Paducah Economic Development President/CEO Chad Chancellor has announced that he'll be stepping down from his post in September to pursue new job opportunities.
He said he wanted to make the announcement now to give the PED Board ample time to form a search for a new president.
"I've always wanted to start my own business and recently I've been thinking about what I want to do," said Chancellor. "I'm 32 years-old and I've been doing this for 10 years. I've been in four different communities but you've always got the same issues. I want to be able to make my own decisions and not have to worry about big boards or and the many different opinions as you have to when you're working in the public light."
Chancellor said he's still brainstorming ideas but that he'd like to start his own economic development firm to continue aiding communities negotiate company investment and leadership.
Chancellor said two of his proudest accomplishments since his starting his post in 2010 include getting funding for the new Murray State University Paducah Campus as well as bringing in automotive supplier Whitehall Industries.
He said he's leaving the PED on good terms and believes there's a good deal of upward economic momentum in Paducah right now, but the biggest challenge for his successor will be the cleanup and transition of the Paducah Gasesous Diffusion Plant.
"The DOE has the money for the cleanup contract but has not let it out yet, but that's gonna create a lot of jobs," said Chancellor. "There's still much work to be done on all of that and I'm sure that will be high on the next person's priority list."
He said the board plans to begin a national search soon in order to find a replacement in time for his last day Sept. 16.
