strengths and weaknesses.  This was accomplished by interviewing a number of groups and agencies in the County.  In addition, a 30 page confidential key stakeholder survey was conducted.  Over 70 community leaders representing the agriculture, business, education, government, health care, industrial, military, and tourism sectors returned surveys.

The project also analyzed benchmark (or peer) counties that align with Hardin County demographically in order to determine how these counties approach various issues, such as community and economic development.  The benchmark counties included:

  • Daviess County, Kentucky (Owensboro area)
  • Lee County, Mississippi (Tupelo area)
  • Lowndes County, Mississippi (Columbus area)
  • Montgomery County, Tennessee (Clarksville area)
  • Warren County, Kentucky (Bowling Green area)

Community Leadership Forum

Two community leadership forums were held which included participants in the key stakeholder survey process.  Survey findings were announced and a presentation on the benchmark counties was given.

Project consultant Luke Schmidt stated, “This project enjoyed the support of the community and its leaders.  From start to finish, the participants in the project provided key input and engaged in significant discussion on a multitude of issues.  There is no question that the participants have developed a vision for the County’s future which will enhance the quality of life and make Hardin County even more competitive when it comes to new business investment and the creation of new jobs.”

Key Findings

Community leaders participating in the vision process in Hardin County reached consensus on a number of broad areas, including:

  • Strong support for education at all levels
  • A desire to unify the community in order to leverage its size to improve the efficiency of the delivery of services
  • A desire to speak with one community voice in order to improve the community’s standing and stature in Frankfort and Washington, D.C., as has been successfully illustrated with One Knox
  • A desire to eliminate duplication when and where possible by combining groups and organizations in order to improve efficiency and more efficiently market and promote the community
  • A desire to improve the existing quality of place/quality of life by improving the visual appearance in urban areas, changing existing alcoholic beverage laws in order to foster the development of new restaurants, pubs and other new dining experiences, and, to develop new retail opportunities
  • A desire to re-develop Downtown Elizabethtown to include new retail, entertainment and residential opportunities which will be unique to the County and will serve as a magnet for young professionals

A number of specific goals were also adopted by the project’s participants (a complete list of the goals is attached to this release). Some of these key goals, identified by area, include:

  • Education – develop “leading edge” educational platform in the community, beginning with Kindergarten and extending through post-secondary education
  • Community Unification – facilitate study of merged government structures in other communities and develop recommendations for Hardin County
  • Community Development – create new “powerhouse” entity which will promote all facets of the community (business and retail development, business and retail advocacy, industrial development, education, work force training and tourism) for the combined purposes of representing businesses, promoting the community and creating new jobs
  • Quality of Place/Quality of Life – adopt new practices which will eliminate visual clutter and improve streetscapes, develop new retail opportunities to mirror those commonly found in larger urban areas, develop a community YMCA, and, change existing alcoholic beverage laws to achieve full “wet” status for the community’s urban areas,
  • Downtown Elizabethtown – create new retail, entertainment and residential district in Downtown Elizabethtown and identify new funding mechanisms which will facilitate this process
  • Health Care – obtain Trauma Center certification at Hardin Memorial Hospital

Community Forum

A public forum will be held on Thursday, April 29, 2010, beginning at 4:00 PM at the Hardin County Performing Arts Center (John Hardin High School, 384 W.A. Jenkins Road, Elizabethtown) to which the public is invited.  A detailed presentation on the Vision Project will be given which will include a more specific examination of the issues and strategic goals.

“There are many opportunities in front of us which will take the County to the next level,” said Berry, “By working together, I’m convinced that the best is yet to come.”

Hardin County is the sixth largest county (by population) in Kentucky and is governed by the three Commissioners of Hardin County Fiscal Court and Hardin County Judge/Executive Harry Berry (www.hcky.org).

L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC is a Louisville-based consulting firm which specializes in strategic planning, organizational development, public affairs, economic development and marketing/communications projects (www.lbschmidt.com).

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Four carriers show interest in local airport The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise

ELIZABETHTOWN — Representatives from an airline that may start a commuter service at the local airport visited town earlier this month. That brings to four the number of carriers considering flying jets out of Elizabethtown Regional Airport.

 

Article originally posted by The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise directed to: http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/four-carriers-show-interest-local-airport

 

 

Four carriers show interest in local airport

By John Friedlein

 

Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 7:00 pm

By JOHN FRIEDLEIN

jfriedlein@thenewsenterprise.com

ELIZABETHTOWN — Representatives from an airline that may start a commuter service at the local airport visited town earlier this month.

That brings to four the number of carriers considering flying jets out of Elizabethtown Regional Airport.

Senior managers of the most recent company to become involved are “very interested in the marketplace,” Airport Board consultant Luke B. Schmidt said. Because of ongoing negotiations, he would not name the carriers that may restart commuter service here.

An initiative to build a Partnership for Central Kentucky Airline Service Travel Bank — for potential passengers who pledge money up-front for tickets — has been put on hold while airport representatives work with the latest carrier, Schmidt said.

“We’ve had a good response to the travel bank so far,” he said. The initiative would reward an airline with guaranteed revenue.

This has been a tough time for recruitment. Carriers during the past year and a half have tended to cut back instead of expand. They have been faced with challenges such as a poor economy and high fuel prices, Schmidt said.

Earlier this month an airline announced it is pulling out of Somerset because a federal subsidy is coming to an end.

Local airport promoters want to bring in a regional airline that is associated with a large carrier and will serve a major hub.

Elizabethtown had commuter flights in the ‘80s.

Bowling Green, which also is seeking a commuter service, last week found out it won a $500,000 grant from the competitive Small Community Air Service Development Program.

Elizabethtown has applied for the grant before but did not receive it. Schmidt said this is a subsidy to offset operating costs. With the travel bank, on the other hand, the money comes from customers who will pay for the service and fill a commuter jet’s seats.

John Friedlein can be reached at (270) 505-1746