Local elected officials speak at National Corvette Museum
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – This morning, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce held its Rise and Shine BG summit, discussing developments in infrastructure, education, the economy and a few other sectors.
The chamber invited local elected officials who represent south-central Kentucky communities in Frankfort to discuss their work and what we can look forward to. One of the main talking points was infrastructure, especially our roadways, and here in Bowling Green, much work is being done to improve travel.
“We were fortunate to get 220 million and the two-year road fund last time. We got some great road projects fixing that to take off, bids will be let, I think in January for Three Springs Road for Nashville Road from Western on the roundabout all the way up to Campbell Lane. We’re improving the bypass from Fairview down to Medical Center, making that a five-lane,” said State Rep. Kevin Jackson.
But a new study has shown that the average age of the first-time homebuyer is now 40 years old, with homes continuing to climb in cost. Officials are now trying to get ahead of that by building affordable housing aimed at those who might be first time homebuyers.
“There’s a project that’s in the works. It would be off of 68-80 out by the transpark. It’s supposed to have 12 to 1400 housing units, everything from single-family to apartments to condos, too. And they’re supposed to be affordable housing. It could be for workers in the transpark, it could be for beginning teachers, it could be for anybody,” Jackson said.
Ultimately, the state legislature is trying to stay competitive with surrounding states, taking steps to improve infrastructure and housing, along with education and lowering the state income tax is making the Commonwealth more competitive with states like Tennessee. And it also draws new residents to the state and creates more tax revenue for Frankfort.
“We’re becoming more on even par with them. That helps us to recruit business, that helps us to recruit individuals, to move here, to work in our businesses that we bring to town. So all of that plays into how successful our state can be. The more people come here, the more people work, the more money goes into the coffers in Frankfort, the more things we can do for our communities,” Jackson said.
