Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation: 2020 Annual Report

2020 ANNUAL REPORT A REGION PREPARING FOR TOMORROW

EHCIF Annual Report 2020

table of contents

Table of Contents Board Message

3

2020 Figures

4

Board of Directors & Staff

5

Workforce Development

5

Achievements

6

PDI Grant Update

7

2

EHCIF Annual Report 2020

a message to our board At Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation (EHCIF), we have the great honor of representing an economic powerhouse in the State of Kentucky. Working with local and state partners, we’re proud to serve as a business resource for companies from around the world as they grow, innovate, and compete within the global economy.

With the COVID-19 pandemic came a difficult 2020 for most.

Nevertheless, our community’s strong, diverse economy continued to attract numerous opportunities to the region as employers announced expansions and the creation of new jobs. Small business also found success as historic downtown Elizabethtown continued to flourish during a challenging year. Additionally, our local real estate market saw a significant increase in sales as Elizabethtown and Hardin County continue to grow.

As employers expanded their workforce at a critical time in pandemic recovery, educators and training providers also rose to the occasion with grant opportunities for

students and adult workers to learn new skills and earn the certifications needed to be successful.

And while this past year will go down as one of most challenging of our lifetime, we also witnessed the generous spirit of local manufacturers. Businesses donated personal protective equipment (PPE) to local schools, essential employees, and healthcare heroes, small businesses received support from the community to sustain operations, and area manufacturers donated warehouse space to store and sanitize PPE. As we move into 2021, we look forward to new opportunities and coming announcements. This is truly an exciting time to live and work in Elizabethtown and Hardin County. As always, thank you for your continued support and dedication to our community.

With Gratitude,

3

EHCIF Annual Report 2020

2020 figures AMONG the nation’s best in manufacturing

70+

No.3

$1139

Postsecondary education and training programs

Best place to work in manufacturing of 376 MSAs

Average weekly industry wages in Hardin Co.

300

$25K

5.4%

New jobs created by Metalsa with exapansion announcement

To support ECTC’s University Center

Unemployment rate as of Dec 2020 - well below the national average of 6.7%

2019 PER CAPITA PERSONAL INCOME GROWTH ELIZABETHTOWN-fort knox climbs to $43,076

4

3.8 % Rocky Mount, NC

1.9 %

3.3 %

3.5 %

3.3 %

3.6 % Monroe, MI

$10,000

Hattiesburg, MS

$20,000

Dothan, AL

United States

$30,000

Alexandria, LA

$40,000

Albany, GA

$50,000

5.0 %

3.9%

$60,000

Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY

1.7%

$70,000

Chambersburg-Waynesbora, PA

A look at U.S. and similar Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) in 2019 as compared to 2018 Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Dept. of Commerce (released Nov 2020)

EHCIF Annual Report 2020

Board of directors GREG PAWLEY Chairman MATT HESS Vice Chairman KEITH JOHNSON Secretary/Treasurer JEFF GREGORY Mayor, City of Elizabethtown HARRY BERRY Judge-Executive, Hardin County

Skilled Workforce Remains a Top Priority

All current and future Elizabethtown employers must recruit and retain a qualified workforce to succeed. As a community partner and advocate for local job creation, the Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation is committed to and proudly supports a number of workforce development efforts.

MIKE BELL MIKE BOWERS SUE FRENCH GREG JENKINS NANNETTE JOHNSTON BEN LARUE CARL LAY JUSTON PATE HEIDI PATTERSON ED POPPE JODY PRATHER DAN ROBBINS D. DEE SHAW

OUR sTAFF RICHARD A. GAMES President & COO CHERRI SPALDING Administrative Assistant

With a $100,000 grant from the Metallica Scholars Initiative, funded by Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation, ECTC students will have the opportunity to become Metallica Scholars. The grant provides funding for a Learning Lab, as well as $50,000 in scholarships for eligible students who are looking to enter a traditional trade or other applied learning program.

ECTC was one of 15 community colleges from across the country and the first in Kentucky to receive a grant from Metallica.

The Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation recognizes that Elizabethtown Community & Technical College is critical to the growth of our community. That’s why we were honored to invest $25,000 to support ECTC’s University Center - a consortium of postsecondary partners that provide high-demand degree programs based on student, employer and community demand.

5

EHCIF Annual Report 2020

2020 achievements

success in the COVID-19 PANDEMIC

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many manufacturers, like Altec, Akebono and Flex Films, helped the community by donating thousands of personal protective equipment (PPE) to local government employees, schools, first responders, and Baptist Health Hardin.

Others like McCandless and Company donated warehouse space to store PPE for the county. In a collaboration with Baptist Health, Addington Transportation also identified space for hospitals to sanitize N95 masks for reuse.

6

Soudal USA begins work on a 11,000 square foot expansion to house their North American corporate office. This expansion demonstrates the healthy manufacturing environment that makes Elizabethtown one of the nation’s most sought after locations for industrial facilities.

“We’re committed to supporting the growth of advanced manufacturing and congratulate Soudal on their continued success.” - Matt Hess, Vice Chairman, EHCIF

Historic Downtown Elizabethtown welcomed new businesses The Dreamery and That Cute Little Shop, while the Elizabethtown Fire Department also completed the construction of its new Station No. 2 Firehouse. Residents also welcomed Menard’s to the community as it opened its doors to the public. In addition, existing businesses found continued success as the City of Elizabethtown set aside $1 million to build an economic stimulus recovery package to help offset effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

EHCIF Annual Report 2020

product development initiative granT: UPDATE In 2020, the Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation (EHCIF), in partnership with the City of Elizabethtown, was awarded a $500,000 Product Development Initiative (PDI) grant, available through the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (KCED) and the Kentucky Association for Economic Development (KAED).

Recommended as one of nine communities for grant-funded enhancements, EHCIF used funds to accelerate site development projects, improvements to stormwater detention basins, and utility extensions at T.J. Patterson Industrial Park.

7

233 Ring Road, #150, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 • 270.737.0300 • eifky.org