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CJE Stephens at EDA meeting: Regionalization is name of game 2016-02-24 - Chamber Building, 201 Burkesville Street, Columbia, KY - Photo by Ed Waggener. Adair County CJE Michael Lee Stephens, an ex officio member of the Columbia/Adair County Economic Development Board, pushed regionalization as a way improving Adair County's own economic well being. The CJE said he has been in close contact with Sen. Max Wise and Rep. Bam Carney who are pushing a new South Central Caucus in Frankfort, which will tie in with counties along the Heartland Parkway and south and some adjoining counties. He said that Gov. Bevin has told him that economic development aid from Frankfort will still be available despite budget cutting, and that the Governor said, "Get eight to 10 counties together on a project," and bring it, and you'll get our help. Bring one, and it won't." He noted regionalization will include ties with Somerset, KY and the community college and the Lake Cumberland Area Development District - and though he didn't say it - some are reporting that this Governor is having no county shot callers, and that Columbia's voice in Frankfort will be channeled through an administration contact man in Somerset - and he spoke of the new ties to Glasgow, especially with the new presence of TJ Health in Columbia. He cited a comparison of the closeness of TJ Hospital in Glasgow. "You can come from the closed interchange in Glasgow to the Walmart exit in Columbia at 80 MPH, and you're here in 19 minutes. That's closer than the hospital in Campbellsville," he said, adding that he was not advocating speeding. Mayor Curtis Hardwick, the other ex officio member of the board, added that one of his last earlier administration, Tennessee officials had cited the need for a new super road down there to come up through Cumberland County to Columbia, adding that regional impact to development efforts. - CM Permalink | Comments?

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