Benton visits EHCIF Facility Managers Meeting

The Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation was pleased to host Josh Benton, executive director of workforce development for the Kentucky Cabinet of Economic Development, at the monthly facility managers meeting Thursday.
Benton shared a variety of new information at the meeting, noting that available workforce has never been a greater concern for businesses interested in locating or expanding in Kentucky, Benton said.
“From an economic development perspective, workforce used to be the last thing discussed,” he said. “Now, it’s the first thing discussed on every project.”
Benton noted the growth and future career opportunities in the manufacturing sector, a priority sector here in Hardin County and across the state. In the Lincoln Trail Area Development District – which includes Hardin, LaRue, Meade, Grayson, Breckinridge, Nelson, Washington and Marion counties – there are 125 manufacturers. Since January 2016, 36 new investments in manufacturing have been announced in our region, and of those, 32 were expansions of existing companies.
Manufacturing continues to offer Kentuckians high paying career opportunities, with average entry-level annual income of $38,515, Benton added.
The next facility managers meeting is at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 19. If you’re interested in attending, please contact Cherri Spalding at 270-737-0300.