Farmers Market Moving Downtown

OWENSBORO, KY (WFIE) - The farmers market in Owensboro may move to a new location that officials say will make it more convenient and provide a better shopping experience.

The same consultants conducting a feasibility study on the Bluegrass Museum will also make a site plan on moving the Farmer's Market Downtown.

City leaders say they are looking into having the market on the north end of the state office building property.

One idea is to build a long pavilion with a canopy. County officials discussed funding the project $25,000 to get electricity and water lines to the facility once built.

Other funding will come from the state and ag-extension agency. The industrial development authority believes moving the farmer's market downtown will draw big crowds and become an asset to downtown's environment.

Many shoppers say the market's current location on old Hartford road is too far away.

Owensboro resident Shawn McHenry says, "It's kind of far out and it's really not accessible to a lot of people here in town and I think downtown it's on more of a bus route and for people that can walk can get to it."

Owensboro resident John Storm says, "I live on third street so it's not that far from my house anyway so it would be a great location for me."


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Kentucky Export Initiative Designed to Increase Exports among Small and Medium Sized Businesses

Gov. Steve Beshear announced the launch of the Governor’s Kentucky Export Initiative, an initiative designed to increase exporting activity among small and medium-sized businesses. The statewide program, which is loosely modeled on the National Export Initiative announced earlier this year, will leverage the existing efforts of Kentucky’s leading international trade organizations, as well as create new opportunities for education and market exploration.

“For many small businesses, accessing markets outside the United States, which represents 95 percent of the world’s customers and two-thirds of the world’s purchasing power, is a key element to growth and prosperity,” said Gov. Beshear. “With the right assistance and guidance, many more Kentucky companies can grow and create jobs through beginning or expanded exporting activity. Our goal is to provide that needed assistance through the Kentucky Export Initiative.”

The Kentucky Export Initiative is composed of six alliance members, all engaged in providing international trade assistance and expertise to Kentucky businesses. They include: the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development; the Kentucky World Trade Center; the U.S. Department of Commerce; the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce; the Northern Kentucky International Trade Association; and the U.S. Chamber’s TradeRoots program. Additionally, a growing list of strategic partners will work with the alliance members to further support the initiative.

Alliance members and strategic partners will join forces to educate qualified small and medium-sized businesses about the impact of exporting, as well as provide information on new markets; identify potential distributors, agents and end-users; and assist with compliance, logistics, legal issues and more.

“We are grateful for the support of the Appalachian Regional Commission and look forward to working together to make sure that Kentucky’s Appalachian companies have the opportunities they need to be successful in the global marketplace,” added Gov. Beshear.

Informational seminars will be held in various communities beginning in January 2011, followed by a series of in-depth training programs on the fundamentals of exporting. Additional information about the Governor’s Kentucky Export Initiative, including details on upcoming events can be found at www.kyexports.com.

AT&T Announces Service Enhancement and Investment in Region

Officials from AT&T AT&T will join officials from the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation and other community leaders to announce investments and service enhancements being made in the Greater Owensboro region.

The announcement will take place on Monday, December 6 at 8:30 a.m. at the Centre for Business and Research at 1010 Allen Street in Owensboro. The public is invited.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Greater-Owensboro-Economic-Development-Corp-.html?soid=1102418495173&aid=ZtIfzXQQNDs

Building Demolition gives Owensboro a "Clean Site" on the Ohio River

The buildings on the Green River Steel site were recently demolished

The 91 acre Ohio River site in Owensboro that was once the Green River Steel Mill is now a clean site ready for development.

The Owensboro Riverport Authority, the owner of the property on the east side of Owensboro, recently had three massive buildings demolished and removed.

The Riverport also completed environmental remediation on the property to enhance the marketability of the location for industrial development.

The site offers river and rail access to the CSX main line. It is directly off of US Highway 60 and less than a mile from an interchange to the Interstate 65- Interstate 64 Connector, currently under construction.

More information about the site is available at http://www.thinkkentucky.com/edis/PDF/Site/AM059-005.pdf

Workforce Aligned High School Academies

Community Campus: Workforce Aligned Academies

Economic and Education Leaders Create Workforce-Aligned Academies

Leaders from regional school districts and the Owensboro Community and Technical College will join economic development officials, regional employers and community leaders to kick off the Community Campus program, an innovative high school reform model that will create five workforce-aligned academies utilizing the community as the campus.

The five workforce academies are in Health and Life Sciences; Construction, Trades and Energy; Science, Technology and Engineering; Business and Entrepreneurship; and the Arts.

The announcement will take place on Monday, November 29 at 10 a.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Owensboro Community and Technical College.  A meeting of parents and students interested in participating in one of the five academies will take place on Monday, November 29 at 6:30 p.m. in Blandford Lecture Hall at OCTC.

Owensboro Unemployment at Lowest Level in Two Years

The Owensboro MSA monthly unemployment rate in September dropped to 8.6 percent, the lowest level since December 2008.  At its peak during the recession, regional unemployment hit 11 percent, but remained lower than the state and national levels throughout most of the recession.  

"We are starting to see the effects of much of the positive economic activity from earlier in the year," said EDC President/CEO Nick Brake.  "We are in the midst of a building boom with multiple private and public projects that are putting people to work in construction.  Much of this construction will translate to jobs in the coming year in the financial industry and health care."

According to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate for September was 9.1 percent.  The rate for Kentucky was 9.8 percent.