Looking back over the past year, the Economic Development Foundation has helped some twenty businesses and ideas take root in Union County, including EZ-ACCESS and Little Kentucky Smokehouse. And these particular two companies will in turn play a role in the Foundation’s next efforts this year, with their own leaders now serving as board members.
J.D. Kramer, plant manager for EZ-ACCESS and Linda Baird, co-owner of Jim David Meats/Little Kentucky Smokehouse are just two of the newly elected board members.
Earle C. Clements Director Billy Cooper, President of Wabash Marine, Inc. Tom Moosbrugger, and Gumz Farms, LLC co-owner Amy Gumz will take the remaining seats.
Returning to the Foundation Board are Steve Anderson, Pat Donahue, and Phillip Holt.
These eight individuals were elected on Thursday evening at the Foundation’s annual meeting and dinner.
Because of a change in by-laws, the current board will be increased to 21 members. Two members of the board chose to relinquish their positions, Jerry Ruark and Andy Sprague, allowing the board to place five new individuals and three who were up for re-election.
After months of deliberating, the Foundation has decided upon a name which better suits their mission. “Union County First” will be the new name for the organization, which is dedicated to the “enhancement of education, infrastructure, and industry” in Union County.
Senator Dorsey Ridley informed the group that Union County was due to receive $2 million in coal severance tax dollars for water and sewer projects in each city and the county as a whole for the next fiscal year.
Both he and Representative Dr. John Arnold, Jr. fought to get this money for Union County, along with some $60,000 in coal severance monies for the Morganfield Walking Trail that Arnold endorsed.
And Judge Executive Jody Jenkins says the Union County Fiscal Court is eagerly working with Breckinridge Services to bring a long-term, assisted living facility into the county, and is partnering with respective city governments to formulate a plan for new development housing.
