Tracy Ross speaks with Hopkins County Regional Chamber of Commerce President Lee Lingo about the upcoming State of the Cities and County Luncheon as well as progress on Interstate 69 and it’s impact on the region.
Lingo says the State of the Cities and County Luncheon used to include only Madisonville but recently opened up to include all of Hopkins County’s nine municipalities. The luncheon is similar to the State of the Union address, Lingo says, just on a much smaller scale. This year’s event will focus on the impact of countywide and citywide taxes levied a year ago. Tickets to Monday’s luncheon are expected to sell out soon and are available at hopkinschamber.com or by phone at 270-821-3435.
Progress on the I-69 corridor is moving forward and the Hopkins Chamber is communicating with other communities to see if they can collaborate around projects that will increase the economic impact of the interstate. Lingo says Kentucky was the third highest state for growth in exports last year and the completion of I-69 will make it easier for businesses to ship products to major ports.
“This road, from an economic development standpoint, it means everything to our rural communities. We’re not in Louisville, we’re not northern Kentucky or Lexington, but an interstate brings with it opportunities for growth, for a living wage…. And in our area, since we’re rural, [businesses can set up] at a lower cost point.”
He says the completion of I-69 will bring with it an increase in truck traffic which he says will bring a positive economic impact.
“I get kind of excited when I talk about this because I know this is the thing that will change our region forever. And if we’re proactive, it will change it in a positive way,” Lingo said.
