Hardin County: Built Ford Tough | Editorials

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The announcement of BlueOvalSK’s industrial development developing not one but two manufacturing plants on Glendale’s megasite property is a game-changer, in many ways.

According to Bill Ford’s remarks at the Frankfort Announcement Ceremony, it’s a game changer on par with his great-grandfather’s assembly line development. A longtime environmentalist, Ford has demonstrated his concern for a sustainable operation since becoming executive chairman of Ford Motor Company two decades ago. His vision for the Glendale Project and a related operation in West Tennessee is self-sustaining zero-emissions infrastructure built on American ingenuity and, as they like to say, being a rugged Ford.

Ford and SK Innovations’ $ 5.8 billion investment is the largest industrial development commitment in Kentucky history. Despite living in the era of COVID, Kentucky was already on a record development pace and blew up all the numbers of the past with this decision. Governor Andy Beshear says that means the Commonwealth will never again be seen as a “flying state,” meaning a place elitists on the east and west coasts tend to overlook and ignore. Kentucky’s geographic blessing with a day’s drive for the majority of the nation’s population is a blessing, but its massive road, rail, and air transportation network makes all the difference.

Obviously, this will be a game-changer for Hardin County and the region. Expect the 5,000 jobs to be spread over a footprint much larger than Hardin County. It is important to see our community as the others, not as a single county, but as the hub of a metropolitan area and the business and commercial destination of a region of 10 counties. Temporary construction jobs linked to roads, infrastructure, and the factories themselves will boost the local economy even before 2025, when battery production begins and 5,000 people start commuting to Exit 86.

This announcement also potentially changes the face of travel. Ford expects demand for electric vehicles to be half of global new vehicle sales by 2030. The company really expects to be a leader here and around the world and is partnering with Hardin County. It depends on Kentucky’s diligent workforce to get the job done.

Thinking back to how it all came about, there are a lot of people to recognize and commend.

Current leaders including Economic Development Secretary Larry Hayes, Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory, Hardin County Executive Judge Harry Berry and the entire state legislature were congratulated on the celebration of Tuesday on the steps of the State Capitol.

Granted, few people have invested more time, effort and prayer in this endeavor than Rick Games, COO of the Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation. And the leaders of the foundation’s board of directors as well as local workforce development officials and staff at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College deserve their own praise.

In fact, it would be impossible to adequately thank all those who played a part in this decision because the road to progress here goes back generations.

While other parts of Kentucky tend to preserve the status quo, Hardin County has always and historically focused on the future.

Consider the foresight in 1956 that led to the founding of the Industrial Foundation and the people who dedicated decades of service to it, including TJ Patterson, Lamonte Hornback, and Joe Prather.

Beginning in 1960, the tireless efforts of local lawyer James Collier and founding members of the North Central Education Foundation, including Bill Swope, John Behen, Bill Burks, and Walter “Dee” Huddleston led to the creation of what is now Elizabethtown Community and Technical College and have been key players in establishing the statewide community college system. The legendary leadership of Dr. Jim Owen and the groundbreaking work of Chuck Stebbins and Thelma White set a benchmark of excellence that Juston Pate continues today.

Addington Field’s modern general aviation airport owes a great debt to Bill Schmidt and others who took time away from successful businesses to establish a facility that continues to serve.

The long forgotten lawmakers and transportation officials who established the Kentucky Turnpike from Louisville to Elizabethtown, which ultimately a first stop on Interstate 65, played a role in Glendale’s new success as well as the thousands of contributors who have built a first-class medical community, created reliable water quality, sanitation and landfill systems, vital quality of life offerings established and invested daily in their hometowns and their fellow human beings have built a history of success.

They may not have a place in the history books that Henry Ford won, but they prepared this place for the historic Ford selection.

Glendale’s announcement reminds us that we stand on the shoulders of giants. And the present generation is still responsible for making the future brighter.

This editorial reflects a consensus of The News-Enterprise editorial board.

This editorial reflects a consensus of The News-Enterprise editorial board.

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