For the past 67 years, the Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation has maintained a steadfast commitment to its primary mission: the creation of employment opportunities and the elevation of Hardin County as the premier destination for advanced manufacturing, distribution and industrial enterprises.
In 2021, our community’s work paid off in a major way. That was the year when BlueOval SK announced its decision to establish the single largest manufacturing project in Kentucky history in Glendale. This piece of land had been meticulously designated by EHCIF as a “megasite” earmarked for large-scale manufacturing development. Following this groundbreaking announcement, our unwavering dedication has been channeled toward facilitating seamless access for BlueOval SK’s representatives to our community’s abundant resources.
Our goal is to assist them in attracting top-tier talent while simultaneously laying the groundwork for the attraction of additional world-class manufacturers that complement and support BlueOval SK’s presence in our region.
We’ve already witnessed this scenario unfolding, as evidenced by the construction of several new manufacturing facilities at the T.J. Patterson Industrial Park in Elizabethtown and beyond. We also have found it crucial to better understand the economic impact of BlueOval SK, which is why we partnered with the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce, Baptist Health Hardin and Elizabethtown Community and Technical College to commission a recently released economic impact study. Conducted by the Louisville-based consulting firm L.B. Schmidt & Associates, the study quantifies the massive growth that will come along with the construction of BlueOval SK and the 5,000 jobs it will bring to the region. The full report can be found at hardinchamber.com/energystate.
But, our focus at EHCIF is not just on BlueOval SK. Our objective is to support all manufacturing employers in our community, including our existing manufacturers, who have provided competitive wages to local workers and have been instrumental in supporting generations of local families.
With more than 10,000 individuals already gainfully employed within Elizabethtown’s expanding manufacturing sector and its associated businesses, it is of paramount importance that we continue our support for these existing enterprises, especially in the face of BlueOval SK’s emergence.
To underscore our commitment to both our existing manufacturers and the broader community, EHCIF has unveiled a new website: Made Here Elizabethtown. This platform has been created to serve a dual purpose: firstly, to provide individuals with comprehensive insights into the abundant opportunities within our local manufacturing sector, and secondly, to champion our region as an exceptional place to not only work, but to also live and raise a family.
The website highlights both “Great Careers” and “Great Lives,” two things regularly made here in Elizabethtown. The site gives users the ability to access a directory of local manufacturing employers and job postings, while also learning about aspects of the community such as our educational opportunities, healthcare system, housing market, arts and entertainment scene and so much more. BlueOval SK has dominated headlines in recent years, and due to the massive effect it will have on our economy, it is for good reason.
However, for our region to achieve its full potential for growth, it is imperative that we maintain unwavering support for every facet of our industrial sector.
We must ensure that those long-standing pillars of our community, which have supported local families for generations, are afforded opportunities for growth and prosperity as well.
Andy Games serves as vice president of the Elizabethtown/Hardin County Industrial Foundation. The EnergyState column, which publishes each Friday, focuses on the economic transformation and state of change facing the region. Direct questions about this column to EnergyState@HardinChamber.com.
