By ALLYSON DIX
For Glasgow News 1
The Barren County Fiscal Court moved forward on Tuesday morning with the hiring of a construction manager for the planned agricultural expo center.
Codell Construction was unanimously approved by county magistrates to serve as the construction manager for the project, which is planned to be built in Cave City adjacent to the Cave Area Conference Center on Mammoth Cave Street.
The construction manager will help facilitate the project through the end of construction, provide a clearer understanding of the project’s cost breakdown and bidding process, and apply for New Markets Tax Credits.
The estimated cost for the agricultural expo center is $27 million. In February, $20 million was approved for the agricultural center in federal appropriations legislation, which will be used for the project’s construction.
The New Markets Tax Credit program is a federal initiative designed to encourage private capital investment in underserved and rural communities. It is expected that these funds will help close the project’s funding gap.
Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd said the goal is to secure an additional $7 million more to fund extra amenities, such as heating and cooling for the prep building and suites for events.
A benefit of using the construction manager style for the project is that it also opens the door for local contractors who specialize in a variety of areas, such as electrical work, to apply for those jobs when the time comes, Byrd said.
The next steps include creating a contract with Codell and obtaining a clearer cost estimate for the construction while surveys and geotechnical work are underway.
Five contractors applied for the position with Codell being the lowest bid at $1,026,000. Other bids included: Alliance at $1,863,000; Calhoun submitted a low bid of $1,849,500 and a high bid of $2,659,500; SMD at $1,080,000; and Trace Creek at $1,149,600 based on the current $27 million project estimate.
“We had five huge contractors apply and I was very pleased that we had that much interest,” Byrd said, adding that officials interviewed each one before ultimately selecting Codell, which also submitted the lowest bid.
Byrd said the vision for the agricultural expo center reaches beyond serving the local community, noting that interest has already been expressed in hosting regional events such as rodeos, demolition
derbies, cattle and equine competitions, and even concerts. She added that officials are also pursuing potential partnerships with other agricultural development departments around the state.
The expo center is being established as a separate entity through interlocal agreements. Under the current structure, Barren County will have three board seats, Cave City will have two seats, while the Barren County Extension Office and Hart County will each have one seat.
“We’re excited to get the construction manager squared away and be able to move forward with the project,” Byrd said, adding that the first one to two years will consist of pursuing funding opportunities before the expo center will become self-sustaining through rental rates, similar to other venues.
As of now, a groundbreaking ceremony is expected in the spring of 2027, with completion expected in the fall of 2028.
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