FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 4, 2016) – A 16-acre industrial site in Russellville certified as Build-Ready this month ranks as Kentucky's latest location offering companies a streamlined process to rapidly locate, build and begin operations, Governor Matt Bevin said today.
"I am pleased to announce Russellville now offers a Build-Ready site for a large-scale employer to locate and get its facility open swiftly," Gov. Bevin said. "Logan County is a great place to work and live. This new certification cuts months off the pre-construction process for potential companies and represents a great economic opportunity for the community."
The Logan County site, located in the Shelton Industrial Park, includes a pad for a 100,000 square-foot building. Electric, water, sewer and roadway extend to the site edge and the necessary permits, studies and renderings have been completed and filed.
"Build-Ready certification allows construction to start almost immediately," said Erik Dunnigan, acting secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, which administers the program.
"We know our corporate partners want a quick turnaround. Build-Ready gives our communities a leg up when competing with other states for jobs and investments," he said.
Build-Ready means a site includes a pad 50,000 square feet or greater, expandable to 100,000 square feet or more, utilities extended to an edge of the site, and the necessary permits and studies are in place including water, building, phase-1 environmental, archeological, historical and geotechnical.
The applicant – usually a city, county or economic-development group – must also provide preliminary design work, a total-cost projection, construction timeframes and a rendering of a potential building for the site.
At less than two years old, the Build-Ready program has certified seven locations across the state including the new Logan County site. Efforts toward certification continue on more than a half-dozen other sites.
Due to high levels of interest in Bowling Green's two Build-Ready pads, local officials decided to advance one site further by building a speculative facility. It represents an example of Kentucky communities working in advance to meet the demands of business expansions and new locations.
"We are excited for the announcement of the Build-Ready site certification in Russellville," said Sen. Whitney Westerfield, of Hopkinsville. "Through this certification, we are letting companies know that Logan County is open for business, ensuring the right pieces are in place within the community for new developments. Combined with the fact the Shelton Lane Industrial Park is within a 60-mile drive from the Nashville International Airport and three major interstates, we believe this Build-Ready certification adds another competitive advantage for Logan County."
"It really means a lot to have Logan County be one of the early ones taking part in the Build-Ready program, which will give our community a better advantage when it comes to industrial development," said state Rep. Martha Jane King of Logan County. "This type of work is why Kentucky is regularly recognized for having one of the best business climates in the country, and I've been proud to work with our local and state leaders to help make that possible."
"The industrial base on Shelton Lane will grow and prosper as a result of the Build-Ready program. We appreciate the Cabinet for Economic Development making this program available to Russellville and Logan County," said Logan County Judge-Executive Logan Chick.
"Having this site available for immediate construction will help Russellville attract a quality employer to the city. We believe our efforts in this project will provide jobs and investment, improving the standard of living for our citizens," said Russellville Mayor Mark Stratton.
Tom Harned, executive director of the Logan Economic Alliance for Development, which owns the site, said the Build-Ready certification increases the likelihood for development and growth in the Russellville-Logan County employment and tax bases.
"The Shelton Lane Industrial property was acquired by the Logan Industrial Development Authority to help grow and stabilize the employment base. This certification is a positive step in our strategy to further develop the park. We are especially interested in advanced manufacturing jobs. This site will help attract highly desirable employers, increasing family income and economic growth," Harned said.
Kentucky's other Build-Ready sites include tracts in the Highland Glen Industrial Park in Barren County, the Bluegrass Crossings Regional Business Centre in Ohio County, the 4 Star Regional Industrial Park in Henderson, the Hickory Industrial Park in Graves County, and in Bowling Green's Kentucky Transpark.
For more information on the Build-Ready program, click here.
A detailed community profile for Logan County can be viewed here.