In September 2015, Paducah Economic Development began a process to prepare an economic development strategy for Paducah and McCracken County. The seven-month planning process was designed to improve the community’s economic vitality through an aligned initiative to address challenges and seize opportunities.
Hear Tracy Ross talks to Paducah Economic Development Vice President Will McDowell about this initiative, called Forward Paducah.
McDowell says Forward Paducah was developed with the help of a leading consulting firm. It’s designed to identify the city as a whole and determine where businesses want to go next.
There are six main goals: cultivating talent, helping businesses succeed, inspiring innovation, celebrating culture, branding Paducah and investing in it.
McDowell says the number one issue in economics nationwide is finding a skilled workforce. Having talented and educated people working is the first step to growth. For the project, this translates to creating a workforce development group made of representatives in education and businesses.
He says keeping talented students in the area is important to developing the economy. Helping underemployed or unemployed adults is a component, too. That comes in the form of higher education assistance to develop skills or even improving housing options in Paducah.
The full Forward Paducah plan is outlined at the city’s website, epaducah.com.
