A Message from Chamber President & CEO James N. Hizer, CEcD:

In the State of Kentucky, there have only been 3 new industry announcements of 100+ jobs this year and the Kentucky Copper announcement that we made last Thursday in Morgantown is one of those projects. We are so pleased to have recently finalized all details with India-based Chandra Proteco, Kentucky Copper’s parent company, in recent weeks. It was February 2008 when we first had contact with Chandra. As is the case with most major projects, there was nothing easy about the Kentucky Copper project. For example, the global financial situation made it even more challenging to get this investment financed but, we found a way.

Watch WBKO's coverage of the December 10th announcement in Morgantown.

This project serves as a great example of why travel is such an important part of our economic development marketing strategy. We visited Chandra Proteco on 2 occasions. In Asia, the most important consideration in making business decisions is the long-term relationship. The more time we spent with the Chandra leadership team, the greater our chances of finalizing the deal. Also, in addition to relationship-building, our most recent trip to India, in September, allowed us to finalize the financing details. Chandra’s Indian bank wanted to meet with a representative of the local community and we obliged.

We celebrate any new investment project, but the Kentucky Copper announcement is even more special because it serves as another example of how our regional partnership works. The Bowling Green Area Chamber markets the entire region for investment attraction as a result of marketing agreements we have in place with 9 of our neighboring counties. When a project comes to our attention, we show them every site and/or building in the region that meets their criteria. In the case of Kentucky Copper, the former Kellwood manufacturing facility, in Butler County, came as close as any building to meeting their minimum requirements. Of course, the Bowling Green Area Chamber and Butler County/Morgantown have also entered into one of our standard “Menu of Services” agreements in which we serve as the primary economic development agency for that community. For a community such as Morgantown/Butler County, it is not nearly enough for us to simply “sell” a prospective industry on investing there. They really need the help of an experienced economic developer in finalizing details. The Menu of Services Agreement provides that support.

Speaking from a personal standpoint, as I looked out at the 100+ community members at the announcement in Morgantown, I was struck by all the smiling faces. I was instantly reminded of one of the many reasons why I love what I do. It was 22 months of hard work, and we have now brought joy to so many people.

Labels: Economic Development, Kentucky Copper, Morgantown/Butler County

The Warren County Alumni Chapter invites you to the Lunch and Learn Series I – “Go Red. Live Green.” with special guest, WKU Sustainability Coordinator Christian Ryan-Downing.

Join us at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, November 23, 2009 at Cambridge Market and Café to learn about WKU's efforts to become a green campus and take home tips to make your life a little greener too!

The cost is $12.00 per person (Includes Soup, Sandwich, Dessert, and Drink.)

Register online by Friday, November 20.

For more information on the Warren County Alumni Chapter, contact Chapter President Drew Byers.

Labels: The Chamber Green Scene

The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce believes in the importance of recognizing the value of industries' contributions to the local economy. Since January 2008, South Central Kentucky has witnessed 19 new and expanding industry announcements with a reported capital investment of more than $64 million and 767 additional jobs when full employment is attained. The Chamber has participated in 13 of those 19 announcements, with an investment of $45 million and the creation of 753 jobs.
That's why October is deemed Industry Appreciation Month for South Central Kentucky-a celebratory month of events designed to recognize industries' key impact on economic growth in the region. The Chamber kicked off a month of celebration during this morning's news conference, during which Chamber Board Chairman Todd Davis announced that Berry Plastics Corporation (Bowling Green location) is the 2009 Industry of the Year.
"We're proud to recognize Berry Plastics for the company's commitment to employing South Central Kentucky residents at their Bowling Green facility," said Davis. "Having gone through recent expansions here, the company is a tremendous corporate citizen, and we're happy to honor them this October."
Terry Wix, Bowling Green plant manager, added, "Berry Plastics is both excited and honored to be named the 2009 Industry of the Year. We are proud of the 185 associates that make up the Berry Plastics family and their contributions to our corporate and community success. We're all proud to call South Central Kentucky our home. We express our thanks to Todd and to the Chamber for their desire to recognize the quality organizations that exist in this region and for their efforts in support of local industry in a variety of ways."
The Chamber will honor Berry Plastics and other local industries at the Industry Appreciation Banquet on Tuesday, October 27, at Sloan Convention Center. This year the banquet will include a keynote address by John Britt, co-author of Who Killed Change? and nationally renowned speaker. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online at www.bgchamber.com.
Berry Plastics, Bowling Green began operations in 1995 on a 24-acre tract of land in the South Industrial Park in Bowling Green. The state-of-the-art, climate-controlled facility, which currently employs 185 South Central Kentucky residents, covers 170,900 square feet and manufactures injection and compression molded plastic closures primarily for the food, beverage and distilled spirits industries. The Bowling Green plant produces nearly 4 billion closures annually, with sales in excess of $75 million every year.
Berry Plastics Corporation is headquartered in Evansville, Ind., and was originally established as Imperial Plastics in 1967. The company has since grown into a leading manufacturer of injection-molded plastic packaging, thermoformed products, flexible films and tapes, and coatings. Jack Berry, Sr. purchased Imperial Plastics in 1983 and soon changed the company's name to Berry Plastics. Four years later, Berry Plastics opened a second manufacturing facility in Henderson, Nev., and in 1988, acquired Gilbert Plastics of New Brunswick, N.J. Acquisitions have continued to be a part of Berry Plastics growth, with the company having acquired more than 20 other companies since the 1990s.
In 2006, Apollo Management L.P. and Graham Partners, Inc. purchased Berry Plastics Corporation, which currently has 68 United States locations, including its Bowling Green and Franklin, Ky., facilities, and other locations in Mexico, Canada, Belgium and China.
The corporation believes in playing an active role in plants' local communities, and the company and its employees are dedicated to serving local causes. Each quarter, Berry Plastics recognizes employee volunteers who donate their time and talent, without pay, to charitable organizations. These individuals are honored during Royalty Acknowledgement Days (RAD Days), and Berry Plastics donates $200 to the employees' designated charities. Some of the charities with which Berry Plastics is involved are
* The American Cancer Society
* March of Dimes
* St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
In addition to these charities, local Berry Plastics employees are involved in the Allen County Primary Center, the Bowling Green Independent School District and Warren County Public Schools.

Berry Plastics also works with local elementary schools to teach students the importance of conservation. Company representatives demonstrate how to reduce, reuse and recycle all types of materials, specifically plastic. The students then receive an activity/coloring book that was developed by Berry Plastics employees that explores reducing, reusing and recycling in more detail. Students and their teachers also tour the local Berry Plastics plant during this program.
Tickets for the Industry Appreciation Banquet are available for purchase online at www.bgchamber.com. Contact Program Director Lindsey Moyers for more information.

The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce continues to celebrate our 2009 Chamber of the Year Award. Watch WBKO-TV's complete interview with Chamber President & CEO James N. Hizer, CEcD.

Labels: Chamber of the Year

Officials from Warren County and the City of Bowling Green, along with members of the board of directors for the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, the Bowling Green Area Economic Development Authority (BGAEDA) and the Intermodal Transportation Authority (ITA), celebrated the groundbreaking of the Kentucky Transpark speculative building today during a ceremony attended by more than 50 people.

"The spec building is a tremendous asset for the Kentucky Transpark. As an example of what can be built at the Transpark, this building will become the highlight of prospective client tours and for our marketing efforts," said Rick Wilson, chairman of the ITA Board of Directors.

"Not only are we proud that this building will help attract new clients, but also we're happy to announce that its construction is a partnership with the Bowling Green Area Economic Development Authority," he added.

A state-of-the-art addition to the Transpark, the speculative building-a pre-engineered steel structure with steel-insulated panels-will be located on 10 acres of land next to Cannon Automotive Solutions, Inc., at the corner of Jody Richards Drive and Commonwealth Boulevard. The building is meant to provide an example of what can be built at the Transpark, and it can be leased or sold to prospective Transpark tenants for their own purposes.

"Over half of the attraction clients with whom we come into contact are seeking existing buildings," explained James N. Hizer, CEcD, president of the ITA and BGAEDA, as well as president and CEO of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. "The spec building can be easily customized to meet a tenant's specific needs."

Hizer continued, "A building such as this will elevate our competitiveness in bringing more high-paying jobs to the Transpark. The communities that we compete with for projects on a regular basis have spec buildings like the one we are constructing. By having such a building at the Transpark, we're leveling the playing field and giving companies one more reason to locate at this impressive business park."

The heavy-industrial-zoned building will meet all standards of the American Institute of Steel Construction. The building's floor area is 72,000 square feet, with an expandable area of an additional 45,000 square feet. Its dimensions are 300 feet by 240 feet. Additional specifications of the building include:

• Building eaves: 38 feet high
• Roof: steel-standing, seam-insulated panels
• Concrete foundation
• Floor: concrete slab over 4" dense grade aggregate
• Two rows of columns; columns spaced at 40 feet by 100 feet
• Cross dock capable; 12 docks planned for east & west elevations
• Basic water, sewer and electrical installed for completion to tenant specifications
• Gas available on site
• Fiber optic communications available on site

The building architect is Ken Lasley, AIA; the building contractor for the project is Scott, Murphy and Daniel, LLC; the site contractor is Stewart-Richey Construction, Inc.; and the site engineer is DDS Engineers. The City-County Planning Commission of Warren County approved the detailed development plan for the project.

"The BGAEDA is pleased to be a part of today's groundbreaking for the Transpark spec building. The Transpark is already a very attractive business park for prospective tenants, and the spec building only enhances its appeal," said BGAEDA Board of Directors Chairman Doug Gorman. "This will be yet another reason for us to promote the Transpark as it contributes an enormous value to our first-class business park."

For more information about the speculative building and the Transpark, contact Vice President of Property Development and Public Policy R. Marc Elliott, CEcD, AICP at 270-781-2016 or marc@bgchamber.com.

Labels: Economic Development, Groundbreaking, Kentucky Transpark, Speculative Building

For information on the WKU Alumni Association's "Go Red. Live Green." event click here!

Labels: The Chamber Green Scene

A Note from James N. Hizer, CEcD, Chamber President & CEO

Over 3 weeks have passed since the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce was named by ACCE as the 2009 national Chamber of the Year. Yesterday, we held our official celebration with our partnership. We are still pinching ourselves—what an amazing honor. It was almost surreal hearing our name called at the Awards Banquet!

Yesterday, several of our past chairs offered toasts and words of congratulation, during our celebration reception. It was a reminder that the Bowling Green Area Chamber has been such a strong organization for so many years. It is gratifying to see that all of our volunteers, both past and present, are receiving the national recognition they so richly deserve. I wish all of those individuals, who have made the Chamber such a special organization over the years, could have joined us on the stage when we received our award. This honor belongs to all of you.

It is important that we capitalize on this opportunity as a Chamber and as a community. We will spend the next 12 months telling the world that there is no other Chamber in the country quite like the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce.

James N. Hizer, CEcD
President & CEO

View photos from the event.

Watch WBKO's coverage of the event.

Labels: Chamber of the Year