The county will utilize social media on Tuesday to share information and hear concerns about a proposed industrial park in Benton.
Marshall County Economic Development will host a Facebook live event May 1 to discuss Southwest One Industrial Park with area residents. Josh Tubbs, economic development director, said he hopes the project will improve the community and benefit residents.
For those with concerns over what types of businesses could be locating in their area, Tubbs said the county will be selective.
“We know right now there are a number of light- to mid-size manufacturers, assemblers and those kinds of employers out there looking for somewhere to be,” Tubbs said. “When you do something with intent, you can make it aesthetically nice to look at, something neighbors aren’t ashamed to have next to them.”
Tubbs said it was important to improve residents’ quality of life through the project and increase workers ability to earn a living wage.
Marshall County Judge Executive Kevin Neal said he and Tubbs went to Washington, D.C. in December, meeting with agencies that could finance portions of the land purchase or develop property. That will be a benefit as the county works towards being ready when the right employer is calling.
“As a county — to move forward with economic develop — our infrastructure has to be in a better condition than it is today. We’re trying to get that accomplished,” Neal said. “We can start marketing that property as a site once we get the land purchased…. Whenever you talk about economic development, you have to have a product. Southwest One is that product.”
Neal said Southwest One is something site consultants can present to companies looking to locate.
A preliminary study was done in 2015 identifying potential industrial park locations throughout Marshall County. Local leaders worked with Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering of Paducah and Commonsense Economic Development to determine which sites would be best suited to multiple tenants. Tubbs said transportation access, utilities and potential for future growth was used to whittle down possibilities.
The U.S. Hwy. 641 site was No. 2 on the list. It’s location near the Purchase Parkway, Interstates 24 and 69, ports in Paducah and Calvert City and rail spurs made it very accessible.
The Marshall County Fiscal Court met with landowners Ronald and Shelia Smith and Marky Smith in December to negotiate a $90,000 three-year option agreement to purchase the 300 acre site for $3.8 million. The county has been conducting environmental surveys and taking care of other hurdles while it awaits a final report.
Tubbs said he does not expect any surprises in that report.
Funding for the option agreement is coming from a variety of sources, including a Purchase Regional Industrial Park Board grant. Anticipated Tennessee Valley Authority in lieu of tax dollars could replace local taxpayer money.
“I think we’ll be able to structure this in a way where there’s no burden to the general fund,” Tubbs said. “There will probably be some type of financing if the fiscal court decides to purchase the property, but that debt service should be serviced by the TVA in lieu of payment we will receive. It was really important to me and Judge Neal to be able to do this with little impact to the general fund.
Funding from several local, regional and state groups will be used to match a TVA grant that could fund much of the $3.8 million purchase.
Tubbs and other county leaders will be part of the May 1 event on Facebook, which will start at 6 p.m. The event will allow community members to gain updates and provide feedback on current plans. Participants will also be invited to ask questions.
Community support is an important part of the project.
“This is a long-term commitment for economic development in the community so we want to make all that information is out there and that it makes sense,” Tubbs said. “We want to make sure the fiscal court is supportive, the city is supportive and the community is supportive in understanding what we’re trying to accomplish. If we want to compete for projects, we have to have a [site] to put in front of them.
“At the very fundamental level of economic development is the ability to put a product in front of a company.”
For those interested in the conversation, log on to www.facebook.com/KentuckyLakeED/ and like the page before 6 p.m. May 1.