Supporters of changing state law to allow wine sales at Kentucky grocery stores in wet or moist counties are starting a campaign ahead of next year’s legislative session…The new campaign includes an online petition drive at www.foodwithwine.org, distributing fliers in groceries, along with 5-foot tall signs in groceries promoting the effort.

 

 

Louisville, Kentucky (September 9, 2009) – The Food with Wine Coalition announced today that it has launched an innovative online petition drive. The petition drive provides Kentuckians with a quick and easy way to stand up and confirm their support for changing existing state law to allow grocery stores to sell wine in counties which allow the sale of alcoholic beverages by the package.

 

For Immediate Release

 

Food with Wine Coalition Launches Online Petition Drive

Thousands of Kentuckians Have Voiced Their Support for Changing Existing State Law to Allow Grocery Stores to Sell Wine

 

 

Louisville, Kentucky (September 9, 2009) – The Food with Wine Coalition announced today that it has launched an innovative online petition drive.  The petition drive provides Kentuckians with a quick and easy way to stand up and confirm their support for changing existing state law to allow grocery stores to sell wine in counties which allow the sale of alcoholic beverages by the package.

 

The petition drive is open to all Kentuckians of the age of 21 and over.

 

“Kentuckians continue to ask their local grocers why they can’t purchase wine where they shop for food,” commented Luke B. Schmidt, President of L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC and consultant to the Food with Wine Coalition.  “By signing the Food with Wine Coalition’s online petition, consumers across Kentucky can quickly show their support for changing the law and they can communicate directly with their state legislator.”

 

Here is how it works: first Kentuckians should visit www.foodwithwine.org and click on the Sign the Petition link.  Then complete the form and click on “Sign Now.”  It’s that easy and will take no more than 30 seconds.  By signing the petition, Kentuckians will automatically send a note to their respective state representative and state senator confirming their support for this initiative.

 

The Coalition is now also represented on two social networking media sites – Facebook and Twitter.  On Facebook, interested parties can search for the Food with Wine Coalition, Inc.  In addition to following news on this issue on the Coalition’s Web site, interested Kentuckians can also follow the Food with Wine Coalition on Twitter at the following link:

 

http://twitter.com/KYfoodwithwine

 

The Food with Wine Coalition is supporting the online petition drive with distinctive in-store displays asking consumers “Where’s the Wine?”  The displays (copy of display design is attached to this release) have been placed in over 100 grocery stores from Paducah to Ashland.  In addition, consumers in these stores will be given a bag stuffer with each transaction which will encourage them to visit the Coalition’s Web site and sign the online petition.

 

Schmidt noted that there is widespread support for changing the existing law to allow grocery stores to sell wine.  Previously, 56,000 Kentuckians signed petitions in grocery stores across the state in support of the initiative.  Media online polling consistently indicates that 90%+ of those polled want this law changed.  Schmidt stated that changing existing law is “pro-consumer, pro-agriculture and pro-Kentucky,” and that there are three significant reasons as to why the law should be changed, including:

 

• Changing the law will increase competition in the state’s wine market by opening up between 300 and 400 new grocery store sales outlets for consumers to purchase wine, which will eliminate the near monopoly that liquor stores have held going all the way back to Prohibition

 

• By adding these new sales outlets, the sale of wine is expected to grow substantially which industry projections indicate will increase the amount of tax revenue collected by the Commonwealth by $30.1 million during the first two years the new law is in place, and by $83.8 million over the first five years – without adding any new taxes or increasing any existing tax rates – a real benefit to the Commonwealth as it continues to bridge revenue gaps during these challenging economic times

 

• The addition of these new sales outlets will also substantially increase the sale of Kentucky-produced wine, thereby increasing the demand for Kentucky-grown grapes – a real benefit for Kentucky’s farm families who are transitioning away from tobacco

 

Schmidt stated, “The time has come for Kentucky’s General Assembly to pass this progressive legislation and enable the state to join 34 other states which already allow grocery stores to sell wine, including six of our seven border states.  When the hundreds of thousands of visitors arrive from all over the World next year in Lexington for the FEI World Equestrian Games, they will expect to be able to purchase wine in a variety of locations, including grocery stores.”

 

 

The Food with Wine Coalition is a not for profit organization that was established in 2007 by Kentucky’s grocery store industry and is supported by Kentucky’s wine industry. The Coalition’s purpose is to educate and inform the citizens of Kentucky about the advantages of allowing grocery stores to sell wine in wet and moist counties.  Interested parties are invited to learn more about the issue by visiting the Coalition’s Web site (www.foodwithwine.org).

 

Note: members of the media may obtain an electronic version of the Food with Wine Coalition’s logo and the in-store display piece by contacting Luke Schmidt (502.292.2898 or via electronic mail, lbschmidt@lbschmidt.com).

An effort to change state law so grocery stores can sell wine in wet and “moist” counties will probably come up again in the 2010 Kentucky legislature…”With 300 additional sales outlets for wine, there’s no question that wine sales will go up,” said Luke B. Schmidt, president of the coalition. “Our most recent number indicated that over five years, the economic impact would be about $85 million.”

http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/915555.html

 

 

Listen to Luke Schmidt’s live interview on Western Kentucky University’s Public Radio station WKYU-FM to discuss ongoing efforts to develop passenger airline service at the Elizabethtown Regional Airport.

 

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wkyu/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1541164/news/Bowling.Green.and.Etown.hoping.to.attract.commercial.airline

ELIZABETHTOWN — Local officials and businesspeople on Monday attended a public forum to learn more about a push for commuter flights out of Elizabethtown Regional Airport.

 

Elizabethtown, Kentucky (July 22, 2009) – A unique visioning project is now underway in Hardin County. The project is designed to build upon Hardin County’s strengths and current growth opportunities, identify weaknesses, and chart a course for the future.

 

 

 

For Immediate Release

 

 

 

Hardin County Vision Project Underway

 

Project Seeks to Build upon Hardin County’s Strengths and Current Growth Opportunities and Chart Course for the Future

 

Elizabethtown, Kentucky (July 22, 2009) – A unique visioning project is now underway in Hardin County.  The project is designed to build upon Hardin County’s strengths and current growth opportunities, identify weaknesses, and chart a course for the future.

 

In announcing the project, Hardin County Judge/Executive Harry Berry stated, “Hardin County is now experiencing a transformation which is unique to Kentucky with the BRAC related changes that are coming to Fort Knox and the proposed NAATBatt plant in Glendale.  These changes will bring unprecedented growth and opportunities.  We want to make sure that the County is well positioned to capitalize on the growth and to begin looking to the future and to maximize efficiencies.”

 

L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC, a consulting firm based in Louisville, has been selected to conduct the visioning project.

 

The visioning project will encompass the following activities:

 

County Strategic Assessment

 

The strategic assessment will analyze various components related to the community in terms of economic development, population growth, education, job creation, delivery of government services, etc., and the perception of the community on the part of community leaders.  This will be accomplished by conducting key stakeholder interviews of 100 community leaders.

 

The strategic assessment will also include an examination of ongoing projects and studies that are being supported by various local agencies.

 

In addition, the strategic assessment will combine an analysis of the current situation in Hardin County with research of seven peer counties in the Midwest and Southeast in order to provide a snapshot of where the County stands from a competitive standpoint.

 

Leadership Forum

 

Following the completion of the strategic assessment, the findings will be presented during a one-day leadership forum.  During the forum, participants will be encouraged to validate (or challenge) the findings, followed by an examination of the County’s guiding principles, such as the current Vision Statement.  Finally, strategic goals will be developed along with an implementation plan which will serve as a guide for the County for the next five to 15 years.

 

Final Report

 

Following the leadership forum, the consulting firm will compile a final report which will be provided to Hardin County government.

 

Luke Schmidt, President of L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC, will direct and manage the project.  Schmidt stated, “Hardin County’s vision project will enable the community’s leaders to step back and critically analyze where the County is today and, more importantly, determine the direction that they would like for the County to take tomorrow.”

 

“The cornerstone for this effort will be the 100 key stakeholder interviews which will include a cross section of the County’s leaders from the areas of agriculture, the business community, education, Fort Knox, government officials from the County and its five communities, plant managers and other groups,” said Schmidt.  “The confidential surveys will cover a wide variety of issues including the arts, cooperation between communities and government jurisdictions/agencies, community competitiveness, economic development, education, health care, public safety, quality of life, transportation, etc.”

 

The project is now underway and is expected to be completed by the end of October.  The project is being funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment and is being administered locally by the Lincoln Trail Area Development District.  The grant is one of three local grants for projects related to the impact of realignment of Fort Knoxand its impact on Hardin County.

 

 

Hardin County is the sixth largest county 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).

 

The Elizabethtown Airport Board recently received its first five-figure pledge for its travel bank, which will guarantee some revenue for the first airline that decides to start local commuter flights.

 

Elizabethtown, Kentucky (July 9, 2009) – The Elizabethtown Airport Board today announced that the recently launched Partnership for Central Kentucky Airline Service Travel Bank pledge campaign has reached its first milestone: the first “five figure” pledge in the amount of $10,000 from the Fort Knox Federal Credit Union.

 

 

 

For Immediate Release

 

 

Partnership for Central Kentucky Airline Service Travel Bank

Travel Bank Campaign Off to Good Start;

Program Achieves Milestone with First ‘Five Figure’

Pledge from the Fort Knox Federal Credit Union

 

 

Elizabethtown, Kentucky (July 9, 2009) – The Elizabethtown Airport Board today announced that the recently launched Partnership for Central Kentucky Airline Service Travel Bank pledge campaign has reached its first milestone: the first “five figure” pledge in the amount of $10,000 from the Fort Knox Federal Credit Union.  The Travel Bank is a strategy which is designed to provide a revenue guarantee to the first airline which confirms its intent to provide scheduled passenger airline service to the Elizabethtown Regional Airport (EKX).

 

In announcing the pledge, Fort Knox Federal Credit Union President/CEO Bill Rissel stated: “The Credit Union is pleased to demonstrate its support not only for the Travel Bank but also for the development of scheduled passenger airline service in Central Kentucky with this pledge.  We view the development of airline service at EKX as one of this community’s most important goals.”

 

“Revenue guarantee programs are an important part of any community’s strategy to develop or expand new passenger airline service,” said Luke Schmidt, President of L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC, and consultant to the Elizabethtown Airport Board.  “This strategy has been implemented successfully in other markets and we believe that it can be successful here.”

 

Joe Yates, Chairman of the Elizabethtown Airport Board stated “The pledge of the Fort Knox Federal Credit Union is indicative of the support that is growing for passenger airline service at EKX throughout Central Kentucky.  New airline service will make air travel easier for the hundreds of thousands of passengers who currently use other airports that are further away and cost more to use in terms of driving costs and parking.  EKX will offer free parking at the door for its passengers when service starts.”

 

Potential users of passenger airline travel from throughout the 24-county region are being asked to make a pledge to the Travel Bank.  The total amount of the pledges raised will be passed on to potential airlines as EKX’s revenue guarantee for the first two years of service.

 

The pledges made by businesses, industries, professionals, individuals, etc., will be payable only after the first airline confirms its intent to start service to EKX.  Pledges will be payable in a lump sum or in two to four payments over 12 months following the date of confirmation airline service (which will coincide with the time required to build the new passenger terminal).

 

Once service starts to EKX, those companies and individuals who have made a pledge can get their money back by simply purchasing a ticket, flying to or from EKX and providing “proof of travel” to the Travel Bank.  Once the proof of travel has been submitted, the Travel Bank will issue a check in the amount of the cost of airline ticket, up to the amount of the pledge.  The net benefit of the Travel Bank will be:

 

• EKX will provide a meaningful revenue guarantee program to the first airline to confirm service

 

• The region will demonstrate its support for air service by participating in the Travel Bank

 

• The program will encourage Travel Bank participants to use the new service

 

• The airline will fill seats on its planes

 

• And, in the end, Travel Bank participants will get their money back once they fly to/from EKX

 

The travel bank concept is designed to put passengers “in the seats” by encouraging regional air travelers to purchase tickets and use the new service.  The travel bank approach also provides the airline with a golden opportunity to showcase its new service and to promote all of the travel options which will become available to Central Kentucky air travelers.

 

The Elizabethtown Airport Board is a not for profit organization which operates the municipal airport in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.  Elizabethtown Regional Airport (EKX) began operations in 1982 as a general aviation airport and is currently engaged in efforts to restore commercial airline service to the field.  EKX includes a 6,000 foot long runway which is “regional jet ready” with complete general aviation services.  An Instrument Landing System (ILS) (localizer) has been installed which further enhances safety and increases the airport’s all-weather operational capacity.  EKX plans to build a passenger terminal should commercial airline service be restored.