EnergyState guest column by Ray Springsteen
Nov 17. 2023
As a community-minded institution, Abound Credit Union is constantly funding initiatives designed to enhance the wellbeing of our service region. Whether it’s through the sponsorship of charity and quality-of-life events, scholarship initiatives, donations to important community
organizations or financial education projects, community engagement is a key tenant of our
credit union.
That is why it was imperative for Abound Credit Union to collaborate with other community partners in funding a recent long-term economic impact study commissioned by the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce. The study, titled Measuring the Impact of the BlueOval SK Battery Park on the Elizabethtown Metro Area, offers comprehensive insights into our region's projected growth and provides thorough recommendations. This report serves as an invaluable resource for businesses and organizations as they plan and implement future growth strategies.
To that end, we at Abound Credit Union helped fund this study not just because it is beneficial to the community at-large, but also because it will significantly assist our leadership team in making strategic decisions guided by the growth projections and recommendations detailed in
the report. With this new knowledge, we can make more informed decisions regarding new products and services at Abound Credit Union and strategically plan the expansion of our financial centers and ATMs.
Since our formation in 1950 by ten Army veterans with $1,000 and a vision to help the community, we have consistently grown to become one of the largest credit unions in the region with more than $2.2 billion in assets, 18 locations and over 130,000 members. Starting in the Hardin County region , we now have locations in Bardstown, Bowling Green, Brandenburg, Campbellsville, Danville, Elizabethtown, Fort Knox, Glasgow, Hodgenville, Leitchfield, Louisville, Radcliff and Shepherdsville. With the anticipated growth of our region, driven by developments such as BlueOval SK, we are enthusiastic about growing alongside the region, and this impact report provides a roadmap for that journey.
It’s important to note, as General Jim Iacocca articulated in his guest column, that despite the significant job opportunities BlueOval SK will bring, Fort Knox will remain the region’s largest employer by far. While manufacturing is a vital component of our regions economy, it is crucial
to continue supporting the active-duty military members, veterans, and civilian employees who play an integral role in shaping the character of our region through their association with Fort Knox.
Our nation’s military has been the backbone of Abound Credit Union since our inception over seven decades ago. As our region undergoes significant transformation in the coming years, we remain steadfast in our commitment to serve the military community through initiatives such as our Veterans 2 Entrepreneur program, our active participation with the Knox Regional Development Alliance and our support for organizations and initiatives benefiting military members and veterans, including USA Cares, Elizabethtown Community Technical Colleges Military Education Association, Wreaths Across America and more. Plus, Abound provides financial education support in school systems on Fort Knox, in Hardin County and throughout
every community we serve. Through our unwavering support for the military community, we aim to inspire other businesses, organizations, and individuals to find ways, both large and small, to express their gratitude to our military members who have made substantial
contributions to our community and nation.
At Abound Credit Union, we are excited about the growth our region is experiencing and the new opportunities it presents to continue serving the community we’ve been dedicated to for the past 73 years.
To access the entire economic impact study, visit hardinchamber.com/energystate. Ray Springsteen serves as President and CEO of Abound Credit Union. He also co-chaired the capital campaign that established the Knox Regional Development Alliance and served as the organization’s first Board Chairman. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Kentucky Credit Union League and serves on the Powers Committee for the Credit Union
National Association.
