Organizers of the Western Kentucky Alliance for a Vibrant Economy say their first conference was a success and are now looking at opportunities which may include a hemp refinery near the future site.
WAVE is a joint effort of four county judge executives with the goal of establishing a Kentucky port on the Mississippi River through public-private partnerships.
The Oct. 24-25 conference in Carlisle County's Columbus-Belmont State Park drew in dozens of business executives and government leaders from across the country. The event featured Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and the Obama administration’s head of maritime traffic Paul Jaenichen as keynote speakers.
Organizer Jonathan Miller says because WAVE is a grassroots initiative rather than a state-sponsored one, it well rivaled eastern Kentucky’s SOAR initiative in terms of quality and impact.
“To say we rival SOAR event might be an understatement, the kinds of panel speakers we were able to feature at our effort really made it look like an event in New York or Washington DC," said Miller.
Miller says immediate tasks include hiring an executive director to guide the group through legal issues and designate potential sites for a riverport near Wickliffe, including the possibility of the Verso paper mill.
Miller says panel discussions included input from agriculture and education officials who floated the potential of hemp refinery or wheat grainry near the port.
“We’re going to take a look at the potential of a hemp refinery," said Miller. "Industrial hemp is making a big comeback. Commissioner Ryan Quarles is taking big leadership on that. The industrial hemp movement is making great strides that a hemp refinery could be a big opportunity.”
The confluence was formed in the wake of news of the widening of the Panama Canal which will in turn result in increased traffic on the Mississippi.
