EDC seeking Project Manager focusing on Private Investment efforts in Downtown Owensboro

The Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation is seeking a Project Manager to coordinate investment attraction efforts for downtown Owensboro.  Qualifications: Bachelor’s or advanced degree required. Experience and/or education in planning, urban development and/or business development preferred.  Competitive compensation based on applicant’s experience and qualifications. Submit cover letter and resume to edc@owensboro.com

News Conference on Senate Bill 151

Economic Development and Business Groups such as KAN stand in opposition of Senate Bill 151

The Kentucky Aluminum Network, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, along with the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers, the Kentucky Resource Council and the Kentucky Association for Economic Development participated in a joint news conference at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort on Wednesday to voice their opposition to Senate Bill 151.

The legislation proposes a change in the make-up of Kentucky’s Public Service Commission by increasing the number of commissioners from three to seven and making them elected positions instead of appointed.

“This model has been used in 13 other states and brought instability in the utility markets by politicizing the process of reviewing rate cases brought before the commission,” said Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dave Adkisson.

EDC President Nick Brake said this bill is a concern for the energy companies and heavy industrial electric users in the region such as Rio Tinto Alcan and Century Aluminum.

Adkisson provided remarks from the state Chamber during the conference. Also speaking were Greg Higdon, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers; Tom FitzGerald, Kentucky Resources Council; Mike Mangeot, Kentucky Association of Economic Development. Mike Baker attended the event representing the Kentucky Aluminum Network.

EDC Tracking Several Bills of Interest to Economic Development in the 2011 Kentucky General Assembly Session

The Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation is working closely with counterparts around the state on several bills in the Kentucky General Assembly in Frankfort this session.

Two bills of interest would provide additional tools for job attraction and retention.  House Bill 448 would create an individual angel investor tax credit program to attract investment capital to small and startup companies to spur job creation.  A similar program already exists in 27 states.  The program would provide incentives to investors or investment funds that put money into startup and emerging companies focused on high technology or new proprietary technology.

"This bill would benefit companies, investors, and all Kentuckians," said EDC President Nick Brake.  " A transferable tax credit like this would kick-start emerging companies and help them create jobs," said Brake.  Companies such as the small biotech or other startup firms attracted to Owensboro's life science efforts or the Centre for Business and Research would be prime targets for this type of program.

The second is House Bill 462 which broadens and expands the job retention efforts that were part of the Kentucky Revitalization Act (KRA) to headquarters, office, service, and technology companies.  Currently the KRA is applicable only to manufacturing jobs.

"Our competition is enhancing job retention efforts through tax credits to preserve tax and employment base in the state," said Brake.  "This enhanced tool for job retention can spur reinvestment and even job growth through consolidation.  The goal of job retention should apply to segments of the state economy in addition to manufacturing such as headquarter, service and technology companies with 200 or more employees," said Brake.

Brake and EDC Executive Vice President and Emerging Ventures Director Madison Silvert will be in Frankfort twice this week advocating legislation that benefits job growth and retention.

For more information about this or other economic development legislation, click on the bills above or visit the Kentucky Legislature Home Page.

Owensboro Area Students show interest in Science, Technology, and Engineering Academy

Maintaining a competitive workforce for the future is a major objective of the Community Campus program established last year as a partnership between local high schools, the Owensboro Community and Technical College and the EDC.

A major area of focus is in advanced manufacturing and engineering.  The The Science, Technology and Engineering Academy, part of Community Campus, provides high school students with a rigorous curriculum aligned to careers in advanced manufacturing as well as four engineering programs at Kentucky universities.  Students in the academy receive both high school and college credit.

Interest in the program is exceeding initial expectations.  After pre-enrollment nearly 70 students from the participating high schools in Daviess and Hancock counties had signed up for the academy.

For more information on the Science, Technology, and Engineering Academy visit the following link on the OCTC website: http://www.octc.kctcs.edu/Academics/Discover_College/~/media/Owensboro/Academics/Discover%20College/PLTW.ashx

EDC Video: Viral Marketing Effort focusing on Attracting Businesses and Talent to Region

The Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation (GO-EDC) launched the first in a series of new community videos as part of a marketing effort that will target the attraction of new businesses, young professionals, entrepreneurs, and college students to the region.

EDC President/CEO Nick Brake said the first edition of the video highlights Owensboro as a small town with big city amenities. “It is part of an aggressive viral marketing effort including social media promoting the region to new potential residents and investors,” said Brake.

The first version of the video highlights the four colleges in the community for use as a tool to recruit college students to the region. Additional videos will focus on business and entrepreneurship, young professionals, family life in Owensboro, and the region as a destination for retirees.

The video was produced by Owensboro-based Fleck Media. Dave Docimo, Creative Director and owner said it was an honor to develop a concept that supports our hometown. “Our goal was to show Owensboro in a new light. We wanted culture, education, and livability to be strong themes throughout,” said Docimo. “We wanted to give the viewer a sense that there is a lot more to discover here.”

The video can be viewed on the EDC website (edc.owensboro.com) or on the Owensboro EDC YouTube channel at the following link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO2evaIvNHQ

The video incorporates social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The EDC encourages all that view to participate in the viral marketing effort by sending it to at least five people from out of town.

EDC LAUNCHES MARKETING EFFORT WITH NEW COMMUNITY VIDEO

EDC recognizing Owensboro Existing Businesses at February Chamber Breakfast

The Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation will recognize the role that existing businesses play in the overall vitality of the region as a sponsor of the February Chamber Rooster Booster breakfast. Healthy communities have strong, healthy businesses. The creation of an on-going existing business program is a key strategy to creating wealth and opportunity for the region.

Support for existing businesses is a top priority, since a majority of the new jobs in any given region are created by existing companies. EDC partners with local businesses and industries to remain engaged in our community, assist them with expansion projects, and increase their competitiveness in the wider marketplace. Since 2009 the EDC have worked 26 projects bringing over $100 million in new investment to the region creating 1,110 new jobs. This volume more than doubled our share of projects statewide compared to previous years.

The GO-EDC Industry Advantage Program involves partnerships among public and private organizations including the following:

State and Local Incentives- programs exist to help firms grow and retain jobs as well as providing workforce training for new or existing employees, for more information please contact Becky McCubbins at the EDC.

Workforce Solutions- Demographic experts tell us that meeting employers' future workforce needs is the number one challenge for businesses across the economic spectrum. Collaboration is critical among workforce partners to successfully address the full scope of workforce challenges within a community. The EDC has taken workforce development strategy to the next level through a community-wide partnerships with groups such as the Green River Workforce Investment Board, the Department of Employment Services, and the Owensboro Community and Technical College. These partners work to analyze and revitalize existing workforce strategies, identify and address workforce gaps, and work together to seamlessly provide the strongest workforce solutions for companies that choose to make the Greater Owensboro area their home.

OwensboroWorks.com-- is a web-based regional talent pool of more than 5,500 potential employees organized in an interactive, user-friendly database. Employers can search for potential candidates based on specific criteria, and job seekers post their experiences all free of charge.

GO-iNTERN is an additional resource provided to local businesses. Employers can post internship opportunities at intern.owensboro.com free of charge. For more information on any of these programs, please contact GO-EDC at 270-926-4339.