Barren County to receive $1 million for industrial park development

PRESS RELEASE
On Thursday, Barren County and the Barren County Economic Authority were notified of the approval of their Community Development Funds grant application.
South Cooper Industrial Park is a 152-acre industrial park along U.S. 68-Ky. 80, also known as New Bowling Green Road, in Glasgow. Over the last several years, Park developments have included the construction of an access road into the park, widening of 68-80, installing turning lanes and grading two sites. The park has also undergone significant due diligence including Phase I environmental, geotechnical and geophysical testing, archeological study, and stream and wetland analysis. All this preparation has prepared the park for this next step to include extending infrastructure and further excavation. These funds will support the investment needed to establish several build-ready certified sites in South Cooper.
In the fall of 2022, Barren County and the Barren County Economic Authority partnered on an application for Community Development Funding through Congressman Brett Guthrie’s office. It was announced last week that the South Cooper project was selected for funding in the amount of $1 million.
“We are very grateful for this award in funding,” said Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd. “Industrial development is vital for our community’s future growth, and we are excited to be able to work with the economic authority leadership on the further progress of the Park.”
Although the process to receive the funding can take several months, BCEA continues to work on several other aspects of the park’s development, including marketing. On Jan. 6, the authority and Barren Inc. The Barren County Chamber of Commerce launched a community video highlighting the quality of life that can be found in Barren County. Additionally, the new 2022-2023 magazine is available, and a spotlight on Glasgow will be coming out in the Business View magazine later this month.
“With our excellent schools systems, quality workforce, strong infrastructure and our central location, developing this park will bring new jobs and capital investment to the community,” said Glasgow Mayor Henry Royse.
Barren Inc and BCEA President and CEO Maureen Carpenter stated, “We are thrilled to partner with
Barren County and the City of Glasgow on this project and are extremely grateful to Congressman Guthrie and his team for their support in helping to secure the needed funding.”
She went onto say, “We are diligently working on property development to meet the needs of our local industry and to attract new industry to the area, creating high-quality jobs for our community.”