EnergyState
Margy Poorman
Published News-Enterprise: Jan 5, 2024
Margy Poorman
President/CEO
As we enter a new year and we look back on 2023, it is clear that Hardin County had yet another year of economic growth.
At the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce, where I serve as president and CEO, we maintain a keen understanding of the local business landscape, and if you look at the number of new members we welcomed and the amount of ribbon cutting events for local businesses and organizations we hosted, it is clear the business community in Hardin County is continuing to thrive.
Amidst this prosperity, 2023 was distinguished by the acquisition of invaluable insights here at the Chamber. In 2023, we were proud to unveil an exhaustive economic impact study, titled Measuring the Impact of the BlueOval SK Battery Park on the Elizabethtown Metro Area. Conducted by the Louisville-based consulting firm L.B. Schmidt & Associates, this study stands as a testament to collaborative efforts, made feasible through generous support from our President’s Circle, alongside various businesses and organizations.
This comprehensive study serves as a tool to help guide our community’s trajectory, particularly in light of the ongoing development of the BlueOval SK Battery Park. It offers insights on projected growth, alongside multifaceted recommendations encapsulating pivotal domains, including community growth management, MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) future planning, enhancement of quality of life, strategic transportation initiatives, community branding and promotion as well as strategies for workforce recruitment. Since the study’s dissemination, we have been pleased to receive feedback from local leaders and to learn how it has been helpful in guiding their strategic vision. To facilitate an open dialogue and exchange of perspectives, we initiated the weekly EnergyState column series, which you are reading now. This 21-week series has provided a platform for various community leaders representing diverse sectors, including local government, regional healthcare, the local industrial sector and several others
Beyond the discourse and insights garnered, our focus now lies in action and implementation. The Chamber is now actively engaged in seeking pathways to convene key stakeholders, fostering an environment conducive to the execution of the study’s recommendations. The diversity of perspectives within our county surpasses 100,000. It is imperative to tap into this reservoir of insight as we work toward a more prosperous future.
As I mentioned in the inaugural column of this series, the advent of BlueOval SK Battery Park represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It demands a collective effort, an unwavering commitment from all facets of our community, to capitalize on this rare opportunity.
As we look back on 2023 and on the incredible insights we have gleaned, we at the Chamber stand ready to get to work in 2024 on providing resources to an even more substantial business community.
To read the entirety of Measuring the Impact of the BlueOval SK Battery Park on the Elizabethtown Metro Area, visit hardinchamber.com/energystate.
